Frequently Asked Questions

The fastest way to arrange to adopt an animal is to look at our website for available animals and see if there is one which you feel matches your home and lifestyle. When you see an animal you’d like to learn more about, please contact the relevant team who will ask you to complete a questionnaire.

• Equine Team (Horses) - equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk
• Small Animal Team (Cats and Dogs) - smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk

Some of our animals have complex needs or specific environmental and/or training requirements, so please ensure you read all profiles carefully. For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams.

All of the animals available for rehoming can be found, here. Please bear in mind that we only rehome dogs, cats and horses. We no longer give access to the public to view animals looking for homes in our kennels or cattery, without an appointment. Studies have shown that visitors walking around kennels can cause distress for the dogs, affecting their mental and physical health. By restricting access, the dogs are less stressed, speeding up and improving their rehoming prospects. The same goes to our cats too. Please contact the relevant teams to arrange an appointment to see the animal you are looking to rehome, for more details click here.

For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

We no longer have a waiting list, this is because many of the animals looking for new homes have specific requirements and we can match their individual personalities with their new owner to ensure they have a lasting relationship.

Our Rehoming Case Workers are very busy caring for the animals and have a lot of enquiries to go through. We will aim to get back to you within 2 weeks, but please bear with us if you have not heard anything. Please ensure you have used the correct email before contacting us. If you believe your message has not got through, please email info@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or call us on 01228 560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm). 

Please continue to monitor the website as new animals arrive all of the time, or get in touch and subscribe to updates - if you opt-in you will be emailed when a new animal is added to the website. If you have already gone through the consultation/questionnaire process but did not successfully adopt, again please watch the website. The good news is that if you do see another potential pet, we will already have your full details and can move through the process more quickly.

In almost all cases, no, however it may be possible to reserve a new friend on the same day. We can reserve an animal for a few days and in special circumstances slightly longer but this will be on a case-by-case basis. We cannot hold animals on reserve if there are other suitable homes ready. For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

All animals are de-flead, wormed, chipped, neutered (where appropriate), vaccinated and checked by a vet during their time with us. If the animal has only been in for a short while, we may allow the animal to leave before some of these actions have been completed, but we will arrange for them to be carried out later on, either at our site or at one of our partnered vets. Unlike animals obtained from many pet shops or free adverts, the worm and flea products used are vet-supplied and animals are supervised by visiting vets during their stay. Any dog who needs assessment will also have been seen by a behaviourist. For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk

Our standard donation is £210 for a dog and £110 for a cat, please contact the Equine Team for further information on horses. We may alter the fees if an animal is very old or has a condition which is likely to cost money in the first few months after rehoming. You can pay by cash, credit card, or cheque. For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

Not all animals who are on site are available for adoption - some animals on site may be under assessment and not ready for adoption yet, others are part of our Animal Sponsorship programme. Equally not all animals who are available for adoption will be on site - we also have animals who are out with fosterers, or who are involved in cases being dealt with by our Community Team.

Most of the animals we care for find a happy future away from Oak Tree, but occasionally we come across an individual who, through no fault of their own, finds themselves remaining in our care for a long time. This may be for a variety of reasons, be it due to health, or particular behaviour issues. Whatever the reason, the welfare of every animal our charity cares for is our priority. To find out more about our Animal Sponsorship scheme, click here or email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

We may carry out a home visit if the home or animal’s circumstances are such that there are unusual requirements. We sometimes bring prospective dogs to the home visit with us as well. The home visit may be before or after choosing a specific animal - it will depend on individual circumstances. For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk  or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

Please talk to us in advance, as if we are aware of transport issues, we can try and shortcut the process, or help by delivering an animal. Call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

'Foster to Adopt’ means that the animal is with their potential new owners on a foster period before completing full adoption - so all being well it does go to full adoption. We only do this in exceptional circumstances such as when the dog or cat has very specialist requirements.

Far from it - most animals are here because their former owner’s circumstances changed unexpectedly, or the former owner failed to provide for the animal’s training or behavioural needs, or because someone somewhere didn't get their pet neutered. We also take in a lot of animals which had originally been bought on impulse from pet shops, off the internet, from farms, or from free adverts. None of these things are the animals’ fault. Please remember that dogs and cats have normal behaviours which they need to express - that means toileting, making a noise, scratching, chewing, and climbing among others. We can work with you to ensure you know how to fit these behaviours into your lifestyle, and we always undertake to accept an animal back into our care if things don’t work out. For further information, please either call us on 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am - 4.00pm) or email one of our teams: smallanimalteam@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or equine@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

We are open 10.00am to 4.00pm every day. To find out when our Charity Shops are open, please click here.

