In the rolling hills of the English countryside, where wildflowers sway under vast skies, reality TV star Pete Wicks has carved out a sanctuary that’s as much a testament to love as it is to redemption. Best known for his cheeky charm on The Only Way Is Essex and heartfelt twirls on Strictly Come Dancing, Pete’s journey took a profound turn in 2017 when he jetted to South Korea with Humane Society International (HSI). There, amid the grim reality of a dog meat farm in Namyangju, he helped liberate over 170 terrified souls—mastiffs, spaniels, greyhounds, and more—from wire cages stained with despair. These weren’t just animals; they were family members in waiting, spared from electrocution and the infamous bosintang stew that claims 2.5 million lives yearly in Korea’s brutal trade.

Among the “Lucky 13” Pete personally smuggled back to the UK were a golden retriever with soulful eyes, a beagle bursting with untapped joy, and a Korean jindo whose spirit mirrored his own resilient fire. “Seeing those dogs for the first time… it broke me,” Pete later shared, his voice cracking in interviews. The emaciated frames, the haunted gazes—it was a far cry from the glamorous Essex nights. Back home, those 13 pups didn’t just find homes; they ignited a fire in Pete. Fast-forward to 2025, and that spark has blossomed into a £5 million dream farm, a sprawling 100-acre haven in Essex dedicated to rescuing abandoned and abused dogs. Dubbed “Paws & Hearts Farm,” it’s no ordinary estate. Solar-powered kennels blend seamlessly with wild meadows for off-leash romps, therapy pools ease arthritic joints, and a dedicated vet clinic ensures every tail wag is backed by care. Pete poured his savings, endorsements, and relentless fundraising into it, transforming what was once a derelict dairy farm into a beacon for the voiceless.

But the true magic unfolded during the farm’s star-studded opening in late 2024. As dignitaries and fellow celebs mingled under fairy lights strung across blooming orchards, Pete took the mic. Flanked by the now-thriving original 13—older but no less adored—he paused, eyes glistening. “These dogs saved me as much as I saved them,” he began, his Essex lilt softening into raw vulnerability. “After losing my dad young, I built walls higher than these fences. But these furry warriors? They taught me trust, forgiveness… unconditional love. This farm isn’t about me—it’s a promise to every pup facing the knife or the streets: you’re not disposable. You’re heroes.” The crowd fell silent, phones lowered, as tears traced cheeks. In that moment, Pete wasn’t the tattooed heartthrob; he was every broken soul who’d found healing in a wet nose and wagging tail.

The impact rippled outward. “Paws & Hearts” now partners with Dogs Trust, rehoming over 200 strays annually, while Pete’s docuseries For Dogs’ Sake—which premiered on U&W in 2024—has boosted adoptions by 30% at UK shelters. Drawing from his Korean mission, the farm emphasizes ethical transitions for breeders, offering retraining in humane livelihoods like sustainable farming. Yet, Pete’s words linger as the emotional core: a reminder that rescue isn’t charity—it’s reciprocity. In a world quick to scroll past suffering, his £5M gamble whispers that one person’s pain, shared through paws, can silence a thousand cynics and mend a million hearts. As Pete often says, gazing at his pack, “Dogs don’t judge your past; they just love your present.” And in that quiet truth, hope bounds freely across those Essex fields.