Where possible we always look to rehome the dogs that we take in. Sometimes, however, the dogs that we help are too badly traumatised/ have issues preventing them from being homed. These are our Sanctuary Dogs.
By sponsoring you will receive bi monthly updates on their adventures, including pictures/videos, as a thank you for your continued support.
The sponsorship ensures they are provided for for life, no matter what comes up. The monthly donations pay for vet fees, good quality food, enrichment toys, grooming etc and for their general care and well being.
READ THEIR INDIVIDUAL STORIES BELOW. If you want to sponsor more than one just choose one name on the form below and email us the rest through. info@dogs4rescue.co.uk
Laika – the first dog we rescued back in Oct 2013 when this dream started, she’s now nearly 8 yrs old. She had been shot by a restaurant owner in Bulgaria while she was scavenging for food. Luckily she was able to walk again but the shooting left her doubly incontinent. She wears nappies in the house and has some very sparkly when she needs to look her best. When we started doing child psychology sessions last year Laika found her dream role. She was a natural and enjoys her TLC time as much as the kids enjoy her helping them. She has her own little Sunday job here now and it fits well with our view that it’s the dogs that end up rescuing us instead! We adore Laika she has helped settle in so many newbies over the years.
“Our Queen”, SHERRY, was shot in Bulgaria and paralysed.
She was brought over by a lady who then found her too hard to manage and we were asked to step in as emergency foster care for her. This was November 2013. She has lived here ever since being the matriarch of the pack and the one we can always rely on to greet visitors first and with the most beautiful big smile.
We spent over £3000 on operations to make life easier and help her get around better. Sherry’s special food is over £60 per bag (as she is incontinent she needs to be on a specific diet). Sherry is now 9 years old, our most precious gem.
Please help us help Sherry with everything she may need by sponsoring her..
VALENTINO has been here for many years and we are unsure what his past involved but we have learned that he has some random fears, problem being they are unpredictable. A large dog who can bite if unnerved is not an option for rehoming and so he will live his days here with us, getting special walks by a few chosen helpers who adore him and treat him to quality TLC. He is a large member of the dog family here and was Parkers best friend.
Please sponsor Valentino who has many years left and who needs a considerable amount of care.
STUART – Or Grumpy Stu as he is now famously known as – is one of our biggest characters. After 10 years on the streets and covered in war wounds this old boy just loves it so much here he ruins every chance he gets at a home of his own. He settled so well he just doesn’t seem to want to be anywhere else. He has claimed his sofa, is respected by the pack and feels his position is secure. So, while we still hope to convince him that having a home of his own is better one day, he continues to act out everywhere else and so will most likely live out his days here keeping doggies in order and off his sofa. A strong and precious soul.
Beautiful BEAR is a big girl who we had hoped we could rehabilitate quite quickly. A young Romanian girl she is very sweet but clearly very afraid. She had fallen in love with Tiger (in the background) and chose to spend all her time at his side. A couple of months ago Tiger sadly died unexpectedly and she has been left bereft. We are working hard to try and tame bear every day.
Please help by sponsoring Bear who will one day learn to trust us we are
Jessie has been with us for many years. He is blind, has had his ears and tail cut off (common for breeds like him used to guard livestock in Bulgaria) – he is a Turkish Kangal and one of the gentlest, kindest dogs you could meet. His young life was traumatic but his days here involve cuddling with his many friends, on his huge bed and looking after the farmies outside. He is loved more than he will ever understand and he is happy <3
ZACH (grandad) came in as a death row poundie from the UK. We had a blurry pic sent of a white staff due to die and agreed to take him. We had no idea how old he was and when he came it was apparent, he had many conditions.
Huge vet bills later he’s doing great but has spondylosis, arthritis, canine dementia, is deaf and his liver isn’t functioning too well adding to already regular accidents. Not an easy dog to home especially being around 13 years, he will no doubt live out his retirement here but is one of the most loved dogs by all. One of the biggest characters of the rescue to date and his mission in life is to irritate Grumpy Stu.
Emma is a beautiful girl from a pound in Romania who has suffered abuse which has left her feral, this means unable to be touched. She arrived 2016. Although we have worked on her her progress has been one of the slowest, a long term project.
Please help us support Emma by sponsoring her, she is still very young and we have a long way to go.
FRIDAY is the ONLY UK dog we have ever known who was feral (unable to be touched). We had him from 4 months when he was first picked up by the dog warden and was due to be put to sleep the same day – luckily someone put a call in to us and we took him. It didn’t take long to bring him round but when we tried to home him he couldn’t cope and escaped. All those who follow what we do will remember the dramatic 3 week search and against all odds we got him back. He is clearly safe and happy here but his confidence doesn’t stretch to coping in a normal home…..yet anyway.
