A Dog's Life Rescue & Sanctuary

A Dog's Life Rescue & Sanctuary is a licensed dog shelter and registered charity in the Eastern Algarve hills of Portugal. It was founded in 2019 by Dave and Lucy after they saw the number of abandoned and neglected dogs in the area and turned their own time and home into a safe sanctuary. The rescue, formally registered as ADLR - A Dog's Life Associação, is charity number 516881159. Around 25 dogs live at the sanctuary at any one time. Some are available for rehoming or long term fostering, others stay for good as sanctuary dogs because of illness or behavioural needs, and a few pass through on short term fostering while they recover or get ready for their forever home. The dogs have paddocked areas across three acres of land, with a dog house for each group and most coming into the home at night. Every dog rescued here gets an initial vet consultation with testing for Leishmaniosis and heartworm, treatment for tick fever, deworming, and a Seresto collar or monthly protection tablets once they are over seven months old. Dogs over seven months are also sterilised, and some need surgery at vets in Faro or Lisbon. ADL was self funded by its founders until 2021 and now relies solely on fundraising and donations, accepted in GBP or EUR, to cover vet bills, medication, food and the upkeep of the paddocks. A dedicated team of volunteers helps with dog care, rehoming, fundraising, social media and the website, and the charity is always looking for local volunteers, foster homes and people willing to help promote its work.