I vaguely remember reading and loving this book as a child. It was set in the UK and was about a group of children who helped/looked after animals. The main children I think were siblings but they walk dogs and try and rescue animals.

The story is set I think in the 1940s or 50s England. There is of course the strict and kill joy police man who doesn’t like the kids. One part I clearly remember is the kids rescue this scruffy cat that shows up on a rainy night and they call him Roger the Lodger because he lives in the hutch on the porch. There is also a part where they build a bird table and they are sad that the big rooks are eating all the food and scaring the smaller birds away.

I can’t remember the main plot of the book but I think it is about rescuing an old over worked donkey from the local farrier or the local tinker/metal scavenger (sorry the exact term for the guy escapes me) but the policeman keeps getting in the way.

I think the author is a woman and I am quite confident that it is not Enid Blyton.

I have been looking for this book forever so I’d love it if one of you dear Redditors could help me out here.