Rudozem Street Dog Rescue

It's official. Animal Friends have announced us as the winners on their facebook page.  :-) 

Feel Good Park by Animal Friends --  Congratulations to RSDR Rudozem Street Dog Rescue who won last months Charity of the Month competition and congratulations to Cats Protection - East Surrey, New Life Parrot Rescue and Mountains Animal Sanctuary who also receive donations from ourselves.

Everyone at RSDR Rudozem Street Dog Rescue would like to thank Animal Friends for the opportunity to be in this months "Charity of the month". The money will go towards setting up a clinic to start a spay/neuter scheme to reduce the thousands of dogs in Bulgaria. We all can't thank you enough, and would like to thank all our supporters for voting for us.

Thank you.. We also would like to thank the other charities that participated as all of them are worthy charities and deserve as much help as possible. Thank you. From Anita, RSDR Secretary, Rudozem Street Dog Rescue. www.streetdogrescue.com  email: streetdogrescue@gmail.com

Final Results

Thank you very much to Gareth Duffin for what he has achieved.  Please find a video interview & his 24 hour drumathon of Gareth.  In the last 6 hours Gareth, had extreme stomach cramps, his arms were in agony and he was quite ill, but pulled through for RSDR and made sure the job was done!.  We can't thank him enough for what he has done for RSDR.  Please watch the video below.

From Gareth Duffin

I would just like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone for their donations and kind words of support for the drumathon,and special thank you to Dees Basement Rehearsal Rooms and Shaun Milburn for their help and support,making sure i had everything i needed,filming it...and the early starts ;o)

Interview and film made by Shaun Milburn.

Gareths fundraising page:  http://www.streetdogrescue.com/garethduffin.htm

Congratulations to Gareth for completing the 24 hour drumathon for RSDR. Gareth has raised over 1000 euros on his fundraising page. We will have an update on the figures later as we know he had a few supporters pop into see him and donate in person. Thank you for everything you have done Gareth, we appreciate it a lot. I've heard on the grapevine, that Gareth is in a bit of pain at the moment with his arms...., so hopefully after a good rest and I hope a lot of heat paks!! I'm sure he'll be on to give us a bit of an update later with photos and a video of the event....xx.

Thank you Gareth and well done from everyone at Rudozem Street Dog Rescue. Gareths fundraising page people is at: http://www.streetdogrescue.com/garethduffin.htm  

Gareth Duffin has now been drumming for over 18 hours in his attempt to raise funds for Rudozem Street Dog Rescue in his 24 hour drumathon.  http://www.streetdogrescue.com/garethduffin.htm

Photo of Gareth by Shaun Milburn who interviewed him last night .

Shaun Milburn  -  This is Gareth Duffin as I interviewed him last night preparing for his 24hr stint.. His film is almost ready, just waiting to complete the timelapse in the morning.. I've visited 3 times today and he's doing very well so far!

Julie from RSDR UK went up before and had a chat to him, and took some photos whilst he took a quick short break for sustenance, kindly provided by his sister!  Gareth Is doing really well, plenty of tape on his fingers and fighting the pains in his arms.

Gareth getting some canine support from Reuben the staffy on his break.

Other comments from supporters that have been up a few times.

"have just been to see Gareth at Dee's Basement.  He is fighting through the pain and soldiering on...Gareth got cramp in his arm in the first hour buts has played through it. He looks tired but is wired..  The thought of the dogs and all the people who have supported him is driving him on.. big respect to the guy"

"Just been to see duff on his drumathon, he was 8 hours in when I walked in, still going strong"

"just been to see Gareth, he is aching and cramping but ploughing on.. with 7 hours and 15 min left....he is looking wired"

Gareth has now been drumming for over 18 hours, with only 6 hours to go.  So please go show your support by making a donation to this fantastic guy --  on Gareths fundraising page at:  http://www.streetdogrescue.com/garethduffin.htm

It is now past 6am UK Time, and Gareth Duffin's 24 hour Drumathon has commenced. If everyone could please leave Gareth a message of support on his Fundraising page, it will help him get through the next 24 hours!!! (he will have access to a laptop to see any messages). The event is also being filmed. If everyone would like to read about what Gareth is doing for RSDR -- please go to his Fundraising page at: http://www.streetdogrescue.com/garethduffin.htm

If you would all like to pop over at Dees Rehearsal studios, whilst he is drumming please do so, go to Dees basement -Unit 10, Ratcher Way Crown Farm, Forest Town, Mansfield Nottinghamshire NG19 OFS, United Kingdom.

Gareth will be there for 24 hours until Sunday 6:30am, 5 February 2012!!! Please spread the word what Gareth is doing to friends, and the media.

MEDIA RELEASE

TITLE: Mansfield Local man drumming for 24 hours for charity

Local man in Mansfield, Gareth Duffin, band drummer for the singer Gary J Armstrong will be playing the drums in a 24 hour drumathon in his attempts to raise money for charity.

