British rescuers race to help rebuild storm hit dog shelter in Greece

A team of British animal lovers has travelled hundreds of miles to a storm-ravaged Greek dog shelter, determined to rebuild it from the ground up and give its traumatised residents a second chance.

Saving Saints Rescue, which operates around the UK, has returned to Nafpaktos for a second major mission to restore the Happy Tails shelter, which was left devastated after violent winter storms tore through the region earlier this year.

The volunteer-led group is picking up where it left off after a successful 2025 trip, when members first helped transform the shelter, home to more than 100 abandoned and abused dogs. But their work was cruelly undone in January 2026, when extreme weather destroyed kennels, flattened storage areas and flooded enclosures, leaving animals exposed to the elements.

Now this week, the team is back on the ground for what they are calling “Part Two” of their Big Greek Shelter Restoration, with a clear mission to rebuild, repair, restore and revive.

Among those leading the charge is spokesperson Rachel Wesley, 53, who has joined the frontline effort to help restore the shelter to safety.

She said: “When we saw the damage caused by the storms, we knew we had to come back. The dogs here have already endured so much, abandonment, abuse, neglect, and to then be left without proper shelter was heartbreaking.

“This isn’t just about rebuilding structures, it’s about restoring hope, for the dogs and for the incredible local volunteers who refuse to give up on them.”

Working side by side with the Greek team who run Happy Tails, Saving Saints volunteers are repairing fencing, rebuilding kennels and creating safe, dry spaces for the animals to rest.

Recognising the emotional toll on the dogs, many of whom are already deeply traumatised, the team has brought supplies of calming products from Pet Remedy to help ease anxiety during the upheaval.

Rachel added: “The noise, the disruption, the constant changes, it can be overwhelming for dogs that have already been through so much. Using Pet Remedy helps take the edge off and allows them to feel a little safer while all this work is going on around them.”
The shelter, run entirely by local volunteers, has long been a lifeline for stray and abandoned dogs in the area, offering refuge in a country where resources for animal welfare can be limited.

Last year’s mission was captured in the documentary Django Unchained, which told the emotional story of the transformation achieved by the UK team and their Greek counterparts.

But with kennels destroyed and vital infrastructure wiped out, the race is now on to rebuild before further damage can be done, and before the dogs face another period of uncertainty.

Saving Saints is also calling on the public to support the mission, with donations helping to fund everything from beds and fencing to fully built metal shelters. Supporters can also sponsor a dog or even offer one a permanent home through adoption.

Rachel added: “Every single dog here deserves warmth, safety and love. If we can help give them that, even in the smallest way, then every mile travelled and every hour of hard work is worth it.”