The Tearoom opening times are 10.00am to 4.00pm daily. Please note: our Tearoom may not always be open when the centre is open, please click here for further details.

We are dog friendly both on our main site and in our Charity Shops! When visiting our main site, please be aware that we are a working rehoming centre and there may be nervous animals around. Please keep dogs on leads, give the teams and animals plenty of space, and stick to open access areas. 

Our address is Oak Tree Animals' Charity, Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle, CA4 8JA

Click here for directions, bus routes and more.

Yes we do, click here to find out more.

There is always lots to do and things to see on your day out to Oak Tree:

• The Tearoom & Gift Shop
• Orchard Yard Shops
• Blackburn Woods
• The Tack Shack
• Hire the Paddock
• Hire the Snuffle Run
• Hire the Sand School
• Events, Activity Days and Trails
• Children's playground
• You can watch our field animals graze, but our kennels and cattery are closed to the public for the welfare of the animals. 

Find out more, here!

Please click here to find the addresses and opening times of all our Charity Shops.

You can buy second-hand pet equipment in any of our Charity Shops, including at Oak Tree Farm in Orchard Yard.

Yes we do, find out more about hiring our Paddock, here.

Take a look at what we have to offer, click on the facility you are interested in for more details...

• The Paddock - a one-acre dog field to give your dogs some fun off-lead time.
• Snuffle Run - a secure area to let your dog sniff around and play off-lead.
• Sand School - a large, secure arena is available for hire by the hour or day.
• Education Room - our onsite education/meeting room provides the ideal space to hold your next course, meeting or away day.

We accept pet food donations, but only if they are unopened.

Due to lack of storage, please see the following list of donations we are not currently able to take:

• No duvets
• No pillows
• No quilts
• No medication

Please bear in mind, this list is frequently changing so be sure to check back at a later date for updates!

Did you know you can Gift Aid goods donations? Click here to find out more!

You can drop off your donations at one of our Charity Shops or at our site near Wetheral. On site we have a ‘donation drop off point’, open from 10.00am to 4.00pm 7 days a week - please ask reception for directions.

Did you know you can Gift Aid goods donations? Find out more, here.

There are many ways to donate to Oak Tree, click here to find out how!

Yes, but only if the food is unopened and in date. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to email us: info@okatreeanimals.org.uk

We can collect/deliver some donations however this service is restricted to Carlisle and Maryport areas only. Please feel free to get in touch to discuss this further, call our Carlisle Charity Shop on 01228 401672 or our Maryport Charity Shop on 01900 816082, or email info@oaktreeanimals.org.uk. 

Thank you very much! We host several raffles throughout the year and are very grateful to people for contributing prizes for them. Please bring your raffle prize to our site near Wetheral - Oak Tree Farm, Wetheral Shields, Carlisle, CA4 8JA. We can’t guarantee how much your specific prize will generate in terms of funds, but we find that putting a collection of several prizes together, is the best way to generate interest in our raffles. The likelihood is that your prize will be used as part of a larger raffle alongside several other prizes. Therefore we won’t be able to attribute a specific value to your prize, however we will always aim to announce the collective amount made once the raffle is complete. If you feel you could raise more by hosting a raffle at your place of work, it might be worth considering this as an option. Please contact the Fundraising Team for more information - email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or telephone 01228 560082 (during our opening hours).

Yes, please click here.

We don't accept medication of any sort. We have had to adopt a blanket policy of not accepting this kind of donation, because of the potential risk this poses to the welfare of the animals we care for (we cannot guarantee that a donation of medication hasn’t been tampered with or stored incorrectly). If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to email: info@okatreeanimals.org.uk

Thank you for your interest in Gift Aid, please click here to read our helpful guide to get you started today!

If you are over the age of 16 and would like to volunteer, please fill in our application form indicating which advertised volunteer position you wish to apply for, here.

For further questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator: volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk. 

