A family traveled over 3200 kilometers in search of a better life with more opportunities and peace. However, their reality took a different turn as they ended up dedicating themselves to saving the lives of hundreds of homeless dogs and cats from terrible abuse.
Tony and Diane Rowles, a married couple, never planned on opening a rescue center when they moved from Scotland to Bulgaria. Now, they lead a different life, caring for around 200 dogs and cats rescued from the streets.
In 2007, they made the decision to move and journeyed over 3200 kilometers (2000 miles) to a Bulgarian city where they hoped to find a more tranquil existence for their family.
However, upon their arrival, they quickly realized that a peaceful life was unlikely after witnessing the abuse suffered by the large number of homeless dogs on the streets of Rudozem. Seeing this, they knew they couldn’t turn a blind eye and continue on as if nothing was happening. That’s why they made the decision to start their own animal rescue center because they believed they “couldn’t ignore their dire situation”.
Introducing the Rudozem Street Dog Rescue (RSDR), a non-profit organization dedicated to saving dogs from the streets, rescuing them from a life of hunger and abuse, and finding them loving homes – some even in the UK, Netherlands, and Belgium.
The shelter currently cares for over 200 rescued dogs and cats, and the family running it has had to adjust to a new culture in this rural area near the Greek border, where resources for animal welfare are scarce.
Arriving in Bulgaria in late summer of 2007, the Rowles family and their four children, four dogs, and two cats had never planned on starting a rescue center. Their original intention was to open a café as a family business.
However, after a few months, the family could no longer turn a blind eye to the abuse suffered by the homeless animals in the area. Dogs and cats were starving to death or being shot, stoned, or beaten by inhumane individuals who had no respect for their lives.
One day, a few weeks after moving to Rudozem, their youngest son, Lucas, befriended a stray dog that started following him around.
The poor animal had been shot at, beaten, and had part of his skull crushed.
Despite all the suffering caused by humans, this creature would stay outside the house waiting for his new and only friend Lucas all night, even though mean neighbors would beat him with big sticks and throw stones at him.
Facing this extremely risky situation for the animal, the family decided to adopt the canine and named him Ranger, saving him from a nearly certain death.
In that backwards and savage society, they treat homeless animals as if they were vermin and believe they should be exterminated. Despite this, the Rowles quickly started feeding the abandoned puppies and kittens.
As more homeless dogs from the streets were brought to the Rowles’ home, the number reached 85, and they realized they needed to expand into a larger space. Tony mentioned, “When word got out that we were rescuing dogs, people started showing up to give us unwanted animals. We soon realized we couldn’t continue like this and made the decision to create a proper shelter for animal rescue.”
“We have to do what we can. We just can’t sit back and watch without taking action. That was never an option for us.”
“Since then, we haven’t stopped. Eight years ago when we started, we thought it would only be for a couple of years, but the situation is still as bad as it was back then. It’s overwhelming.”
“We have figured out a way to export dogs to new homes and we recently received a request to take in another 27 puppies and dogs who had been mistreated.”
Diane, aged 53, shared: “I have always had dogs and it breaks my heart to see how they are treated here sometimes.”
In 2010, we purchased an old house with a spacious backyard and immediately embarked on renovating it. Meanwhile, we are doing everything in our power to assist as many dogs as we can.
Although we never planned on becoming stray dog rescuers when we moved to Bulgaria, we cannot turn a blind eye to their challenging circumstances.
Now that we have begun, it’s a commitment for life. There are heartbreaking moments, but I could never abandon what we have started because otherwise there would be no one to care for and advocate for these dogs.
Just like in any backward and violent society against animal life. The rescue center faced opposition from the locals in the town, as well as from the municipality, and at one point the Rowles were threatened with arrest.
However, this compassionate family dedicated to helping animals in need has carried on their work at Rudozem Street Dog Rescue (RSDR). Diane, along with Tony’s sons Lucas and Liam, lend a hand at the shelter, alongside other hired staff members. They transport the rescued animals to their new homes in a van across Europe, and have even reached as far as the Netherlands.
Tony, a 49-year-old man, expressed his goal for this year: “We want to focus on increasing the number of adoptions to help more animals in need.” The Rowles family serves as a shining example of kindness and compassion towards those in need. Despite having other plans for their lives, they embarked on a greater and more wonderful mission of saving lives that would otherwise be condemned to suffering.
As for the community in Rudozem, it is a true example of many societies worldwide. People who do not respect the lives of others and instead, celebrate the torture and killing of animals. It’s no surprise that such societies are often backward and more violent, as seen in Tordesillas and many other parts of Spain, just to give another example.
If you’ve reached the end of this story, you must have the heart and intelligence to understand that despite adversity, each of us can do something for a needy being. Whether it’s a little or a lot, what matters is coming together and making our lives, families, and community a way of life based on respect for animals because that is the right way of evolution and preserving true “humanity”.
