Beneath the Wood is a Viva! award-winning vegan sanctuary based in Wales that provides permanent homes for dogs with behaviour issues, pigs, sheep, cats and horses.

Sasha Bennett set up Beneath the Wood in 2009 when she moved from Bristol to a 15-acre site in Ceredigion, nestled in beautiful rolling hills midway between the towns of Lampeter and Tregaron.

In 2019 we were involved in a high-profile case that rescued #53 pigs from truly horrifying conditions at an illegal slaughterhouse in Pembrokeshire. It meant Beneath the Wood tripled the size of the sanctuary’s dependents overnight, and we now have over 90 pigs, and over 135 animals in total. The cost of caring for and feeding so many animals is a huge challenge.

We also do work in rehabilitating dogs with behaviour issues – first identifying and then alleviating their problems. Like the pigs, a lot of these dogs have been saved from being put to sleep … and they have thrived since arriving at Beneath the Wood.

Our resident dogs are not able to be rehomed because of behaviour issues. They have come to us from other rescues or from vets. Our cats and other farm animals have come from local farmers or people in the local community. Most of the animals that come to us will stay here for life as a safe haven.

We work with the animals in a positive way to help them overcome any problems. We help to build their confidence so they can enjoy life. We also spend time campaigning for a cruelty free world. We are a strictly no-kill sanctuary.