".....I will be drumming on Saturday at Dees Basement Rehearsal Rooms for a true charity where every penny goes towards the welfare of the animals....it's recently dawned on me just how punishing this is gonna be....so if everyone could please support me and donate, either for the poor animals or to see me suffer..... ."

With shoulder injuries in the past, Gareth is going to be in a lot of pain, so if this local drummer can pull this off for 24 hours, this will be an amazing feat.

Gareth has raised 760 euros so far on his fundraising charity page, and still hopes to break the 1000 mark, when supporters turn up to see him.

Gareths 24 hour Drumathon starts on the Saturday 4th February 2012 from 6:00am and finishes on the Sunday 5th February 2012, 6:30am at Dee's Rehearsal Rooms, Forest Town, Mansfield, Notts, United Kingdom.

"I will be playing drums for a full 24 hour period,with a 10 minute /food/drink/toilet break at the 6,12 and 18 hour marks"

If you would like to turn up to support Gareth. The address is - Unit 10, Ratcher Way Crown Farm, Forest Town, Mansfield Nottinghamshire NG19 OFS)

Gareth's Fundraising page is at: http://www.streetdogrescue.com/garethduffin.htm

(photos of Gareth available on above webpage)

Kind Regards

Anita Weber

Secretary for RSDR Bulgaria (English)

Email: streetdogrescue@gmail.com

www.streetdogrescue.com

Yesterday was even more hectic than each day normally is. The vet came to do vaccinations in the morning and then it started raining. That meant that 3 foot of snow started melting. The outside pens are flooded so we had to put dogs in pens with other dogs which we wouldn't normally do and they are quite crowded. We were struggling to keep our footing where in parts there was about a foot of water on top of compacted ice. ........... Apart from all that we had a phone call from a man sayng he had lost a dog and it fitted Max's description. The guy came to see him and we were quite ready to refuse to give him back and threaten him with cruelty charges. As it turned out the man was really nice. Max was pleased to see him and the man was upset to see how much weight he had lost. He picked him up and was making a fuss of him. Max had run off after a fox and the man had been looking for him every day. I did tell him that his collar was too tight and we had taken it off him and to make sure that it didn't happen again and he assured us it wouldn't. He had even had Max vaccinated and was asking us about getting him microchipped. Anyway even though I was prepared for a battle, I felt quite happy about handing him back.

Later yesterday, the rain turned to snow again. Once again we are snowed in and can't get in or out. The boys can't get from Rudozem to the shelter to come and help with the dogs and it would be too dangerous to try. Our electricity went off last night but is on again for now. Kerry and Kosta have no electricity in their apartment in Rudozem so it is more than likely that ours will go off and we will also lose mobile phone signal.

We are curently looking for volunteers to join our UK adoptions team. We need people from all areas of England, Scotland and Wales to carry out homechecks and/or help with adoptions. Volunteers would be working as part of a team with the guidance of the team co-ordinators. If you would like to help us in finding loving homes for our rescue dogs, please e mail rsdradoptuk@yahoo.co.uk. Thank you.

On the 10th January someone alerted us to a mother dog and her very young pups that were abandoned and trying to survive in deep snow and freezing conditions. We found the mum and her nine pups just in time as ne of the pups was stuck where snow and ice had frozen around it. We now have Soyala and her pups at the shelter and they are all doing OK.

TwTwo days ago, Tony found Max in the snow on the streets of Rudozem. Max couldn't manage to walk more than a few steps without collapsing. He was extremely thin and weak and covered in cuts all at different stages of healing. Max had obviously belonged to someone as his tail had been docked and he had a very tight collar on which was in danger of becoming embedded. Max is getting stronger each day and today he even played with a ball which he loves.

5kVote If you have not yet voted for RSDR (Rudozem Street Dog Rescue) please do so.

We need YOUR HELP to win £ 5000. Please Vote for Rudozem Street Dog Rescue in Animal Friends Insurance "Charity of the month" for January on facebook.

This is a great opportunity for RSDR to help raise money for our clinic to help neuter/spay the dogs on the streets.

Voting starts 9:00am 6th January 2012 and finishes at midnight on 5th February 2012.

Quick Guide on How to Vote:

1. "Like" the Animal Friends facebook page at: http://facebook.com/feelgoodpark

2. On the left hand side, press on "Vote for a charity".

3. A link may come up saying "Authorise the app" (this is safe). Press on this.

4. All the charity's nominated will now show.

5. Click on Rudozem Street Dog Rescue (Our logo is the grey silhouette of a dog)

6. Press submit.

FOR MORE DETAILS / SCREEN SHOTS ON HOW TO VOTE GO TO: http://www.streetdogrescue.com/animalfriendsvote.htm

Please share this with all your friends and family.

Every new year, I have always thought back about the last 12 months and the changes in our lives that the year had brought. It used to be that we had another baby, changed job, moved house, new car, places we had been, friends we had made and friends or family that we had lost. There were a few years when I would think well nothing is different, same job, same house, same daily routine. We can’t say that since we moved to Bulgaria in 2007.

