04/09/2026
National Wildlife Day 🐾
This National Wildlife Day, we want to spotlight one of our brilliant customers, WildSide Exotic Rescue, and the incredible work they do!
WildSide Exotic Rescue began by accident. Founder Lindsay McKenna tripped over a raccoon, bought as an unwanted Christmas present and left living alone in a cold, dark garage. When it escaped, WildSide Exotic Rescue was born.
That story isn't unusual. It reflects what thousands of wild animals bought as exotic pets in the UK face - kept in garages, gardens, bedrooms and sheds, never able to live the lives they were meant to.
Today WildSide gives lifelong sanctuary to over 150 rescued animals across 43 non-native species, and campaigns to end the UK's wild animal pet trade.
Two of their residents:
🐹 George the capybara was bought at 8 weeks old via social media and grew up in a lounge with three dogs. He struggled to bond with WildSide's capybara herd, so the team let him choose. Now George has got himself free roaming access to the yard and barn and is best friends with the dogs there.
🦝 Polar the raccoon dog was kept alone in a junkyard, motorbikes constantly revving around her. She arrived terrified, and months on is still healing - housed away from noise and people while she learns to feel safe.
This National Wildlife Day, we're proud that our welded wire mesh helps keep enclosures like theirs safe and secure. Even prouder of the work Lindsay and her team do every day 💚
Want to help WildSide continue this amazing work? You can donate here 👉 https://www.wildsideexoticrescue.co.uk/support-wildside/
Read more about WildSide's work 👉 https://wildsideexoticrescue.co.uk
📺 As seen on BBC iPlayer: Extraordinary Portraits
