Rudozem Street Dog Rescue

Rudozem Street Dog Rescue (RSDR) is a non-profit foundation that rescues Street Dogs in Bulgaria and finds loving homes for them. 

In August 2007, the Rowles family - Diane and Tony Rowles and their 4 children, 4 dogs and 2 cats decided to make the move to Bulgaria to have a more peaceful life from the busy lifestyle in the UK.  The Rowles bought a family property in the outskirts of Rudozem and a renovation property an hours drive away in the middle of a village. 

After living in Bulgaria for a few months, the family saw the plight of the street dogs and started feeding them and patting them.  They were shocked by the locals reactions and abuse towards the street dogs, and saw dogs spat on, kicked or had stones thrown at them.  They continued to feed the dogs on the streets when they could out of their own money.

In early 2008, their youngest son Luke, befriended a street dog named Ranger, and the dog started following him.  Ranger became the families first rescue dog when a man was trying to shoot him. You can read about Rangers story on this  link. 

Over the next few months other street dogs went home to the Rowles family.  (You can see stories about Bigdog, Tallulah, Snoopy and Foxy) on the Photo Gallery.) 
At the time the families only intention was keeping these dogs that the Rowles children had brought home as pets only.

However, with the continuing street dogs needing to be fed on the streets, it was getting harder and harder not do do something, so the family decided in September 2008, that they would start a foundation to help rescue more street dogs and find them loving homes. 

Rudozem Street Dog Rescue (RSDR) officially become a registered foundation in March 2009, by a Bulgarian lawyer.  With the registration in place, the family arranged with an adoption team in Holland to find homes for the dogs they rescue.

The municipality of Rudozem also told the Rowles family (RSDR) they would provide them with land to build a shelter.  This was great news at the time, so they could build a shelter away from the town so as not to upset neighbours with the noise from the barking dogs.  Unfortunately a few months later, the family was told by the Municpality that they could no longer provide land for them that year or the following year.

The family have since converted most of their own family home, so they could look after the street dogs that need rescuing the most and have these dogs put up for adoption. 

They have built pens in the backyard, and some of the dogs live in the family home inside.  It is very crowded and they have limited space.

RSDR need to raise enough funds to purchase land and build a shelter away from the town as a lot of neighbours and locals have started to complain about the noise that is being made from the family home.  Some locals do not want the "english" family in town at all, and have even started a peitition to get rid of the family.

With all this against them, the family have put their second property on the market up for sale.  They hope that by selling this property they can purchase land and build a shelter in a suitable area.  The property has now been on the market for over a year and has not sold, though this is understandable with the current financial market.

There have been suggestions made to the family that they should use their second property and convert it into a shelter, unfortunately this property is in the middle of a village, and the family would would face the same problems from neigbours about barking dogs.  This property is also very unsafe and would need complete renovating.

There has been a lot of wonderful offers from people to come to Rudozem to help build a shelter but unfortunately at this stage their is no land to build on, and no-where the RSDR can provide for volunteers to stay.  If the RSDR have land purchased, then volunteers can stay on the land in tents, or stay in one of the self-containted apartments in the town they can rent, to help build the shelter. 

RSDR's aim is to raise enough funds to purchase land and build a shelter to rescue as many street dogs in Rudozem as they can and find them loving homes. 

Once the shelter is built, RSDR also want to start a sterilization programme which will be used for dogs whose lives are in imminent danger through sickness or injury.  We realise we can not take all the dogs off the streets but this will reduce the numbers in the future.

Please visit our Donate/Help page on how you can help us raise enough money to build a shelter.

If you would like to help with feeding costs of our dogs please visit our Sponsor a dog page or if you are interested in adopting a dog please visit our Ready for Adoption page.

Diane Rowles  - RSDR Founder

I am married to Tony, have 2 daughters and 2 sons.  Born in England, spent 14 years living in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.  The best years of which were spent on a croft.  Had many animals including sheep, horses and german shepherds.  Worked with elderly people in a dementia unit for a number of years and then did Voluntary counselling with victims ( or survivors as i prefer to call them) of rape and abuse.  Bought a village pub which we had for 4 years before moving to Bulgaria with children, dogs and cats.

