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We have worked in partnership with the Happy Tails shelter in Nafpaktos, Greece for many years. This shelter has relied on local volunteers to care for over 100 rescued dogs; many of them large breeds that are abandoned, abused and overlooked for adoption; dogs who simply have nowhere else to go.
Successful as our trip in April 2025 was, we knew our mission would not end there. Our help would soon be needed again, and recent events have proved us horribly right.
In January 2026, winter storms ravaged the Happy Tails shelter, tearing down kennels and storage sheds, flooding pens, exposing dogs to the elements and ripping out the heart of the volunteers who work tirelessly to keep these animals alive and safe.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s-nrsJY2Y6c
So now in April 2026, we return to Nafpaktos, this time to Rebuild, Restore and Revive. Over a period of 10 days we will work with our friend Yiota and the local volunteers to erect new storage sheds, new dog shelters, put on life protecting insect repellent collars, feed, clean, carry out essential maintenance and improve the facilities; helping to give these dogs the environment they deserve.
The documentary film Django Unchained tells the moving story of our April 2025 trip.
Helping Django escape his chains inspired us to create a longer term, ongoing mission under The Big Greek Shelter Restoration banner. Our vision is to keep facilitating future improvements and create lasting change; building a more enriching, sustainable shelter model, lobbying the Greek authorities to reduce the stray dog population, offering unique opportunities to contribute in the form of volunteering, sponsorship and ongoing donor support.
How can you help?
Volunteer
If you’re good at fixing things or just eager to help, we’d love for you to register your interest in joining us for our phase 2, upcoming April 2026 trip. We’re especially looking for volunteers with carpentry, construction, or general building skills to help rebuild and restore the shelter’s infrastructure.
If you’re a business interested in sending staff on team-building experiences to the shelter, we would also love to hear from you.
Donate – Fund a Vital Upgrade
If you can’t volunteer, you can directly support our 2026 rebuild by donating towards materials, tools, and essential resources.
💙 £25 buys a sturdy new bed for a large-breed dog
💙 £100 helps repair 20 meters fencing to keep dogs safe
💙 £600 will enable one of 10 individual metal shelters and storage
sheds to be built
📢 Every donation makes a real difference —whether you give £10 or sponsor an entire kennel, your contribution will have a direct impact on the dogs at Happy Tails and our UK dogs in foster.
Volunteer
By sponsoring a dog with a monthly donation at the Happy Tails shelter, you’re helping to create a permanent improvement for these dogs' lives.
Dogs like those featured in Django Unchained - Cinnamon, Dili, Vafla, Benjie, Otis and Corro.
💙 £15 per month buys the essentials - food and water (for dogs still on
the streets)
💙 £25 per month buys a life saving insect repellent collar and vital
veterinary care
💙 £40 per month feeds, protects and provides shelter at Happy Tails
We welcome opportunities to recognise your sponsorship with a personalised gift certificate and also celebrate on our well-visited social media platforms.
Adopt – Give a Dog a Forever Home
Looking to adopt a rescue dog? Many of the Happy Tails' residents are ready for loving homes. Could you be the one to offer them that elusive second chance?
There are many adoptable dogs in need of forever homes - take a look at those on our website or enquire about one of the many more waiting. We have dogs from Happy Tails and other shelters already in the UK ready to meet you.
https://www.savingsaintsrescue.co.uk/dogs/looking-for-home/all-dogs
Foster - Give a Dog the chance of a Loving Home in the UK
Help to give some of these dogs the future and family they’ve always dreamt of by offering to foster them on arrival in the UK. Please email us at savingsaintsrescueuk@outlook.com to register your interest in fostering and begin the process.
Why Get Involved?
Every hour of work, every donation, and every sponsorship goes directly into the rebuild , ensuring the shelter is safer, stronger, and more comfortable for these dogs. Your efforts will lay the foundation for future improvements and lasting change.
Will you be part of this journey? Join us - volunteer, donate, foster, adopt or sponsor today.
Email us: savingsaintsrescueuk@outlook.com with whatever way you can help.