Hello, my name is Jess, I live on a Portuguese island, called Pico, in the Azores. A place of breathtaking beauty, however also home to a large number of abandoned dogs. I moved here from the UK to be closer to nature, more specifically whales and dolphins. I am currently working for CW Azores, a whale watching and scuba diving company. But moving here brought me to a different mission - Pico Dogs.

Myself and a colleague, Dania, are setting out with an ambitious vision. Over the coming winter we will be building a new dog shelter. But a dog shelter with a difference. Not only a place to give dogs new hope and all their basic needs and rights, but also a place to set an example of how dogs should be treated and to provide education and free steralisation campaigns. It will be a challenging journey; we will have to face a culture where dogs are an asset, they are only useful if they have a job to fulfil, guard the house, scare away unwanted visitors, herd the livestock. Our dream is not only changing the future for the already abandoned dogs here, but also to try and prevent this situation continuing into the future. Within the grounds of our dog shelter, we also hope to open a dog park, something non-existent on the island at the moment, and also an agility course. Two things that are all part of a movement to try and encourage this new mentality towards how dogs should be treated.

We are already working with Tierhilfe Phönix e.v. in Germany who find new homes for dogs in the existing shelter. We prepare the dogs here in Pico for the flight to Germany, and the association welcomes them on the other side for the start of their new life. It is a fantastic system that enables us to increase the chances of adoption here.

Our objective is set, what we would like to achieve is very clear in our minds, however how we will reach that dream financially will need to take shape. We need to raise around 10,000euros, enough money to build the dog shelter, secure fencing, the shelters for the dogs, an area for storage, a desk and a toilet, and of course all the costs that will be go in to running such a place year on year. We know it is ambitious, but we are determined to change the fate of the dogs here.

I hope that by helping us you will feel this great sense of reward within your heart. I doubt I can solve climate change, or the planet's over population, but the dogs, I know they can be saved. These dogs did nothing wrong and they are such sweet souls that deserve so much better. I will work endlessly to give them a better life. Please help me in this mission.