Our Volunteer Coordinator has a lot of enquiries to go through. We will aim to get back to you within 2 weeks, but please bear with us if you have not heard anything.

All of our volunteers must be at least 16 years old for insurance purposes.

To be a volunteer you must be older than 16 years. There are a variety of volunteer roles and each role may require certain skills, however training and support will be provided as appropriate.

Please check out our volunteer roles for further information on specific requirements.

There are a number of other ways you can get involved…

• Find out what's on, we're always organising activity days and events!
• Our Community Education Officer is ready to visit local schools, colleges and community groups to deliver talks/workshops.
• Fundraise for us - every penny makes a difference to animals in need, we really appreciate your support!
• Why not sponsor an animal? Get your very own Sponsorship Pack and help one of our long-term residents!
• Take one of our interactive quizzes... Choose between Responsible Pet Ownership, Dog Safety or Kid’s Corner Quiz.

You are more than welcome to visit our site and see the donkeys, goats and ponies grazing in the fields. Wander through our woodland or climb around our playground, there's lots of shops for adults too! Be sure to drop by The Tearoom for some tasty homemade cakes and refreshments - we’re open 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Our Teams can be flexible, please feel free to discuss your availability with our Volunteer Coordinator, email volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk

Our Teams can be flexible, when you sign up via our online form just tell us which days you are available. 

If would like to discuss your options further, please email our Volunteer Coordinator: angelh@oaktreeanimals.org.uk.

We don’t always advertise all of our volunteer jobs on the website or sometimes we already have enough volunteers for that role.

If you have specific skills to offer or would like to discuss your options further, please email volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk

If you are 16 years old or over you can volunteer with us, please click here to find out more.

Alternatively, if would like to discuss your options further, please email volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk

Please contact us to arrange an appointment by calling 01228560082 (10.00am to 4.00pm daily), you cannot bring an animal into the Charity without a pre-booked intake appointment. We manage all intakes through a specific process that takes into account all of the circumstances around that animal and the resources available at the charity. 

Please contact us to arrange an appointment by calling 01228560082 (10.00am to 4.00pm daily), you cannot bring an animal into the Charity without a pre-booked intake appointment. We manage all intakes through a specific process that takes into account all of the circumstances around that animal and the resources available at the charity. 

It is incredibly helpful if you can ensure your pet is already fully vaccinated, neutered and microchipped before intake. Although not mandatory, it greatly reduces the time your animal has to spend in the kennels/cattery before being ready for re-homing. We will ask that you authorise the release of your pet’s medical notes before intake. In certain cases, it may be necessary to conduct a pre-intake assessment visit with you and your pet.

Despite our best efforts, it is impossible to help every single animal and, at times, we may have to prioritise emergency cases. As a result, there may be a delay in accepting your animal. We try our best to return all calls but, as we are very busy, so we will only make around four attempts to contact you, so please ensure you leave at least two working telephone numbers and specify if there are any times of day you are unobtainable.

Please do not feed the cat until you have fully read our advice...

If the cat is in a bad condition, please contact your nearest vet.

Cats naturally roam up to 2km and will frequently visit any property where they can obtain food. Bringing a cat into our care who is not genuinely a stray takes up a space which an actual stray or at-risk cat could have used. It also puts the welfare of the cat concerned at risk too, from stress, risk of contracting a contagious illness, or from missing medication if it is on treatment. Please note that we cannot take in a cat until you have fully advertised the cat as missing/lost for at least 7 days.

1. Check to see if the cat is healthy.

Is it a good weight? Can you see any injuries? If you can't see anything wrong with the cat, please don't feed it and move onto the next step. If the cat is in a bad state, please see step 8. 

2. Is it approachable?

If yes, please do not feed it and continue to step 3. If it is not approachable, please go to step 6.

3. Take it to the vets to check for a microchip.

Microchips are a brilliant way for owners to be easily reunited with a missing pet. If the cat does not have a microchip, please see step 4.

4.  Use a paper collar for 7 days.

Use our paper collar template to print and pop a collar onto the cat in question. Put your contact details on the collar and request the owner to get in touch with you if the cat belongs to them. Ensure a collar is on the cat for 7 days, during this time please see step 5 & step 6.

