Foster an Animal
You can foster an animal by clicking the "Foster Me" button next to each animal's name. You will receive personal updates from your chosen animal itself.
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We are delighted that Mac the Mossburn Rabbit now has his own book.
The story follows our very own Mac on a voyage of discovery with the help of Fern the Deer and the Rabbit Rescue Squad, amongst others.
The animals
At Mossburn Animal Rescue Centre we rescue and rehome abused, unwanted and neglected animals ~ cattle, horses, ponies, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, reptiles and wildlife, and more ...
Why not foster your favourite animal? You will get:
- A personal letter from your chosen animal, with their own signature!
- Updates from your new friend
- Your own Animal Photo ID Card
- The chance to visit your new friend at Mossburn whenever you like
To foster an animal simply choose the type of animal from the list below, click through to meet the animals and then click the "Foster Me" button next to your favourite. It's quick, it's easy and it really, really makes a difference to their lives.
Pigs
Lots of people collect pigs. China pigs, plaster pigs, pictures of pigs and sometimes, because piglets are so cute, real pigs. The trouble with piglets is that they grow into big pigs, even the popular Vietnamese Pot Bellied pig grows quite big. We collect pigs, all those cute piglets which grow and are suddenly not wanted anymore. If you click onto this page you will meet all fifteen of Mossburn’s pigs, all rescued except for Chunky, who was a bit of an accident!... meet the Pigs
Exotics
Why do we call some of the creatures in our care exotics? It is because they are non indigenous to this country, that means they are not native species ... a badger is native, a raccoon is not. Notice the use of the word creatures as opposed to animals too, that is because not all of our exotics are animals. So if we have things here that are not animals what are they? Click on here and find out!... meet the Exotics
Horses & Ponies
Did you know that 80% of all horses and ponies offered for sale on the open market in this country go for meat? That is eighty out of every hundred. There are a lot of horses in this country and a lot of people buy them who do not know how to look after them properly. Horses and ponies come to us sometimes because they have been cruelly treated; sometimes because they have been neglected - usually through ignorance; sometimes because they have problems, but usually because their owners cannot keep them anymore and are terrified that if they sell them they will end up on the meat market. Here at Mossburn each horse or pony that comes to us is thoroughly assessed and the problems sorted out, the animal is then offered for adoption. We never sell our horses. People who adopt them have to sign a legal agreement with us and give them back to us if for any reason they cannot, or do not wish to keep them, or if we think they are not looking after them properly. Click on this link to meet some of our horses and ponies.... meet the Horses & Ponies
Ferrets
The ferret is a domesticated form of European polecat, Mustela putorius, and has been kept as a pet, or used for hunting, for centuries. The records, some books say, go as far back as 3000 b.c.(in Ancient Egypt.)
Thus it is rather suprising that so many people still think of a ferret as a savage, bad tempered, wild creature hanging off the television presenter's fingers! Nothing could be further from the truth. I came to Mossburn in July 2002 to work as a volunteer and had a chance to handle and enjoy these wonderful animals. Speaking from personal experience I can say with all certainty that ferrets do not deserve their unsavoury reputation. I found them extremely friendly, full of personality and even quite docile. Colin, the polecat ferret used to enjoy his afternoon nap up the sleeve of my fleece jacket after he had been on his daily walk.
A ferret will not bite anyone as long as it is handled correctly and in a loving manner from an early age - no different to any household pet for that matter. ... meet the Ferrets
Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
“My rabbit is vicious, it bites everyone who goes near it.” “ My guinea pigs have had babies could you please take them off our hands.” These are the pleas most often made to us, we take in an awful lot of rabbits and guinea pigs but fortunately we re-home a lot of them to responsible, kind homes. Often when people go into a garden centre or shop and buy a pet it is impulse buying, if they contact us looking for one they have given the matter some thought. Some of the rabbits and guinea pigs who come to us have to stay here permanently, why? And why is it that so many rabbits do bite? Click on here for the answers.
Guinea Pig and Rabbit virus.
January 4, 2006
It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you of the reason why there are now massive gaps on our rabbit and guinea pig information page. Today all but six of the rabbits and guinea pigs here at Mossburn were put to sleep because they were carriers of the the Yersian pseudotuberculosis virus. Some had already died from it and some may never have done so but this nasty virus is transferable to humans and causes severe stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea and morally it would have been very wrong of us to have risked the health of our volunteers and visitors by keeping infected animals. The euthanasia was carried out on the premises by our vets in the most humane manner possible. This virus thrives in wet and damp conditions and we will not be taking in anymore animals until the warmer weather begins and we can be sure the present housing, although disinfected, is dry and virus free.
We have no idea where the virus came from in the first place but was probably brought in by a rescued animal in poor condition.
... meet the Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
Goats
There is a popular belief that goats will eat anything and that they are very easy to look after. Goats will eat THE BEST of anything, which is quite often in yours, or your neighbour’s garden! Easy to keep? ... well, leave goats out in the rain for too long and there is a good chance they will catch pneumonia. Goats are herd animals, they are unhappy on their own and we think that is why, when they arrive at Mossburn, they often become much better behaved. Click onto this page to meet Fran and her twelve companions.... meet the Goats
Small Furries
Small furries is our own collective noun for rats, mice gerbils, hamsters, jerds and anything we have not yet had which is small and furry. (Right now there is a small furry spider in our reptile room, a tarantula but we are glad to say it belongs to someone else!) Usually we do not get a great many small furries handed in, but when a pet supermarket opened up in our local town our intake of small furries shot through the roof. Fortunately the supermarket did not last long, and is now closed down. Click here for “the little people.”... meet the Small Furries
Cattle
Why would cattle need to come to a rescue centre, after all they are not pets, not like ponies or guinea pigs or goats, or are they? Think up some reasons why cattle might need to come to a rescue centre before clicking onto this page, and see if you were right. We think you might be in for a bit of a surprise!... meet the Cattle
Wildlife
Due to the foot and mouth crisis and the inadvisability of bringing any potential carriers of the disease onto the yard, Mossburn has not been able to fulfil its usual role this year with regard to the rearing, nursing and rehabilitation of wildlife. We are giving help and support where we can over the telephone and directing people to other organisations where hopefully more practical assistance can be sought. All that said, some wildlife makes up its own mind as to available help and uses the last ounce of its strength to fly in here and take up residence. Click here to meet our latest yard guest and some of the wildlife from past years that have received the benefit of our help.
Some so called wildlife hospitals have criteria about what they will and will not treat. Here at Mossburn we believe that it is not our place to determine what is “acceptable” wildlife and therefore treatable and what is considered “vermin” and therefore to be excluded from treatment. Fox, squirrel, badger, hedgehog, vole, shrew, buzzard, blackbird, jackdaw, crow, kestrel sparrow, we do not differentiate. We will rear and release or treat and release. And sometimes if release is not going to be an option then we will humanely destroy. Our policy is rehabilitation, wild creatures in our opinion should not, after treatment, be kept captive so treatment like amputation is not a considered option.... meet the Wildlife
Sheep
There are either five or six sheep living here at Mossburn, it all depends on your view of things and whether or not you believe Henry. To meet Henry and his friends click on here.... meet the Sheep
Poultry
Juanita always said that she never wanted poultry about the place because of the mess they made particularly in nice newly laid straw beds. Then along came the first geese, a few ducks and a hen and cockerel or two and the rest is history!! There is a great deal of unwanted poultry about, usually of the male variety. Click here and read Rodger and Linford’s story to find out why.... meet the Poultry