The Dali Dog Rescue UK Story

Our Story

In 2010, Marilena accidentally discovered Dali dog pound, and our story begins there:

“I still remember the day of November 27th 2010 when we accidentally found Dali pound. I was wandering around the village with my husband when I saw the 10-12 dogs that were living there, who were just skin and bones in their small cages. Immediately we went to a local kiosk to buy some food and we spent several days feeding them through the fence. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t even this about anything but those poor dogs in that horrible place.

After 5 days of silence at the point, I knew no-one was coming to help. So I contacted the mayor of Dali explaining what I saw and offered to help. Ten minutes later he called me and after talking for a while, he gave me permission to help rehoming the dogs. We agreed that the municipality wouldn’t put down any of the dogs providing I covered their food and medical expenses. (On a 22-year-olds salary!)

After we made the agreement, I created the first Dali Facebook group, which you now know as D.O.G Rescue Cyprus. And that’s where things really started to take off! I met so many people who supported me and was able to create a link with ladies in the UK and Germany so that we could trial rehoming dogs abroad.

In those early days, rescuing was incredibly difficult. I was young and no one knew me, so I was literally begging for money to buy food (I often used my personal money to cover vet expenses and emergencies). I broke down many times as I watched some dogs stay a year or more in the shelter. But at the same time, we saw how happy the dogs were in their forever homes overseas, so we started promoting even more adoptions!

In 2011 Stalo joined me and we were able to push even harder. Now we have rehomed over 3000 Dali dogs and have over 41,000 members in our facebook groups, who are helping us to spread the word.

Why do I do this?

Seeing Dali dogs happy in their forever homes is the best reward I could ever ask for. This isn’t an easy task – it’s completely taken over my life! But those dogs are my first and last thought of every day. I dream of one day seeing our kennels completely empty and with your help, hopefully, we can.

Our Mission

We’re on a mission to find Cyprus’ stray dogs warm, fluffy sofas to call their own! Why? Every year hundreds of happy, healthy dogs all over the island are turned into shelters due to neglect, mistreatment or abandonment. Local authorities are completely overwhelmed by the number of strays, which is estimated at 150,000 island-wide and sadly, often resort to euthanasia as their only option. By working closely with charities on the ground like D.O.G Rescue Cyprus, Dali Dog Rescue UK is helping Cyprus’ stray dogs start a new life, in a loving forever home overseas. It’s the trip of a lifetime, for the forever home they’ve always deserved.