5. Social Media.

This is quite possibly one of the most useful tools for tracking down cat's owners. Post a photo of the cat onto your social media pages and in local groups, a good one to use is 'Missing Cats Cumbria' on Facebook. You can also check to see if you recognise the cat from other lost/missing sites. If nothing comes from any of the above, please continue to steps 6 & 7.

6. Identifying a feral cat.

Feral cats can be identified by the cat's left ear being tipped, this is when the tip of the ear is removed to identify neutered feral cats. If the cat is in a good condition, please do not feed it and continue to step 7. If the cat is in a bad state, please continue to step 8.

7. After 7 days.

If 7 days have passed and you have had no luck with a paper collar, social media or the vets, please refrain from feeding the cat at this stage. Instead, call us on 01228 560082 ext. 228 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm).

8. If the cat is in a bad condition, please do not feed it. Please contact your nearest vet or call us on 01228 560082 ext. 228 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm) for further advice.

Find your nearest vet here.

If the cat cannot easily be trapped, please visit our feral cats page or get in touch with us using the details above.

Arrangements for stray, lost or missing dogs rest with your local council's dog warden, please call them to arrange for the dog to be collected:

• Carlisle City - 01228 817200 (Mon-Fri, 8am-4.30pm) or 07739 223378 (after 4.30pm)
• Allerdale District - 01900 702800 (daytime) or 01900 871080 (out of hours)
• Copeland District - 01946 852804
• Dumfries and Galloway - 01387 260000
• Eden District - 01768 817817
• Scottish Borders - 01835 824000
• South Lakeland District - 01539 733333 or 0845 0504434
• Tynedale Council - 01434 652121

If the dog is in a bad condition, please contact your nearest vet.

This Charity has not been a receiving point for stray dogs since March 2015. Oak Tree cannot by law accept a dog you have found and we cannot take in dogs brought in to our reception. Stray dog collection outside office hours remains the responsibility of the local authority. Please remain with the dog and wait for the out of hours provision from your local council.

If you lose your dog, it is likely to end up in the care of local district and city councils in Cumbria. Oak Tree Animals’ Charity has not been a receiving point for stray dogs since March 2015.

Remember to check with neighbours and use social media to see if anyone has seen your dog. It is a good idea to have a photo of the dog in digital form which you can easily send or post. Please remember that it is the law to have your dog microchipped, and the details up to date. If the dog is chipped and collected, it will be easily found.

Please contact your local council to see if your dog has been handed in

• Carlisle City - 01228 817399 (Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm) 07909 382092 (Monday to Friday 5pm -8am and 24 hours at weekends/bank holidays)
• Allerdale - 01900 702800 (day) / 01900 871080 (out of hours)
• Copeland District - 01946 852804
• Dumfries and Galloway - 01387 260000
• Eden District - 01768 817817
• Scottish Borders - 01835 824000
• South Lakeland District - 01539 733333 / 0845 0504434
• Tynedale Council - 01434 652121

Please click here to read our full advice.

In the first instance, please contact your nearest vet.

For wildlife and other animal enquiries, you can contact Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue Trust on 016973 45078 or another animal charity.

In cases of neglect, cruelty or abuse, please contact RSPCA on 0300 123 4999.

Oak Tree caters for dogs, cats and horses.

For wildlife and other animal enquiries, you can contact Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue Trust on 016973 45078 or another animal charity.

If the animal is injured or in a bad condition, please contact your nearest vet.

Oak Tree caters for dogs, cats and horses.

For wildlife and other animal enquiries, you can contact Knoxwood Wildlife Rescue Trust on 016973 45078 or another animal charity.

If the animal is injured, please contact your nearest vet.

TNR stands for Trap, Neuter and Return which is a programme run by our Community Team to help manage the feral/farm/outdoor cat populations in our local area. Our Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program was launched in September 2015, over the years we've helped well over 1200 cats and have brought hundreds of feral kittens into our care for socialising and rehoming. It is carried out by our Oak Tree Team who are fully trained in the process, ensuring that the cat’s welfare is never compromised. Trapping can take between 2-5 days and our team often traps feral cats throughout the night. The following morning the cats are taken to our partnered vets where they will be neutered, ear tipped and vaccinated. They will recover with us over night and are released back to the area they were trapped the following day.  For further information, please click here.