Antony Rowles  -  RSDR Founder

Hi my name is Tony and I am married to Diane.  I am the happiest man alive to be married to my wonderful wife Diane. I now live in Bulgaria, before that I lived in the North East of Scotland.  I was born in Stockport. I have 4 fantastic children who I love with all of my heart.   My interests are football, walking in the forests and gardening.  Our family is now trying to save Street Dogs in Bulgaria and give them a good home.

Samantha Rowles

I am 24 years old and have a beautiful little girl, born June 09.  I was born in England and moved to Scotland when I was 9 years old. I have always been brought up with animals and love them all especially dogs.  After leaving school I worked with children for a number of years before helping my parents to run a village pub. We moved to Bulgaria just over a year ago and we are now trying to open a rescue center for the many street dogs.

Anita Parsons  -  Fundraising & Media Co-Ordinator

Hi my name is Anita, and I now help the Rowles family with their Facebook Group, Fundraising,  Media Co-ordinating and online shop.  I am from Australia, but I know that I can still help even from afar.  I first came across Rudozem street dog rescue through the Facebook Group called "Bugarian Street Dogs".
 
I have become very passionate about helping the Rowles Family, and have cried and laughed over the stories & many photos of all of these dogs.  They are such beautiful dogs, who just need a chance at going to a happy home, and no longer will be taunted & being abused.  If you want to help with Media promoting or fundraising, please contact me at streetdogrescue@gmail.com or leave a message on the forum.

Emma Clarke  -  Co-Ordinator of Facebook Causes Page

I've had a passion for dogs all my life and have had mainly Belgian Shepherds and Border Collies for pets, I came across the RSDR in January 2009 and have become heavily involved in the back ground work of the RSDR (recruiting and promoting) for the website and the group and cause page (on facebook).  I sponsor Rosie and was also given the great pleasure in naming one of Lily's last litter pups Bluebell :)"

Julie and Col Lewis  -  Joint Fundraising (UK) & Shop Organiser (UK)

Julie Lewis from Derby in England, now helps with Fundraising  and running the Online Shop from the UK.  Julie is now our Joint Fundraising Co-Ordinator and Joint Shop Organiser.  She helps out immensely with organising items for the RSDR shop and posting them.  Her husband Col, who also does a lot of work for the RSDR prefers to sit in the background, but for his contribution in helping Julie we would also like to thank him for his wonderful support.

From Julie, "Those of that you that know me, know that I am a strong supporter of animal rights and welfare issues. I know that there are hundreds of deserving charities to choose from, but this is a special one, run by very special people who have taken on this role out of the goodness of their hearts."

From Left to Right. 
Aurore Claessens (Adoption Representative), Grace Vissers (Adoption Representative), Reini Beck (Adoption Representative), and Cor Beck (Team Co-Ordinator) with RSDR's Pumba (Jack) in Grace's Lap.

We couldn't do what needs to be done without our wonderful Holland Adoption Team.  Our Holland Team has some wonderful skills which add to the RSDR.  

The Team Co-Ordinator Cor Beck has years of experience in management skills and is a fantastic organiser. 
Cor speaks a range of languages, such as Dutch, French, English and German.  

Both Cor and Reini Beck have years of experience as instructors in Dog Training aswell as have done courses in Canine behaviour.  Grace has added to the wonderul team, and has previously adopted one of RSDR dogs - Pumba (Jack).  She is a wonderful carer and  has been a great help in organising adoptions.  Aurore who adopted a RSDR dog, Sefa is studying canine behaviour, and has been a great help with her computer administration skills. 
All members are Adoption Representatives with the authority to approve adoptions in Holland under the
Team Co-Ordinator Cor Beck.  

If you would like to ask the adoption team any questions, please email:     rsdr@live.nl