Goats are very popular with smallholders, who think they will eat the grass. Unless they're tethered, what the goats will actually do is munch the veggies!" said Helen Wright, manager of the Blue Cross adoption centre at Burford, with a somewhat mischievous glint in her eye.

Burford is one of a network of 12 such centres in England whose role is to rehome animals, usually because the owners have died or as a consequence of family break-ups. Strays rarely feature and, even then, Burford only handles stray cats. Oxfordshire's dog wardens are particularly adept at reuniting pet and owner and only one dog has been put to sleep in three years.

"I wish more landlords would allow pets, we get so many dogs brought to us because of that. It is a shame, most dogs are really well-behaved. November onwards is our really busy time, it seems to be the season for relationship problems to come to a head," Helen explained.

The centre rehomes companion animals - dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats, goats and the occasional sheep - and the ten-stage process is stringent. Animals brought to the centre are assessed, then vaccinated, chipped and wormed. Dogs are placed in a reception area for a week or so to allow them to settle before being moved to the public compound. The vet calls each week to examine, treat and neuter as necessary.

Blue Cross also employs animal behaviourists who will then retrain and socialise any who exhibit problems.

Interested adopters complete a questionnaire to help staff match them with a suitable pet.

"An older cat that has been the only pet of an elderly owner may well not settle in a family of boisterous children, or where there are other pets' explains Helen.

The Blue Cross website contains full details of all the pets awaiting adoption. This offers a choice from any one of their centres and is a very popular feature.

Choice made, adopters are encouraged to give it as much thought and time as they need and to visit their prospective animal as many times as they wish before committing.

"Our job is to ensure the right match," said Helen, firmly. "There is no pressure at all on adopters and we are not about rehoming as many pets as we can, regardless. That's why we have such good success rates.' Staff conduct home visits to check the environment before adoption goes ahead. The new owners sign an agreement promising to care for the pet and return it if they are unable to maintain the commitment.

Elderly animals, or those with long-term health problems, are fostered, with the Centre maintaining responsibility for their care. Burford has 37 pets being fostered.

Most adopters collect at weekends. "Ten cats, five dogs, two guinea-pigs and two rats left the centre last weekend," said Helen.

The cattery, our first port of call, is row upon row of ceiling-high cages. Many house just one cat, but several have two, companions from the same home. Black and white predominate, ginger and tortoiseshell in the minority.

Reactions to us are mixed, from baleful glares at us disturbing the serious business of snoozing, to one eye cocked open or a paw stretched lazily, to great excitement and demands to be cuddled. Which, of course, we do.

Three short-haired kittens, Polly, Pippa and Misty, skitter across the floor and use my camera bag as an assault course. Polly has a gargantuan purr way out of proportion to her diminutive jet-black frame, a deep rumbling that makes her whole body vibrate. I want to take them all home.

Helen is clearly in her element, bonding naturally and very warmly with her charges. She tells me that after some years as a dog warden, she ran a pet rescue centre in Leeds before moving south.

The dogs all give us a vociferous welcome, eager to be noticed and fussed. We meet a ridgeback, a greyhound, a boxer perched on a table, who grins at us. The facilities are spotless - and every dog has toys to keep them amused.

Rabbits and guinea-pigs enjoy five-star accommodation too, with plenty of straw and large hutches to keep out the winter chill.

"Why the carrier bags and boxes in the rabbit pens?" I asked.

"Toys," Helen replied. "They just love to hop in and out of them."

What I mistook for sheep when I walked in are revealed as angora goats; their tight curly coats resemble old-fashioned wigs.

Helen walked me over to the equine adoption centre, where I find their modus operandi very different. Apparently, it is all too common for horses to be given away to neighbours when the children outgrow them, or give up riding.

So, while most horses come to the centre to be rehomed rather than because of neglect, Blue Cross only give them out on long-term loan - which could be a lifetime - and visit every six months to see that all is well. Burford can take up to 60 horses at a time and is one of two equine centres.

Blue Cross was founded in 1897 as the Dumb Friends' League. In its early days, the league did much towards the welfare of horses, such as the draught horse scheme to assist smaller horses to pull heavy loads up London's steeper hills.

After both the first and second world wars, the league set up quarantine kennels for dogs brought back from overseas by servicemen.

In 1950, the name was changed to The Blue Cross. The charity now boasts 16 centres, from Thirsk in the north to Torbay in the south. Four animal hospitals, three in London and one in Grimsby, are complemented by 12 adoption centres.

Entirely funded by donations to meet the £15m annual running costs, Blue Cross is always seeking extra financial support. Charity shops and tie-ins with suppliers of clothing, jewellery and even holiday cottages, bring in further income.

Hills Petfoods supply all the centres with food free of charge, an enormous load off the Blue Cross budget.

Want to get involved? Volunteers are most welcome, be it cat cuddling, pet bereavement counselling or their mobile clinics - Helen and her team need you.

Helen Wright can be contacted on 01993 822454 or visit the website