One un-neutered female cat can become pregnant as young as 4 months old, being responsible for up to 20,000 offspring in just 5 years!  Neutering stalls the population growth of feral cats. It reduces noise and injury caused by fighting and mating. It also helps to reduce the spread of diseases, not only in feral cats but domestic cats too. In some cases, feral cats are viewed as pests and so the controlling of cat colonies becomes an issue for both animal welfare and the law. Our TNR service offers an animal welfare-friendly alternative, helping to restore the relationship between animals and humans. We do not take in feral cats or feral kittens older than 9 weeks of age into our charity for rehoming. This is because future behaviours are formed between 6-9 weeks of age. Once 9 weeks has passed, a feral cat’s welfare will be compromised if placed in an enclosed setting with forced human contact. Oak Tree works in line with modern methods and the Code of Practice of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (with which we hold full membership). For further information, you can contact our Community Team: community@oaktreeanimals.org.uk

Start by creating a list of the cats in your area. If you are the carer of your neighbouring feral cats, contact our Community Team and we can discuss our Trap, Neuter and Return program with you. If you are in need of assistance with a feral cat colony, please contact us or click here to complete our form. Whilst we do not charge for our Trap, Neuter, Return service, each cat we help costs our charity around £80, so we do ask for donations where possible. For further information, you can contact our Community Team on: community@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or call 01228560082 ext. 228 (during our opening hours). 

An outdoor/feral cat is born and raised in the wild with very little if no human interaction. Oak Tree believes that the best place for feral and semi-feral cats is outdoors in an environment they are acclimatised to. This way, they can regulate their own daily routines and are able to avoid confinement and involuntary close contact with humans. This is in-line with guidance from International Cat Care and other leading cat welfare organisations. Usually outdoor cats come from a farm environment or feral colony and have no indoor home experience and, while they can be perfectly friendly towards humans, they prefer to live independently. Any outdoor home needs to ensure that food, shelter, fresh water are available and that the cat receives the veterinary care it needs, including regular vaccinations. Find out more by clicking here.

An ear tip is when the end section of ear is removed by a veterinary surgeon whilst the cat is under general anaesthetic. We use this process instead of microchipping feral cats. By ear tipping the left ear, we can distinguish which cats have been neutered in the future from a distance, rather than causing a cat stress by unnecessary trapping.

The key socialising period for taming a feral cat is between 6-9 weeks of age. This is the age their future behaviours are formed. If the key socialising period is missed, it is the more welfare friendly option to neuter and return feral kittens to their original outdoor home. If you feed a feral cat on a regular basis, it may seem friendly but they much prefer to retain their independence as an outdoor cat. They will hunt and scavenge for themselves but will also come to you for food. Studies have shown it is much more welfare friendly to neuter a feral cat, and allow them to live out their days as an outdoor cat.

Feral cats often live in rural settings in Cumbria such as on farms, with farming families being their regular carers. They can also live in towns/cities - we often call these “community cats”. Click here for more information.

Feral cats will live and breed in an area if there is a “food source” present. Removing feral cats from this area is known as the “vacuum effect”. By removing them, it allows room for an influx of new cats to move into the area who may be harbouring diseases not currently present in the existing feral cats. The most successful approach is to neuter, ear tip and vaccinate the existing cats. This will stabilise the numbers in your area and prevent the spread of disease through mating and fighting to pet cats. Occasionally we have no other choice but to relocate the outdoor/feral cats to a different area, this can be due to a number of reasons. In this circumstance, our Community Team have a list of people who are available to rehome outdoor/feral cats when we need them, usually this is short notice. If you would like to be added to the list or would like to find out more, please contact our Community Team on community@oaktreeanimals.org.uk 

Feral cats are completely harmless to humans and all research has shown they are no more likely to carry diseases infectious to other cats or to humans, than pets. In fact, they are much more likely to run away from you. 

Feral cats are wild and are more fearful of predators, so they are more likely to hide their faeces. Therefore mess is more likely to be from a neighbouring pet cat.

While you can write your own Will, we strongly advise you to seek professional help from either a solicitor or professional will-writing service. All Wills, however straightforward, need to comply with legal requirements and any mistakes could mean that it was not valid. We’ve partnered with expert will writers, Guardian Angel, who have taken the headache out of will writing with a quick and easy online service where each will is checked over by a legal expert. Writing your Will online is very easy and on average only takes 10 minutes!

