About The Retreat

The Retreat, based in northwest Kent, is entirely voluntary and a not-for-profit organisation, with all the trustees and most of the volunteers being vegan. All funds raised go to the welfare of the animals that come into the Retreat's care and where possible animals are re-homed in permanent, loving homes. The Retreat operates a no-kill policy.

We have three sites, our main base where most of our animals live; leased fields where some of our older and larger horses reside; and some land (which belongs to two Retreat supporters, who let us have the use of it all year round at absolutely no cost) on which we provide intensive care to five of our horses.

The number of animals being cared for by the Retreat fluctuates almost daily, as we try to re-home animals where possible, but it is always in the hundreds.

A brief history

The Retreat was born, over ten years ago, out of frustration at the way the human race treat animals. A rescue centre ,which would save tormented, abused, sick, injured and unwanted animals from certain death was therefore founded.

Some of our residents include ex-race horses; ex-riding school ponies; injured live export sheep; ex-petting farm goats; injured birds; ferrets; Christmas turkeys; worn-out battery hens; old, feral and FIV cats; and dogs who have failed behaviour tests in other dog homes.

Our Aims

The Retreat offers much needed support to all animals, farmed,domestic and wild. Our aims are to educate the public that all animals need commitment, love and respect; also animals should be neutered to avoid more unwanted litters, and given the care that they need.By re-homing animals we can provide much needed space to rescue more abused animals. All the animals are given the time, veterinary care and love they need to recover before being homed. If a suitable home cannot be found they are never killed, they simply stay at the Retreat for the rest of their lives.