Last night was no different. I thought back over the past year and what an emotional roller coaster it has been. This time last year we had raised the funds and bought the building that was to be the future shelter/clinic for RSDR. This was a massive achievement although we had accepted the fact that with all the renovations needed, it would probably be years before we actually had any dogs there.

Well things happen and plans sometimes have to change. When we found Kasumi and her pups in March, we had absolutely nowhere at the house that we could put them. We couldn’t leave them on the streets so we had no other option than to bring them to the shelter. At that time, the building was just three large sheds all piled high with rubbish. For the dogs safety we couldn’t leave them alone at nights so I said I would move up to the shelter with them.

It wasn’t easy. There was no bed, just a lumpy old sofa that had been left there. We still have no hot water and for months I had no internet. I admit there were nights when I thought I had heard something at night and would be stood behind the door with an axe or kettle of boiling water incase anyone broke down the door. At least with a boiling kettle, I could make myself a cup of tea when I realized it was just my imagination getting the better of me.

In the months that followed work was non stop. The sheds were cleared and more and more pens were built as more dogs needed rescuing. Kerry and Kosta were at the V.T branch but then things started going badly wrong there. Local gypsies would claim that dogs had been out and attacked them when the dogs hadn’t been out. Kerry was in the early stages of pregnancy and was scared and stressed through harassment. She had stones thrown at her when she went to the shop, was chased and flashed at and a gang of gypsies told Kosta that if he went out and left Kerry then it was at his own risk. For the sake of the dogs, they put up with it for months but the final straw came when Rambo was shot in the garden.

We put out an emergency appeal so that we could build more pens and get Kerry, Kosta and the dogs back to Rudozem. So many of you donated towards the new pens and transport back of the dogs and Liam and Luke’s friends turned up every day of their school holidays to help clear the sheds and build the pens. The lads were brilliant. Whilst all this was going on, we were having no end of problems due to complaints about us using the building as a dog shelter. We would have unannounced visits from police and different officials and some of them were extremely nasty. For months I had to wait to hear if the prosecutor could find anything to charge me with. I had never in my life had so much as a parking fine and here I was being treated as a criminal simply for wanting to save the lives of dogs, whilst the real criminals who had shot them, starved them, abused and dumped them, weren’t even given a second thought.

Luckily during that time we had our first volunteer, Carmel. She was a rock and a blessing at the most difficult of times and even offered to stay longer until things were a bit calmer.

Well to cut a long story short, we got all the dogs back to Rudozem although poor Rambo who had been shot, died the day after he arrived. No charges were brought against me and some officials and ministry vets were helpful and supportive and issued us a license for keeping animals which meant that other officials couldn’t keep threatening us. Every part of the building is now taken up with pens and we have over a hundred dogs and cats here. We are still working on the separate exercise yards which means that more dogs can be let out at any one time. The temporary pens built with wood and wire are by no means perfect, but this is home to many dogs now and at least they are safe, fed, loved and cared for.

We don’t have the space to take in every dog off the streets and we aren’t able to save every one that we do. It is always hard when we lose a pup with an infection or a dog that we have loved and cared for and we have had our fair share of that this year. People sometimes ask me how we can face such cruelty and loss and find the strength to carry on. People have different ways of coping. Recently we lost seven pups after one of them brought in an infection and we also had the terrible news about Zack’s death. We were devastated but there was no time for tears or time out as we were so busy fighting to save other sick pups. Of course you can’t bottle things up for ever and sometimes it will just all come out when you least expect it. A few days ago luke rescued Koolie. She had been living in the forests by the landfill for at least four months. Over the past week, hunters had shot all the dogs that she was with and she had somehow escaped, leaving her alone and the subject of their target practice. You would think a dog that had lived wild for so long and been hunted would at the very least be untrusting of people, but no, when she first met me, I knelt down and she came straight into my arms. As I hugged her, that was when the floodgates opened, for the injustice done to her, for her friends that had been killed, for Zack and all the little pups that we had lost.

I used to think we could get through anything and everything as long as we were together as a family but even that has been challenged this year. For the first time in twenty three years, Tony and I ended up being apart at nights. Not through choice but because one of us had to be at the shelter and one of us had to be at the house with the dogs there. Now we are both at the shelter and the boys stay at the house at nights. This was the first Christmas that we haven’t all been at home as a family. I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me or get me down. We aren’t angels, we are humans who try and rescue the four legged angels and we all have our off days when we swear and moan. At the end of the day though, we know that no matter how tough it gets, as long as there are dogs out there that are scared, hungry or abused, we will carry on.

