Please Help Bring My 3 Rescue Dogs Home from Myanmar

Our Story

My name is Rosie. I’m a British teacher who moved to Myanmar (Burma) in 2018. Like many other developing nations, Myanmar is overrun with stray dogs, many living lives of danger, hunger and pain.

To get an idea of what that looks like, this video shares the point of view of a street dog in a similar setting:

A Street Dog's Life

Having grown up around dogs, I didn’t realise just how deeply the country’s street dog crisis would affect me.

I found Jack and Rosalind as tiny, filthy puppies near a busy market. They were covered in fleas and lying dangerously close to the road. A few weeks later, Fabricio, also just a puppy, began following us on daily walks. He waited outside our front door for days until he eventually adopted us too.

Through COVID, political unrest and the breakdown of an abusive relationship, I stayed in Myanmar for them. I longed to return home, but the pet transport process is incredibly expensive and complex. Still, these dogs are my family and I promised I would never leave them behind.

An Unforeseeable Year

In 2024, I became pregnant and soon after lost my beloved grandmother. Unfortunately, I had to return to the UK for both my own health and to support my grieving mum. Leaving my dogs behind was heart-wrenching, but I had no choice.

In April, I gave birth via emergency C-section and have been raising baby Jude alone, living in my late grandma’s mobile home. Though I’m currently unemployed as maternity support in Myanmar is limited, I’ve spent over $7,200 (approx £5300) of my savings trying to bring my dogs to the UK.

In addition, I’ve continued to rent my home in Yangon so they could stay there safely with Ms. Moe, a local lady who took care of them when I was at work or visiting the UK. But my lease ends in June and if I can’t raise the money to get them out, I fear they’ll end up back on the streets.

What Went Wrong

My plan was to bring Jack and Rosalind first, and then Fabricio, once I was able to work again and afford his transportation.

In early June, I undertook a challenging six-day journey back to Myanmar, leaving Jude with my mum, to finalise my dogs' transport, where I paid a trusted agent for Jack and Rosalind’s transport.

Once I arrived back in the UK, I learnt the flight option had fallen through due to an airline miscommunication. The only safe, legal alternative is overland transport to Thailand and a cargo flight to the UK, which means an unexpected extra cost of $3,800.

Fabricio’s flight and crate will cost an additional $4,900. I simply can’t afford this on my own.

Why Not Just Rehome them?

Myanmar is overwhelmed by a street dog crisis. Shelters and vets are full. The children at school actually said to me, "Ms. Rosie, why didn't you get a 'real' dog?" which highlights the fact that street dog-types are seen as wild animals or pests, rather than beloved pets. Rehoming them is near enough impossible for this reason.

Not only that, but these are my babies. We have been through so much together... I cannot abandon them; I cannot break my promise.

Why Not Just Return to Myanmar?

My baby was born early due to prenatal hypertension and has struggled with severe reflux and slow weight gain. Myanmar, while close to my heart, is a developing country experiencing significant civil unrest, frequent power cuts, and widespread poverty. It's a place where a major earthquake recently struck, and crime rates can be a concern. Crucially, it is not a safe or suitable environment to raise a newborn, especially one like Jude, who has already faced health challenges.

What Do We Need?

Total: $8,700 / approx. £6,440

My mum has already agreed to adopt Fabricio. As soon as I’m able to work again, I’ll keep saving, but time is running out.

The link below goes to a video I made after returning to Myanmar from a visit home last summer. Although pregnant at the time, I didn't know it yet!

Greeting My Babies

If I can’t raise the funds in time, I truly fear these loyal, loving dogs will have nowhere to go and end up back on the street.

Any donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to being reunited.

Thank you for helping us keep our family together.

With love and gratitude,

Rosie, Jack, Rosalind, Fabricio & Baby Jude

For more videos, please see our Tiktok: Our TikTok