After many years of hard work and campaigning for animal welfare, which included a move from the south of the country to the north, our charity officially opened its doors at Oak Tree Farm in 1982 - a feat only made possible by generous gifts through Wills. Further developments on site were also only achievable due to gifts left in Wills, and this remains the case today. More than half of the work carried out at Oak Tree is paid for by legacy gifts. Put another way, two out of three meals given to the animals in our care are provided through gifts in Wills. There are all sorts of costs associated with running Oak Tree which include veterinary treatment, food, enrichment, utilities, bedding and general maintenance plus many other expenses. Your legacy will ensure there's always a safe place for animals during their time of need. All donations, regardless of size, provide a lifeline to the animals at Oak Tree. 

The short answer is - now. If you die without a Will, your loved ones will have no say in what happens to your property and possessions. How your estate is divided up and which of your family or remoter relatives will benefit is set out by Law if you don’t make a Will and those you care about could inherit nothing. If you already have a Will but your circumstances have changed significantly since writing, (you may have married, had children, been bereaved, or your assets may have changed in some way), it is especially important to update your Will. Many people are unaware that marriage generally revokes a Will which means that your previous Will would no longer take effect.

That is entirely your decision to make. Legacies are very valuable to us, but leaving one may not be right for you or your particular circumstances and you should consider carefully the amount that you wish to leave. If you are determined to leave Oak Tree a legacy, thank you. We only ask that you ensure your loved ones are taken care of first.

We are always so indebted to supporters who choose to remember us in this way, and appreciate choosing to leave a gift in your Will is an extremely personal decision. If you have remembered Oak Tree Animals’ Charity in your Will, we’d really like to hear from you, but we completely understand if you choose not to inform us of your gift. By choosing to tell us of your plans you will help us with future plans for Oak Tree, and it also means we can thank you properly for your gift. Anything you tell us will be confidential and not legally binding.

There is often the misconception that a legacy means a large sum of money. Whilst some legacies can be significant, of course, many people choose to leave much smaller amounts. All gifts, regardless of size, provide a lifeline to the animals at Oak Tree, and we are grateful for every single donation received. 

There is – we have introduced a Guardianship Support Scheme, which is designed to ensure you no longer have to worry about your pet(s) being left unsupported if you were to die unexpected. To find out more please contact, fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or telephone 01228 560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm).

Please click here to view our latest and upcoming events!

Thank you very much – we’re excited to learn more! Please contact our Team: fundrraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or call 01228560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm).

That’s fantastic! In the first instance, click here to view all of our events and find out more about what’s going on! If you have a specific question, please contact our team: fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk or call 01228 560082 (during our opening hours 10.00am to 4.00pm).

Yes we do, please take a look at our Training and Behaviour page for classes and availability.

Yes we do, please take a look at our Training and Behaviour page for classes and availability. 

I'm sorry to hear we have run out of availability. Please email training@oaktreeanimals.org.uk for more information on upcoming classes.

Yes, please do! You will receive a confirmation after you have booked. You can arrange a confirmation email to be sent to your company by contacting volunteer@aoktreeanimals.org.uk

You can come alone but you must note that during some tasks you will not be supervised. The maximum number of attendees is 10. 

All volunteers at Oak Tree Animals' Charity must be 16 or over.

Oak Tree's operating hours are 8.00am to 4.00pm. The Corporate Volunteering Days are planned in advance and are run between 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Oak Tree Farm is an operational farm evnironment, so we recommend sturdy shoes, walking boots or wellies on a wet day and bring along a waterproof jacket just in case. Please do not wear sandals or open-toed shoes. You will be required to wear a volunteer badge; this will be given to you during the safety talk in the morning.

Absolutely, just let us know in advance of any support you may need (eg. disabilities or allergies) and we can plan the day accordingly. 

Yes, just contact volunteer@oaktreeanimals.org.uk and this can be arranged with one of our Shop Managers.

Yes, parking is free at Oak Tree Farm and there are parking options at all our Charity Shops.

Lunch is not provided. Our Tearoom is open 10.00am to 4.00pm where you can purchase food, and if you show your volunteering badge you will receive a volunteer discount. Or you can bring your own lunch and eat this in our Education Room or around the site on one of the benches. 

Yes, Oak Tree Farm is open to the public so photos can be taken, however, please don't use flash photography near the animals.