One of our main plans for 2012 is to buy the next door building and turn it into a sterilization clinic. Hopefully we will get the shelter roof started one section at a time and start on other improvements. In 2011, a hundred and four dogs were adopted and we are hoping that with the change in the UK entry regulations, we can find loving homes for many more dogs this year. We don’t know what 2012 will bring and what obstacles we might have to face, but one thing we do know is that we aren’t alone. All the highs and lows are shared by our fantastic supporters and team members. Everything that we have achieved, each life that we have saved, has been made possible by you. Apart from financial support you give us emotional support and I feel blessed that through RSDR I have come to know so many compassionate and caring people. We can say “thank you” but somehow that doesn’t express the gratitude we feel. On behalf of our family, team members and most importantly all our dogs and cats I would like to thank you for the support you gave us in 2011 and wish each and every one of you, health, love and happiness for 2012.

Blessings, Diane.

Koolie, rescued by Luke.

We have been asked if we want to buy the small white building to the right of the shelter for 30,000 levs ( 15,339 Euros). It might seem silly trying to raise money to purchase another building while we are still trying to raise funds for the shelter roof and renovations but looking at it long term it makes sense and we may not get the opportunity again. No one is going to do anything with the roof now until the Spring and even then we have the problem that we need to empty one shed of dogs for each part to be done, and with so many dogs at the moment that will take some time.

The other point is that one of the main aims is for a clinic not just a shelter. Building a clinic here would mean taking up more space which at the moment is used for pens. That would mean having to considerably reduce the number of dogs that we can take in.

If we were to buy the building we have been offered, we could apply to have the clinic there and would be telling the truth when we say that no animals will actually be kept there. It would be perfect for a clinic and somewhere to have laundry facilities. We could have a clinic there much quicker than we could here as here as we would have to have the roof done first, architects plans, celings, hot water, drainage etc. Next door it would just be a case of tiling a room to bring it up to the standards required and connecting water. We could then have volunteer vets to come and neuter and spay. Neuter/release and offering free neuter/spay for people's dogs is going to be very difficult when we have to pay the vet here 50 Euros for every female . At the moment we may be saving some dogs but we still aren't doing anything to solve the problem long term which is frustrating especially when every other day we are being asked to take more pups and dogs and have to say no.

The other advantages are that RSDR would own the property next to the shelter so when we start the renovations here, we can be sure that there won’t be complaints from the owner of that neighbouring building. If someone else buys it, it could be one more person who complains and tries to cause trouble. The dogs at the shelter won't be disrupted by any dogs going to the clinic and we already use the man's parking area.

After a lot of thought and discussion with the team we have decided that we will try and raise the funds and purchase the property.

This  last adoption trip was hard just like any other. We hate saying goodbye to our dogs when we have loved and cared for them, but we were all really happy at the thought that Zack would be re-united with his brother Kenai who had been adopted the previous month. The beautiful brothers would be together again and the family who adopted kenai and were adopting Zack were moving to a farm where the boys would have had so much fun.

They were rescued in February this year along with their sister Nita. The pups were born to a feral dog in the forest. At that time there was thick snow on the ground and the pups were so hungry that we managed to coax them closer and closer with food, until we were able to catch them.

Kenai and Nita were very scared but Zack just acted as if he had been with us all his life. He was always such a friendly and outgoing boy.

We said our sad farewells to Zack on the 8th December. On the 12th December, the dogs arrived safely in Holland. The adoption team met Zack and also fell in love with him. Although it might be stating the obvious, they reminded the new owner not to let him off the lead until he had settled and to put his lead on before leaving the house. As always they had done their best to make sure that the home he was going to was suitable. Unfortunately you can't account for people's sheer stupidity.

We were all totally devastated to hear that the very next morning whilst it was still dark,  Kenai and Zack were let out without first putting their leads on and Zack ran into the road and was killed. We are all heartbroken and yes i feel angry and very bitter. For ten months we loved and cared for Zack and the people who adopted him couldn't even keep him safe for 24 hours.

He was a beautiful boy who stole our hearts and those of volunteers, the adoption team and anyone else who met him. He was just a year old. We will never forget you Zack and can only apologise that your life was cut short through human failing.

R.I.P our loveable fool. (you always made us laugh and smile with your antics).

Jyran who was left tied to the garden fence is doing well and is a very sweet little boy although still a little timid. At the moment he is still at the house as we just don't have any room at the shelter.

Quinty is becoming more confident. He loves to play with the other dogs and has become a favourite with Luke. Luke was very happy when yesterday he taught him to give him his paw. He seems to react better to human males so I will let him come round to me in his own time.

Maja doesn't want to interact with us at all just yet. We decided it was safer and that we would have more chance of making a connection with her if we seperated her from her pups. It eliminates the added risk of her attacking one of us if she thinks she has to protect her pups. She will now go and take treats if you throw them to her but as yet won't come for them or even look up if you speak to her. For now we just have to be very careful around her and give her the time that she needs to come round. We won't rush her as we don't want to put her in a situation where she feels that she has to bite or attack.