Many will remember the great escape TARKA made when we tried to place her in a “normal” home. Tarka came from Bulgaria where she was saved from a garden which had seen tonnes of dogs kept together chained to old cars etc – many dogs had died and the starving ones left were surviving by living off them. Goodness knows what this did to our girl but she is one of the most timid dogs we have had. She is safe and enjoys life here and after trying to home her we have realised she is so institutionalised this is the only place the old girl will be able to cope with and feel happy.
Poor MINDY has bounced around numerous kennel based rescues around the UK – having been brought in to the UK from Romania as a puppy into rescue, we blame the system for what she has ended up like. She is black so wasn’t chosen as a baby and she is now completely feral and struggling to trust. Mindy jumps all fences b ut never escapes, she wants to be near you but is too afraid to be touched. As far as we have had she has never been touched but will now come up for treats. Our hearts break.
AGNES. Another girl broken by the UK rescue system. Brought from Romania as a puppy she and her sister also ended up here as they were going to be put to sleep by the local council after deemed too “dangerous” as they were feral. Agnes has come further than our other sanctuary dogs and with us at least is a “normal” pet dog. Sadly, she still struggles with any visitors and takes a long time to warm to even our regular helpers. It would not yet be safe to rehome her but you never know….
SMOKEY came in via the police after being taken from a very sad situation from his original home from down south. His owner was an abusive alcoholic who lived with his elderly mother who had dementia. We can only imagine what this boy has been put through but very quickly it became apparent that he was unhomeable. He arrived emaciated, and is so badly traumatised that his behaviour is completely unpredictable and his bite fierce. He is great with the dogs here and lives happily but we have to handle him extra carefully and some days, when he’s not in the mood it’s just not an option. He could not safely ever be rehomed.
This is HAVANA, sister of Helen, who was just as broken by the UK rescue she ended up in, so much so that when we got her she broke her leg on day one just jumping off the sofa. We learned from the vets that due to lack of nutrition in her life and the fact she didn’t move all the months in kennels, her bones were so brittle they were like chalk. They tried in a long operation to pin the bone but had to amputate the whole leg as it just crumbled. We were gutted for her. A long period of rest and to be given special food to build her up and she is life and soul now, but very wary of people. We have already spent nearly £1000 in vet care since she arrived last year.
Beautiful little BETH, who still had ear tag in from her street dog days in Romania until we finally got it out recently. She is a timid, scared little soul but who is starting to show real character and we have some hope that one day in the distant future she may be able to fly this safe nest. Until then we will continue to work with her and overcome her fears of people by bribing her as she is one of the most treat motivated dogs we have ever known.
Older girl JERRI was broken in a Romanian shelter where she had been for years – clear from her reactions her only touch has been to be hit. We have had her a year now and have managed some strokes. She is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known, no aggression even when terrified of something. She deserves every bit of the happiness she now is starting to show – onwards and upwards for this girl.
INCA came to us from Cyprus with her sister Abi. Abi was rehomed successfully but Inca just struggled. She adores Sherry – treats her like her mum and follows her everywhere. She prefers to be with Sherry than people and still gets very upset about being too close to strangers. Poor young Inca will most likely live out her days here as she is too scared to be touched still. Being black she was always going to struggle even without the extreme fear.
FRECKLES. A poor little bundle of matted fur she came to us as a baby, but a feral one, meaning we couldn’t touch her. We are almost there having got the odd brief stroke as she skitters past. She is maturing and this place is doing her the world of good so it may just be a time thing but this girl will always be a bite risk when afraid unfortunately.
HELEN came from Romania to a UK kennel based rescue where she was isolated and afraid. She came in with sister Havana but they had separated them assuming that would be better for the girls but instead they both deteriorated and shut down. They wouldn’t eat or move and months later a “decision” had to be made. A plea came to us and with it looking like no other option for them we agreed. Scared foreign dogs who are not used to people do not cope in UK kennels.
Milo is the most loving and gorgeous boy with the best ears. He loves other dogs, all people and even cats. After an incident in his previous home and many failed attempts to home him since he became more and more unsettle each time so we have taken the decision to give him stability as a Sanctuary Dog. Since then he has relaxed so much more. He likes to sit behind us on the chair when we’re working and is affectionately known as Doorbell Milo as barks to tell everyone someone is coming, long before they reach the doorbell.
Homing Sanctuary Dogs….
We continue to work rehabilitating the Sanctuary Dogs in the hope that, for some, they may be one day ready to be homed. …. Until then, we make this place the best it can be and everything they need.