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.

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.



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  -  RSDR Bulgaria Secretary

Anita Parsons has administration and website skills, and helps Diane with the administration of RSDR.  She updates the Main website & fanpage, helps co-ordinate any media & promotions, and answers any enquiries from the Website and the online shop.  
 
Anita is doing her own sponsored event for the RSDR and has now done a Pet Tech First Aid course, and has qualifications in Pet First Aid.

If you have any questions about RSDR, you can contact Anita at streetdogrescue@gmail.com

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 Lewis - RSDR UK Chair / Fundraising Co-Ordinator

Col Lewis - RSDR UK Treasurer

Julie Lewis and Col Lewis are from Derby in England and have set up RSDR UK.  http://www.streetdogrescue.co.uk/   
  
RSDR UK exists purely to act as an additional fund raising source; monies raised by or donated to the UK group will be used to purchase items that are either too expensive or cannot be easily obtained in Bulgaria.  If you would like to know more about the work Julie & Col are doing with RSDR UK please go to their website at the above link.

Julie Lewis, "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." 

  Heather - RSDR UK Secretary

  Heather is the secretary of RSDR UK and has been supporting RSDR since early this year.  Heather is also taking part in the sponsored
  swim in August with Julie, Heather's sister (also called Julie) and her friend Terrie.