Freeman is the dog that a guy turned up at the shelter with. He lied to Luke and told him we said we would take him. Freeman had a heavy chain round his neck and his hair had become wrapped round it. Luke couldn't even get him inside the building when he first arrived as he would just bark at him when he went to approach him. Tony has been taking him out in the yard on a lead. He has now started to wag his tail and today Tony managed to get the chain off him. Since he arrived, something just hasn't seemed to be quite right with his behaviour. It is hard to describe but as Tony put it he just doesn't seem to be "all there". Kosta told us that the guy wasn't ashamed when he told him that Freeman was put on the chain as a puppy and hasn't been of it in five years. He had no interaction with other dogs or people and was just given water and thrown enough food to keep him alive. No wonder the poor boy is psychologically damaged. Hopefully he can learn to start enjoying life.

Nina was rescued in June this year. She had been through a neuter/release scheme in another town then dumped on the streets of Rudozem. She was weak, sick with infection from her wound and very disorientated. Nina was a timid girl but over time she gained confidence and became a very loving girl. She loved playing out with pups and dogs of all ages and having been spayed we thought it was safe to let her play with new males who hadn't yet been neutered.

In September, we noticed that Harold who had just arrived at that time, kept trying to mate her. We kept him away from her only to stop him annoying her but had no concerns that she could be pregnant. We had seen her infected wound from being spayed  and had treated her. A few weeks ago we noticed that she was looking pregnant. After staying awake with her all last night, she eventually gave birth to six puppies today.

We have heard of dogs that have been ear tagged and got pregnant. It is bad enough that they haven't been done but when you have actually seen the wound and they obviously haven't been spayed, it is nothing short of barbaric. We didn't know if anything had been done to Nina or if she had just been cut open and stitched back up so it appeared that she had been spayed and we were very concerned that there would be complications. She did need a bit of help from us but fortunately she is ok, not that this is any consolation for the injustice that has been done to her.

Nina could have given birth on the streets or could even have been adopted surprising her new family with a litter of puppies. Fortunately she was still here with us.

A Letter from Santa

Merry Christmas Everyone,

I’ve made my list and checked it twice and I see that you have all been very good this year and the Elves and I have been very, very busy getting all your presents ready.

Gareth you will be getting a nice drum seat cushion and an industrial strength coffee pot to help you through your Drumathon in Feb.

Sarah and Georgia you will be getting new walking shoes as you put a bit of wear on the ones you have while raising money for RSDR

Luke and Liam, I made your presents myself. You are each getting boxes of very special nails. Instead of going “thunk, thunk, thunk” when you are hammering away building the dog pens these go “Ho, Ho, Ho” (It’s better than a bigger pooper scooper your Mom wanted me to give you).

And then of course there is Baby Yana. You will be getting all the infant toys and outfits your little heart desires.

There is one gift that I can’t give any of you though and that is the gift of giving and that wonderful, joyous feeling you get when you know your gift was the right one and that it makes a difference.

You all know that I love Reindeer but I also love all animals as well, especially dogs and cats (but please don’t tell Comet that he gets very jealous).

That is why I told Tony and Diane that I will match the first month’s sponsorship for the next 12 dogs or cats. I have to dig into the money I had set aside for my MAC to do this (not the computer, my MAC is Milk and Cookies) but it is well worth it. The best way to keep these precious creatures warm this winter is to keep them well fed and believe me I am an expert in that area.

So please boys and girls do what you can to help these wonderful animals, their lives have been so hard up until now and we all want them to be healthy and strong this winter. Remember Christmas is not just a day it’s a frame of mind.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night,

Kris Kringle

Please help us by sponsoring a dog from Santa's list and signing up on the sponsor page of our website:

http://www.streetdogrescue.com/sponsoradog.htm

Please share this letter with all your friends.

Rudozem Street Dog Rescue
www.streetdogrescue.com

Yesterday we managed to get Beaux.

We first saw him in July outside a cafe in Smolyan. he was about 4 months old then but we couldn't get near him. Every time we go to Smolyan we look for him and feed him. About a month ago he started to take food from kerry and I and would sometimes just let us touch him with an outstretched hand. We always worried that one day he wouldn't be there and would become a victim of abuse or a traffic accident.

A couple of weeks ago we saw an old man go up to him while he was asleep and whack him as hard as he could with his walking stick.

Today Tony and I managed to tempt him into the van with food and quickly close the door behind him. When we got back to the shelter it took nearly three hours to get him from the van to his pen. It was freezing and we were worried that we wouldn't get him in before it went dark. Eventually Tony managed to slip a lead over his head and after freaking out at first, he then allowed him to lead him in.

In all the time we were trying to get him in, he only made one attempt to bite and it wasn't a serious attempt. The poor boy isn't used to being handled by people so it will take a lot of time and patience before he feels relaxed. If you talk to him and slowly touch his head and no further back than that, then he is ok and even wags his tail.

Today a man drove up to the shelter simply handed a pup to one of the boys helping us and then drove off. The pup is a little girl about 10 weeks old and has now been named Tiny.

