About Us
Because our hearts are big.
High Hopes Dog Rescue was founded on the 9th August 2018 by me - Samantha Watson. Having worked alongside rescue dogs for 4 years, reaching my 40th Birthday and taking a trip to Romania in the summer of 2018 I decided that I wanted to do more to help.
Seeing with my own eyes the horrors of one of Romania’s many public ‘Kill’ shelters broke me like nothing else has before in my lifetime and I couldn’t walk away and do nothing. The look in the dogs eyes in that shelter will haunt me forever.
Together we have been able to rescue many dogs in need already. We truly appreciate all donations and offers of support and everything we do is for the love and well being of these that need our help.
We are a registered charity as of February 2024.
Recently we have managed to set up teams of regular dog walkers to walk our dogs that are held in boarding kennels. This was started and is overseen by Sarah Mumfordkhan and hugely enriches the dogs lives. If you’re interested in volunteering with us please drop us an email or a message to the facebook page.
Where we rescue dogs from
All of the dogs we rescue from overseas are vaccinated, microchipped, flea’d and wormed. Subject to age they are neutered too. Our focus is making sure the dogs are healthy and able to travel, and then they can begin their journey to a better life and a loving home.
A dog in need is a dog we want to help, wherever they are from - we don’t discriminate. If we think we are able to help, we will.
Working as an International Rescue we help dogs from Romania who have been rescued by a lady called Cristina Blaj. We also work with rescuers from Bosnia, Macedonia and two rescues based in Portugal.
If you would like to request help with a dog please get in touch.
How we help
We are a non-profit organisation and run entirely on donations, we would love to hear from anyone who might be able to help with monthly sponsorship, fundraising, donations or fostering.
We are primarily foster based although in emergencies we do have a few kennels that we can use at a cost to us.
Alongside our facebook page we have a fundraising page where we regularly have scratch cards, bonus ball, raffles and auctions. We also have a fosterers and adopters group where anyone who has adopted or fosters for us are invited to join.
Our team
We would not be able to do what we do without a fantastic team and their ongoing energy and commitment…..
Sam Watson, Founder
My name is Sam and Dog Rescue is something I am extremely passionate about ever since I rescued Monty (pictured) 2 1/2 years ago. He has changed me as a person and is my driving force to do more for these wonderful, loyal creatures. To see a dog so frightened of the world around him was a distressing thing to see and to be able to rehabilitate him to the fantastic dog he is today, is something I am very proud of.
I have lots of experience in dog rescue, it is more of a vocation i think! I've worked in a dog rescue, fostered, fundraised, transported, trained and rehabilitated. I have seen many tragic stories of the way humans have treated mans so-called best friend and have been broken by some of the things I've gone through with them.
My dogs L to R: Lily (rescue), Stan, Monty (rescue), , Daisy, Mia and Charlie at the front.
After a recent volunteer trip to Romania and seeing the horrors over there, I knew I was time I did something more. Dogs give so much without question and love us unconditionally, I want to be able to do the same for them.
Monty Mouse
