About Strays · Est. 2016

Street dogs started it. Every species stayed.

We began with two kennels and a borrowed van. Neighbours kept arriving with kittens, rabbits, a lonely parrot — so we learned, built hutches and aviaries, and became the shelter you see today.

Spaniel on a forest walk with a volunteer White kitten resting on a blanket at the shelter

320+

Animals sheltered across five species groups

240+

Adoptions matched on personality, not impulse

40+

Weekly volunteers walking, cleaning and cuddling

How we grew, year by year

  1. 2016 — Two kennels

    First street-dog intakes, a borrowed van, and weekend adoption mornings outside the market.

  2. 2019 — Cats and rabbits move in

    A kitten room and indoor rabbit hutches end the dogs-only era. Neutering becomes standard for every adoption.

  3. 2022 — Birds and small pets

    Aviaries, hamster and guinea-pig corners open. First-time bird owners get a dedicated handover session.

  4. Today — 40+ residents

    Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and pocket pets live side by side, each with a named carer and a written matching plan.

What guides every decision

Match first, place second

Energy, space, hours and experience decide the match. We would rather ask you to wait than place the wrong animal.

Small species, full standards

A hamster gets the same vet check, written care sheet and follow-up call as a retriever. Size never sets the standard.

Help after handover

A month of message support, free settling-in classes and a lifetime take-back promise come with every adoption.

Run by neighbours, kept going by you

No big payroll, no kennel blocks stretching for miles — just local people doing daily feeds, vet runs and home checks.