Kosta, Liam and four of Liam's friends have all been helping to do the seperate exercise areas today. Originally we were going to have two seperate exercise areas but have now changed it to four. This will give the dogs more time to be outside during the day.

Thirty four pups and new dogs now need vaccinating and microchipping. If anyone would like to donate, they will all be going on the webshop soon. We are grateful for any help as this is a major expense with so many.

18th october 2011

Maude is recovering after her operation on Friday to try and repair the old breaks to her leg. She has to have another operation in a months time.

The vet came out on sunday to give all the new pups a primadog injection to give them protection against nasty diseases until they are old enough to be vaccinated. Other dogs had their first or second vaccination and some dogs were due for their yearly booster. Little Jigger couldn't have his primadog injection as he already had a nasty infection. He had antibiotics and is now eating. He has somehow hurt one of his back legs now so at the moment the poor little guy is limping about. we have got him in the staff/living room with us where it is warmer for him and we can keep an eye on him.

Sadly we had to have Matty put to sleep on sunday. Just a month ago, he had an operation to remove a tumour from his mouth which was preventing him from eating. The vet did explain that he wasn't able to remove all of the tumour but we just hoped he would have had more time with us. The tumour had grown back very quickly and was spreading at an alarming rate. It was affecting his breathing and he couldn't eat or drink without his mouth bleeding. Tony and I were both with him while he went to sleep. Matty was with us for two years and five months. He was in a terrible state when we rescued him and had serious trust issues. We all loved him for who he was and greatly miss him.

Yesterday another very young cat turned up and was crying at the cat flap that we have for Gingerpuss. He\she runs off when it sees anyone but does come and eat food that we put out. It also plays with Gingerpuss, so maybe one day it will follow him in.

Last night Luke saw a man pick a cat up by its head, bash it twice against a shop wall, while the police just sat in their car watching and doing nothing. Luke ran up, kicked the guy up the backside, the guy dropped the cat and it ran off. Suprisingly the police didn't get out and charge luke with assault.

This morning Kerry saw someone take the collar of a female hunting dog and put her out his gate. The dog was crying and trying to get back in again but the guy just kept shooing her away and trying to chase her off. We have been here and been doing this for years now but still struggle to understand how anyone can just be so heartless. Unfortunately we don't have a spare pen so will just have to look out for her and feed her.

After we awoke to snow yesterday morning, a very kind gentleman suggested starting a food appeal in Matty's honour. We need to stock up on food incase we ever get stuck in through snow and are unable to get out. The gentleman who doesn't wish to be named said he would match the donations up to 150 Euros.This was a 24 hour appeal and 358.50 was donated in that time. Anita said she would match the gentleman's offer and also donate 150 which brought the grand total to 658.50 Euros. thank you to everyone who donated. We will order the food and take a photo so people can see the food that was bought through this appeal.....A couple of late donations have come through for the appeal bringing the total to 693.50 Euros.

Recently RSDR had some problems with their computer files, and our list of newsletter subscriptions for the RSDR newsletter was lost.

If you have not received the August 2011 newsletter already, and wish to continue to receive the newsletter by email, please send an email to diane@streetdogrescue.com saying "Subscribe to newsletter" in the topic heading and we will add your email to our newsletter list.

For this months newsletter you can now view online on our website at:
http://www.streetdogrescue.com/newsletter.htm

APPEAL FOR RENOVATIONS FOR ROOF

We now have the written quote for the new roof for the shelter. 70,541 converts to approximately 36,068 Euros. The present roof is unsafe and leaks. Please help if you can. When it rains, the dogs, pens and bedding get wet, we have no electric where the dogs are and until the roof is done it is unsafe to put any in. Winter will soon be here, the dogs will get wet and cold and we will have no lighting to see them.

Please see our Roof Widget on the donate page of our website: http://www.streetdogrescue.com/donatehelp.htm and make a donation.

NEW DONATE OPTIONS - Donate monthly to RSDR.

On our donate page,we now have available monthly subscriptions for those that wish to help RSDR with a monthy donation at a set amount.

To donate monthly please go to:

http://www.streetdogrescue.com/donatehelp.htm

Kind Regards

Rudozem Street Dog Rescue

www.streetdogrescue.com 

Rudozem Street Dog Rescue is a Registered Foundation No: 175647065

Introducing the UK Adoption Team

An Adoption team has now been established in the United Kingdom and will be run by Mandy Spicer whom will be the Adoption Team Co-Ordinator.

As of the 1st January 2012, new DEFRA laws will change UK entry requirements for persons travelling with pets and will be in line with the rest of Europe.

Dogs or Cats will now require the initial single rabies vaccination, then 21 days after the vaccination, can travel to the United Kingdom.
(New Defra Law link)

In preparation for these changes, we have appointed a new Adoptions Co-Ordinator, Mandy Spicer. Mandy will be arranging adoptions in the UK, organising home checks and offering ongoing support to adoptants and helping RSDR UK with any fundraising. Mandy will also be offering her house as a collection point for any items.

