Rex Harper brings to life the story of the incredible animal sanctuary that he and his family spent more than 40 years building. From small beginnings, the Harpers' haven became a magnet for an extraordinary array of animal waifs and strays and was designated the official RSPCA center for Cornwall in the late 1970s, taking in more than 50,000 abused and abandoned creatures by the time Rex and his wife retired. In this tale he introduces us to the colorful cast of characters that have become his family--Patti the unlikely guard dog poodle, Odin the Machiavellian raven, and One Eye the seemingly indestructible cat. He describes, too, the dark side of his work as an RSPCA warden, chronicling some of the inhuman cruelty he witnessed during his years at the forefront of animal welfare in Cornwall. Inspiring and poignant, warm and witty, this evocation of life close to nature is a book that will touch--and sometimes break--the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.