From one devoted rescuer and her mum in Bulgaria to a small but mighty pack of volunteers in the UK, we all work paw‑in‑paw to make every adoption a pawsitive success. Now that you’ve met the dogs, it’s time to meet the pawfessionals who fetch, foster, and fight fur‑ever to get your new best fur‑friend home. Some faces you may already re‑collie‑gnise, others might be new pups on the block, but every single one is impawtant to our mission.
Role: Top dog
Time with the rescue: Since the very start.
3 fun facts about Leesa:
Poetical in mind and spirit since I was a child taking after my father in the love of Gray’s ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ & writing poetry since I was 12yrs old. I now turn my passion into words to help the dogs
I wore ball gowns 24/7 as I am compelled by the ill fated subjects of Waterhouse’s paintings and the practical attire only featured in later life helping dogs. I am impractical despite being a university graduate
I used to jump in the river Ness after socialising under a layered beech tree as the tide took me home far quicker than walking. I have always danced by the cliff edge not inland through life
Carol is Leesa’s mum and self-confessed “dogs body”. Carol moved to Bulgaria with Leesa to support with the rescue.
Role: 2nd in pack. Karen runs the team of volunteers in the UK and is the 2nd in pack to Leesa.
Favourite breed: I honestly don't have a favourite breed, I just love dogs.
Time with the rescue: I've been with the rescue approximately 3 1/2 years, could be longer... Feels like I've always been with the rescue .
3 fun facts about me:
1. My favourite writers are Shakespeare and Dickens.
2. My favourite place is Ullswater, Lake District.
3. My favourite colour is hot Pink
I became involved with Break the Chains after falling in love with a sad little face of Chopsie. After chatting to Leesa and ensuring I could offer the home he needed, I was overwhelmed with happiness to be able to welcome him into my home. He has become the most positive force in my life after some traumatic years. He has brought me out of myself and allowed me to build a new life for myself which is linked to my work as part of the BTC team.
I have fostered two dogs for BTC and helped to secure a new safe, loving home in the UK for a few other dogs. I fundraise to allow Leesa to continue her valuable and vital work. I have set up the Devon community for adopters of BTC dogs, arranging meet ups of around 20 dogs and their humans bi-monthly which raise up to £200 a time. I also have perfected home made dog treats which I sell at these events and to family and friends raising more funds. All sales money goes to BTC.
My favourite breed of dog is rescue for their resilience but I also have my beloved Border Collie and this breed is one I admire and respect for their supreme intelligence and companionship.
3 fun facts about myself:
1. I am obsessed with Iceland having visited the beautiful country 11 times so far. I am very fortunate to own one of the few Icelandic horses in the UK.
2. Peter Andre once told me he loved me!
3. I always carry a plastic bag with me on dog walks and return with it full of litter. Every little bit helps…
Phoenix and I are officially one pack (the officiant sealed the deal), so of course we’re curled up together right here. We first sniffed out BTC in late November 2024 and by December we’d welcomed two paw‑fect pups into our lives. Since then, we’ve well and truly caught the bug—the rescue bug, not the flea kind—and joined the team faster than a greyhound out of the gate.
I (Molly) am a proud home‑checker, making sure every future pup parent has the ideal set‑up for a fur‑ever friend. Together, Phoenix and I handle anything and everything to do with this very website—the one your paws are scrolling through right now. And when we’re not typing away, we’re busy foster‑ing hope, love, and second chances for the rescue’s dogs.
Our favourite breeds: Obviously whatever we said, it’d have to be a rescued one for their unconditional love and their resilience but if we’re talking pedigrees then mine (Molly) would have to be either a Staffordshire Bullterrier, Pitbull Terrier or XL Bully and Phoenix’s would be the mighty Husky
Three facts about us:
We got married in November 2023 when I was 19 and Phoenix was 20
We both grew up in care and it was in both of our final placement that we met when I was 16 and Phoenix was 17
We have half a dozen guinea pigs as well as our 2 dogs because we have both always adored animals and the natural world.
Trish does our adverts on Pets4Homes, home-checks and now fosters (that’s her foster Mecho in the photo).
Trish has only ever owned rescues and these are her favourite type of dog although she does have a soft spot for staffys but has never had one.
Trish has been involved with BTC since October 2024 and a few facts about her are:
“I used to be in the WRAF for 12 years. Long time ago now lol.
I love horse riding although I don't do it anymore and have had my own horses. And I also love motorcycles but again I don't ride anymore.
I prefer animals to humans most of the time and have rescued all sorts of animals in the past. I would have a house full if my house was big enough.”