(Left to Right): UK Adoption Team Co-Ordinator Mandy Spicer, Adoption Representatives - Gina Field, Derri Dunn, and RSDR UK Chair Julie Lewis and our own RSDR Samantha Rowles.

Mandy has had extensive experience in running a dog rescue, has qualifications as an Animal Nursing Assistant and studied Vet Nursing.

Gina field will also be working alongside Mandy in organising adoptions and has excellent administration skills. Gina has a diploma in Canine Psychology and an NVQ in Pet Care.

Derri Dunn will be helping with adoptions also for the UK Team,and will be helping with home checks, emergency fostering and dog collection meetings.  RSDR UK Chair Julie Lewis, and our own RSDR Samantha Rowles will also be involved in helping the UK Adoption team.

The UK Team are looking for people who can offer temporary foster homes in the UK to help us increase the chances of the dogs being adopted as they get used to family life; learn basic manners and house training and can be visited by prospective new owners.  If you are interested in fostering, please email the UK Adoption team at RSDRadoptUK@yahoo.co.uk  

If you are interested in adopting or fostering one of our lovely dogs please fill out a the UK Adoption questionnaire on the Adoption Page of our website.  http://www.streetdogrescue.com/readyforadoption.htm

If you are interested in volunteering to help or be a part of the UK Adoption Team, please email Mandy Spicer at RSDRadoptUK@yahoo.co.uk

New drop off point

As well as heading up the UK adoption team, Mandy has kindly offered to receive donated items for RSDR at her home. These items will then be transported down to the south coast where they will be collected by our pet transport company and taken over to Bulgaria.

We already have another collection point on the south coast for smaller items, however if you have heavy or bulky items to donate and live in or can deliver them to Norfolk, then Mandy will be willing to accept them for you.  For either Collection point address, please email streetdogrescue@gmail.com or streetdogrescueuk@yahoo.co.uk

RSDR Stall in Snodland, Kent

RSDR have a stall at a dog show and family fun day in Snodland, Kent, UK on July 30th being run by one of our new team Members Derri Dunn.

However if anyone in the UK, can give Derri a hand at the stall, please email streetdogrescue@gmail.com or RSDRadoptUK@yahoo.co.uk

Rudozem Street Dog Rescue
www.streetdogrescue.com

As some of you may have already read, RSDR are facing serious issues at the Veliko Branch where Kerry and Kosta are.   It has gotten to the stage, that we are now doing an emergency evacuation of all the dogs and cats at the VT branch, and moving Kerry and Kosta out and back to Rudozem. 

There have been people asking to help with publicity and telling the media, and at this stage I urge you to please wait until Kerry and Kosta are safe before you act!!!     The moving back and forth of all the dogs is going to happen in stages over the next 1-2 weeks as Rudozem is about a 7 hour drive from VT, and it will take awhile to build new pens at Rudozem, and arrange transport of 28 dogs and 9 cats.

At this stage, if you could just rally as much attention for people to donate instead for building of pens, transport and other expenses, and promote RSDR as much as possible by sharing our website www.streetdogrescue.com ....  and just showing your support.

Please help us to make RSDR finanically secure and prepared for any eventuality for both branches of RSDR in the next few months ahead!

There will be other expenses RSDR hasn't accounted for and they will need help with just caring and feeding over 80 dogs at the Rudozem building...and 30 dogs at the family house in Rudozem....  we have over nearly 120 dogs and still dogs on the streets.... Please donate by going to  http://www.streetdogrescue.com​/donatehelp.htm

For those that haven't seen the news.  This is a blog from Kerry Rowles at the Veliko Turnovo Branch   

15th July By Kerry Rowles

Last night while out walking Chanel, Kosta and I were confronted by a large group of gypsies who were threatening to beat up Kosta because of the dogs. They were shouting at us saying the dogs would get out and bite someone. Like Kosta said, none of our dogs can get out and even if they could they certainly wouldn't bite anyone. One man replied by saying he didn't want to take that chance and that he would take matters into his own hands with no regard for the law. After searching for help it has became clear that no one will. The police want names which we can't provide, half of the gypsies aren't even registered and the mayor wants to stay on the gypsies side with the elections coming up. If he upsets them he won't be voted in as mayor again. At the moment it isn't safe for Kosta to go anywhere and leave me alone as I have been flashed at, had rude and disgusting things shouted at me, been chased and had stones thrown at me. It isn't even safe for us to go anywhere together after Rambo was shot and after these latest threats we are so scared for the safety of the dogs. One person who has always been nice an helpful is worried and has told us to be careful as the gypsies might start throwing poison in the garden. Today the 'authorities' came round and someone has made a complaint saying that Chanel has mauled a childs face. She was never off the lead and we never even saw any children. They are now saying that we have to have Bigdog, George and Chanel destroyed as they are 'dangerous' and all the other dogs kept on a short chain or risk them being killed or taken away to the isolators.

