Rescue Quest

Rescue quest is on a mission to help animals in need.

What has happened so far to bring you up to date:

I opened a dog shelter in Marbella, Guanacaste Costa Rica where street dogs and puppies were rescued, cared for and rehabilitated where needed, and then adopted to loving homes.

We raised enough money for a used 4x4 to collect dogs, take them to the vet, collect donations from the local community and transport them to their new homes.

And the magic of this, the day we got the keys to the car, is the day that we collected a rescued puppy that was abandoned in Santa Cruz, she was adopted and now lives a loving and happy life.

We also raised enough money for vet bills, food, vaccinations and medications to successfully care for and rehome over 30 dogs and puppies.

In 2023, the shelter was closed down due to safety concerns after harassment from men and robberies.

After making the decision, all remaining dogs were homed before closing down.

There was a lot of loss and death that year, including Beethoven and Pantera, as well as Dale a Canadian man that stayed and volunteered at the shelter for some time.

The emotional toll was heavy, but later that year I went to Sweden for great opportunities involved in animal and dog rescue.

However, by this time I was already unaware how burnt out I was and in need of a break.

Earlier this year in 2024, I agreed to go to Romania with Raising Standards, to assess the situation over there and then make a plan and take action on how we can help thousands of suffering dogs around Europe.

The situation in Romania is horrific. In the space of a few days I witnessed more than ten thousands dogs suffering in prisons aka shelters.

I did also meet genuine animal lovers in Romania and were giving the dogs the best they could with love and care.

I was taking footage to save money on a videographer and then as soon as I left Romania I got to work going through all the footage selecting what could be used for the website etc.

I had met other women that have shelters there that were begging and desperate for help. I was still getting messages for help in Costa Rica. I felt like I was being pulled in many different directions.

Not long after that the burn out hit. When I say burn out, I don’t mean feeling tired or unmotivated. It is utterly debilitating and it can take months or years to come back from burn out and some even leave the animal rescue field all together.

On top of that there is the battle with guilt and shame for burning out.

Well-being is the key to sustainable and successful advocacy for animals. Which is why I am prioritizing my well-being.

I am on a waiting list for EMDR eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy, which is helpful for symptoms of PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder.

In the meantime I have created a children’s book based on the true story of 3 rescued Romanians with all proceeds of the book going to Penny’s Ark registered charity.

I ask myself what is going to make the most impactful positive change for animals?

For me the answers are always Well-Being for advocates (living well) and Changing Laws and Legislations (and making sure they are implemented).

I will keep you updated on this journey and any donations received at this time will go towards well-being for now.

Thank you to all donors for supporting Rescue Quest, without you we would not have achieved in changing the lives of so many dogs in need.

If you would like to see all of the successful rescue quests so far then please click here:

https://www.rescuequest.co.uk/successful-rescue-quests