Established in 1983 by Annabelle Walter, Happy Landings in Pylle has been a beacon of hope for animals in need.

Now, four decades later, that seed has blossomed into a beacon of hope for numerous animals in need, providing refuge for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even farm animals from the local area.

From a small beginning, Happy Landings has grown, supported by the generosity of the community, into a modern refuge with 12 rescue spaces for dogs and 12 boarding kennels. The latter crucially supports the charity's financial needs. Each improvement over the years, each new facility added, has been designed with the utmost consideration for animal welfare, seeking to reduce stress and provide a quality life for every animal taken in.

The lifeblood of Happy Landings is its intimate team of seven staff, supplemented by a band of committed volunteers who help with daily chores, animal socialising, and reception duties. Some have been with the charity for many years, and their unwavering loyalty is key to its survival.

However, 40 years after the charity began, Happy Landings is now navigating stormy waters. The socioeconomic fallout of the past three years has unleashed a torrent of challenges upon animal rescues, and Happy Landings is no exception. A surge in surrender requests for all species is straining their capacities. The rising cost of living, forcing people to work longer hours or take on additional jobs, is leaving pets without the time and care they deserve.

And even as Happy Landings proudly marks their 40th birthday, it desperately needs support to meet escalating costs and falling donations. This is where the 40-in-40" appeal comes in - a target of £40,000 has been set to secure the charity's future, cover operational costs, and most importantly, continue taking in and caring for animals most in need.

Take, for example, the heart-wrenching story of Travis the pug.

"Travis came into us as was surrendered by his owners as they were moving into sheltered housing where pets were not allowed," said Lisa Welstead, one of the charity's trustees.

"He was very neglected when he arrived - seven years old, could barely walk, overweight, claws growing into pads, untreated painful eye infection and condition causing blindness, a mouth full of rotten teeth, and infected ears.

"He was depressed for the first few weeks here. Gradually after claw clips, baths, quality food, weight loss, dental, eye operations and treatments, and ear drops, he started to run around, play and was finally adopted. The cost of all this to Happy Landings came to around £1500. One little neglected pug cost a huge amount to put right,t but it was 100% worth it to see him settled in his forever home and pain-free."

Today, Happy Landings is urgently asking for your help to ensure that stories like Travis' are not left untold.

For the past 40 years, Happy Landings has been a safe harbour for hundreds of needy animals, mending broken spirits and nurturing them until they found their forever homes.

Your donations will serve as lifelines, not just to an organisation that has given four decades of compassion and care, but to countless innocent lives waiting to be saved.

Your generous donation can help Happy Landings ensure that hundreds more animals experience the joy of finding their forever home and help shape a future where every animal gets the love and care it deserves.

With your help, Happy Landings can create a future full of compassion and hope, one animal at a time.