We urgently need to get pens built and ready in Rudozem so that we can start evacuating the dogs but we are really short on funds. We are the minority in a gypsy village and it has became obvious that the situation will only worsen the longer we stay here. Things are now very
desperate!

PLEASE HELP BY DONATING AT THE BELOW LINK TO HELP US BUILD PENS AT THE RUDOZEM BRANCH...so we can make room for the dogs from the VT BRANCH.  http://www.streetdogrescue.com/donatehelp.htm Rudozem Street Dog Rescue

Kerry with Rusty and Scruffy.....and Kosta with George  ----   with just some of the dogs at the VT Branch

15 July 2011 ---  Update from Diane Rowles from Rudozem

I would like to thank everyone for your donations and your messages of support. I haven't had chance to add up the donations yet but i think we must have nearly 2000 euros. It is late now but I will work out the total as soon as I get chance. This should pay for the materials for the pens and the fuel for transport and hire of a large van to bring everything from the house. Pet Chauffeurs are going to collect maybe 15 of the dogs from Kerry's and bring them to Rudozem on Tuesday as they will be then taking our adopted dogs to Holland. Some of Kostas friends are going to stay with them on Monday. They will stay and help them pack and transport dogs back here as more pens are built and also help them to dismantle the pens there so that the wood and wire can be brought here. For now the dogs might be a bit crowded but we can use the materials from there at a later date to give them all a bit more room. The next week is going to be hectic as apart from seeing to over 80 dogs, we will be building from dawn to dusk so please accept my apologies if i am not able to answer any messages. Will keep anita informed so she can update. Thank you again to you all. Diane. xxx

The situation in Rudozem and Veliko Turnovo in regards to publicity by Anita Weber - RSDR Secretary

With regards to the support from police or any authorities with both the Rudozem situation with Diane & Tony that has been happening over the past few months...and now the situation in the town near Veliko Turnovo with Kerry & Kosta.  There has been no support whatsover, and we are facing a losing battle with trying to get support by Police or the municpalities to help us.  

The Situation with Rudozem --   This whole year, RSDR has faced opposition over the change of use of the building, and turning the building into a dog shelter...we have faced a lot of opposition and had a lot of trouble from the municipality over any issue including just the building of a fence and now the official police complaint.

Without some Bulgarian friends who have been absolutely wonderful, and helped us in the past few weeks, the situation in Rudozem would be a lot worse.  The outcome of those proceedings are still yet to come to determine if Diane & Tony are doing anything illegal... And this is an issue that will be happening still in the next month ahead.  (see previous blogs for more news about this).

However with the situation now arising in VT, it has become an emergency and has taken priority.

With knowing what has happened the last few months, the publicity in Rudozem, did cause a bit of anger in the community with some going more against RSDR and actually causing more problems.  So at this stage we have to be careful even with publicity as it can backfire.   So I ask everyone to please to wait until Kerry and Kosta are safe.

In VT where Kerry and Kosta are, the police have shown they will not do anything if they do not have names of the gypsies........at the moment we are concerned with getting the dogs out....for not only the dogs safety....but for Kerry and Kosta too...

When Kerry and Kosta first arrived to the area in VT in Bulgaria in October 2010, the house they were going to be staying in, had been ransacked and broken into by gypsies...things smashed.   Kerry reported it to the police.

A few months later...a gypsy was breaking into the house next door and she rang the police and reported it and he got caught!!!... since then this one gypsy has had a vendetta ......and now all of them are hassling them.   Kerry has been harrassed and followed around by Grown men and had stones thrown at her, and has been chased!!!    Kerry is 20 weeks pregnant. They have threatened Kosta, aswell as told him not to leave Kerry alone as she is going to get it!     The village consists of over 700 gypsies, whilst there is only 2 of them.

At this moment the main concern is to get them both out and all 28 dogs and 9 cats out of the house as fast as we can, before anything can happen. 

At VT, there has already been one dog shot, Rambo!! And even though he has recovered, there have been threats that they will continue to do so, so throw poison in the yard. The gypsies will go as far as biting their own children...and then will say it's one of the dogs!!!

It is extremely dangerous for Kerry & Kosta to be left alone in a town where the police, and mayor will not do anything.

Diane is also worried a lot about publicity because even though peoples intentions are good and she wants to fight and said she would if it was just her.....however it is her family that is in danger if it backfires. So I can understand her concerns because they will be the ones left alone in a village with people against them....

However in saying that it might be contradictory to be now writing this on the blog....but RSDR do need help with funds, and urgently appeal for everyone to help and make a donation, so RSDR can immediately evactuate the dogs, build pens, and continue to survive!!.....  

We will not only need the funds for this emergency situation, but also need funds for the care and feeding of the dogs, aswell as secure some financial security for the serious outcome still to be decided on the future of RSDR at Rudozem.

If everyone could please make a donation, please go to http://www.streetdogrescue.com/donatehelp.htm  

Anita Weber, RSDR Secretary
Rudozem Street Dog Rescue
www.streetdogrescue.com