We’re delighted to share some wonderful news from Moonacre Sanctuary — Rusty and Luna have each found their forever homes!
They will be leaving at the beginning of March to travel to England, where their new chapters will begin. While it’s always emotional saying goodbye, this is exactly what Moonacre Sanctuary is here for – giving animals the time, care, and second chances they need before finding the right match for their future.
We are so proud of how far they’ve both come, and so grateful to our supporters who make these happy endings possible.
Good luck, Rusty and Luna – your new chapters begin now!
On the 18th of January, after returning from a dog walk, we found a puppy collapsed against our gate. We expected him to run away but instead, he ran straight into our arms. There was no tail wag, no excitement -only complete exhaustion.
Rusty was freezing, emaciated, and filthy. His ribs were clearly visible, and his gums were white – clear signs of prolonged neglect and extreme weakness. We brought him inside immediately, fed and hydrated him, gently bathed him, administered injectable vitamins, and settled him safely into a crate. He fell asleep almost instantly.
We named him Rusty, after the beautiful colour of his coat. From that moment on, a life of suffering, loneliness, and neglect would never again be his reality.
Rusty has since been examined by our vet. We’re relieved to share that he has no microchip and, thankfully, no underlying illness. His blood work is clear—he is simply very underweight and in need of time, nourishment, and rest.
Despite everything he has endured, Rusty appears to be lead-trained, is friendly with other dogs, and has shown himself to be an incredibly sweet, gentle soul.
For now, Rusty’s world revolves around rest, good food, and steady weight gain. He is safe, warm, and exactly where he needs to be.
Rusty is ready and searching for his forever home – a loving family who will give him the life he so deeply deserves. If you think you could be that special family for Rusty, please get in touch with us.
Three years ago, 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗔’s life was hanging by a thread.
Early that morning, trails of blood were found in a garden, leading to a stray dog local families had grown deeply fond of. 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗔 had been shot at close range, execution-style, through the top of her head. The bullet exited through her left eye, leaving her in severe shock and unable to move.
What followed were weeks of emergency care, pain management, and constant monitoring. Against all odds, 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗔 survived. More than that — she forgave the world that had been unimaginably cruel to her.
Today, 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗔 is gentle, affectionate, and quietly trusting. She loves calm companionship, soft beds, and the simple comfort of feeling safe. She is brilliant with children, and she’s a joy to walk — happy both on and off the lead, taking everything in with a soft, steady confidence.
But three years is far too long for a dog like 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗔 to be living in a sanctuary instead of a loving home of her own.
If you think you could offer 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗔 the calm, compassionate home she deserves, please get in touch or complete an adoption application.
As we step into 2026, we want to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us and the hope ahead.
In 2025, we said some very emotional goodbyes – and hello to new beginnings – as six of our dogs went to live with their forever families, beginning a new chapter in their lives. Seeing them leave MoonAcre to start safe, loved lives of their own is the reason we do what we do. We are endlessly grateful to the families who opened their homes and hearts.
As the new year begins, our biggest wish is for the seven wonderful dogs currently waiting for their forever families to finally find them. We hope that Liam, Luna, Arabella, Ghost, Benbo, Paris, and Buster will each get their chance at the love, stability, and companionship they deserve.
Thank you to everyone who has supported MoonAcre – through volunteering, adopting, donating, sharing our stories, or simply caring. Your kindness makes every rescue, every recovery, and every happy ending possible.
Here’s to 2026, to new beginnings, and to more lives changed for the better.
By sponsoring a MoonAcre horse, you become an essential part of their journey of healing and hope. All 12 of our resident horses are available to be sponsored, and your support helps provide everything they need: daily care, nutritious feed, veterinary and farrier support, rehabilitation, and enrichment. Most importantly, sponsorship gives each horse the time, patience, and compassion they need to heal, feel safe, and truly thrive.
Meet our Horses Available for Sponsorship:
10 months apart
Cairo
Candy:
Flicka with Artax (2020)
Flicka (2021)
Flicka (2023)
Flicka came to MoonAcre at just six months old. Bred to be a racehorse, she was deemed “too small” to race and, heartbreakingly, was at risk of being put down.
To save her life, Flicka had to be taken from her mother far earlier that any foal should be. Thankfully, our resident mares adopted her as one of their own helping to raise her within the safety of the herd.
Pearl:
Pearl was born here at MoonAcre,
Red arrived at MoonAcre at just seven months old. He had been taken from his mother and given as a gift, but without the care or understanding a young foal needs.
Tragically, Red was subjected to a deliberate act of cruelty that left him with permanent facial scarring. Despite extensive veterinary care and every possible attempt to help him heal, his injuries could not be fully repaired.
Today, Red is safe, loved, and will never be harmed again.
7 month old Red Cloud arriving at MoonAcre (2015).
2 year old Red Cloud
Red Cloud (2023)
Saphira (2015)
Saphira is an ex-racehorse who came to MoonAcre after suffering severe abuse during her racing career. She had been subjected to the misuse of drugs and steroids, which caused extensive damage to the veins in her neck and face, leaving her permanently scarred.
When Saphira arrived, her condition was so poor that, alongside our vets, we faced the very real possibility that she might not survive. She was underweight, fragile, and fighting to recover. Through years of dedicated veterinary care, patience, and love, Saphira slowly began to heal — gaining strength, weight, and trust.
Today, Saphira is a gentle, kind soul who and thrives in the calm, safe environment of the sanctuary.
Meet our Horses Supported by Sponsors:
These horses are proudly supported by our sponsors. Their generosity helps provide daily care and allows each horse to thrive.
2023
Lemmy is an ex-racehorse.
Pablo came into our care in March 2020 after being found living alone in a paddock no bigger than a bedroom. Despite warnings that he was difficult to load, Pablo calmly walked into our trailer and began his new life with us.
Years of isolation had left Pablo withdrawn and disconnected, so we focused first on helping him feel safe. With time, patience, and gentle introductions, he learned to trust humans and began forming bonds with our resident horses.
Pablo was diagnosed with Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease, an incurable but manageable condition. With corrective shoeing, a supplemented diet, and a light exercise programme, he is now comfortable and thriving.
