One woman, who was born in wealth, revealed that she moved to Greece to escape the UK’s class system and is now responsible for 50 rescue dogs. 

Sandy, now 76 years old, was born in England and moved to Greece more than forty-five decades ago at the age of 21. She opened Magic Mountain Animal Shelter in her 60s with her inheritance.

Ben Fogle visited Sandy tonight for the episode of New Lives in the Wild, which airs at 9pm on Channel 5. He discovered that Sandy spends all her time caring for 25 dogs and 20 cats. Eight donkeys and one horse live on the 300 year-old farm that she purchased with savings. 

Even though money poured into the shelter has started to run out, Sandy, who spends £3,000 a months on the animals’ care, told Ben she hopes to find a solution for the project’s future.   

She admitted that her childhood was quite different than her present life at 76 years old. Her father was an army officer in the British Army, her family had a lot of money and owned a Norfolk pile. 

Sandy said that she was angry at the system for her family not allowing her to talk to everyone. 

Sandy, 76, right, welcomed Ben Fogle in her Magic Mountain Animal Shelter on the Greek island of Andros, for tonight's episode of New Lives in the Wild, airing on Chanel 5 at 9pm

Sandy (76), right, welcomes Ben Fogle in her Magic Mountain Animal Shelter, on the Greek island Of Andros. This is tonight’s episode on New Lives in the Wild. It airs on Chanel 5, 9pm.

Sandy was born to a father who worked in Australia. She stayed for three years. 

Ben heard from her, that she had sent her brother to England by boat. 

“It is mind-blowing.” It was probably quite harmful for him,” she stated. 

“Now, when I reflect on it, it’s kind of hard for me to believe that this happened.” In fact, my brother took his own life. 

Sandy used her inheritance to buy a 300-year-old farm house, and started the shelter when she was in her 60s. She looks after 25 dogs, some pictured, 20 cats, eight donkeys, one horse and one mule

Sandy bought a 300 year-old farmhouse from her estate and began the shelter in her 60s. Sandy looks after twenty-five dogs (some pictured), 20 cats, eight donkeys and one horse. 

“It is affecting me now. It was something I did not fully understand at the time. Later in my life, I understood it.

Sandy was 9 years old when she went to Surrey boarding school. After her family returned to the UK, Sandy bought a home in Norfolk. 

Although she said that she was fine with the idea of boarding school, she said it was for “survivors.”  

While she claimed that growing up her life was “okay”, it was very strict and rigid.

Pressed by Ben, she added:  ‘There were parts of it when I kind of wanted to break out of it, but actually I couldn’t. 

The dogs rescued by Sandy, some pictured, are often thrown over her fence or tied to her gate Some were rescued from bins

Sandy rescues dogs from their homes. Some of them are pictured here. Others were tied to Sandy’s gate or thrown over the fence. 

“Sometimes, I think that the main reason I went to Greece was to get out of a system I did not want to be a part of.

“There were some people I was able to go out with but not other. So, I believe that my decision to come here was due to the fact I feel totally free. 

“And, I’m talking to Greeks who have no idea about my past. Sandy said, “You are just another person. 

Sandy spoke out about her Magical Mountain Rescue. She admitted that she was initially a little nervous to be able to live on her 300-year old farm, which she had purchased with her inheritance.

After a trip to Greece in her 20s, she explained that she felt moved by its beauty.

Sandy spends most of her time looking after the animal ,feeding, bathing and grooming the dogs who are awaiting adoption, like this foursome

Sandy is a dog walker and spends her days caring for the animals. She feeds, bathes, and cares about the four-legged family members. 

‘The beauty. The beauty was beyond my comprehension. It was overwhelming to me because I am a visual person. 

“It’s been a difficult decision. 

‘I was slightly nervous about it. In truth, I wasn’t here the first six months. It was my first purchase and I just kinda sat there thinking about it.

“And then I finally came. Slowly, slowly I learned how it worked, how to use it and how to fix things that I wasn’t familiar with. “I just observed whoever was doing it, and I learned from them. 

Ben told her she didn’t regret her decision after 40 years. 

He said that she couldn’t believe that he could spend time with animals, and be doing the same thing now. 

Ben said Sandy was 'selfless' to let the dog sleep wherever they want in her house while she sleeps in a bunk bed

Sandy said Ben was selfless to allow the dog to sleep in their house, while Sandy sleeps in a bed on her bunk bed. 

“And I also have lived an amazing life on this island.

It’s true that money can enable you to accomplish things. But the joy comes from caring for these animals. Although I now have to find other ways to raise my funds to continue the business, I don’t regret doing what I did.

“I want to be healthy so I can keep going. The plan I have is to stay in my current place and allow someone to continue running it.

Sandy was Sandy’s dog, and Ben immediately became astonished at the number of dogs in Sandy’s house.  

He said, “I can’t hear myself talking,” while the dogs howled behind him. 

Ben was amazed that Sandy, 76 years old, still sleeps on a bunk bed in order to allow for additional dogs. The seven puppies she has with her sleep on the floor while others are spread out in the kitchen, living room, and other areas of the 300-year old farm. 

He said to the camera, “I don’t know how she does it all.”

“She loves animals and is very passionate. She also sleeps on a bunk so the dogs have a place to rest. 

Sandy spends her days caring for and grooming dogs who are in search of adoptive families from Greece. Ben was proud to hear that one of her rescue pups has found a new home in Canada. 

The adoption fees for rescue pets are free to adoptive parents. Instead, she relies upon donations and fundraising. 

She said, “Everything I have inherited has been for the animals in general,”

The cost to run the shelter and the cost of building the house. It’s actually running out right now.

Ben and Sandy, pictured with some of the shelter's dogs. Sandy said she did not want to fit into the UK's class system when she was younger, which prompted her to move to Greece

Sandy and Ben are pictured together with the shelter’s animals. Sandy explained that when she was young, she wasn’t interested in fitting into the UK class system. This led her to relocate to Greece.

Sandy told Ben how she used paint portraits of animals and sold them to raise funds for the shelter. However, she has no time to do so anymore which means that money is scarce.  

Sandy, who was visiting Ben during his visit revealed that she had taken in three puppy litters of puppies about a week old from a shelter. 

‘It’s horrifying, one of the worst crimes, in my mind, that you can commit,’ she told Ben. 

Sandy had to feed the puppies every two hours which was quite a task. 

She claimed that dogs are a great substitute for humans and she believes so.  

“Small talk” was her response to Ben.

“I have had many relationships, so I don’t believe anybody would want to me now,” she said, adding that living with 50 pets made it difficult for romantic interactions. 

Ben asked her whether she would ever trade dogs for a partner, and she answered “definitely not.” 

Additionally, she said she didn’t buy the farm to make it a shelter. She did it because she was able to spend the money, time and space necessary to care for the animals.  

She said people often leave unwanted dogs at their gate or throw them out of her fence. 

A nervous Ben watched Sandy visit a family who had received a tip about their dog’s mistreatment. 

After seeing the poor condition of the dog, she brought him along to see a vet. But, Ben learned that she intended to leave the animal at the shelter to recover.   

Lives in the Wild: Ben Fogle’s new series airs at 9 pm on Channel 5.