From one devoted rescuer and her mum in Bulgaria to a small but mighty pack of volunteers in the UK, we all work hand-in-hand to make every adoption a success. Now that you’ve met the dogs, it’s time to meet the pawfessionals who fetch, foster, and fight to get your new best friend home. Some faces you may already recognise, others you may not, but every single one is important to our mission.
Role: Top dog
Time with the rescue: Since the very start.
More about Leesa:
Leesa is a one man band in Europe where she rescues & has an invaluable team of volunteers in the U.K.
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 when I write appeals.
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 rescuing 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”. She went on every rescue with her daughter though cannot be as involved now due to personal circumstances.
Carol moved to Bulgaria with her late husband of 56yrs Leesas father. She later in support of her daughter assisted with what would turn into an obsession for leesa- saving dogs from appalling situations. When the family first moved to Bulgaria (leesa is only there when rescuing) they had no idea how terrible the treatment of animals was. These days she lends her support tirelessly in the background & allows her land to be used for the housing of dogs before we find them homes in the U.K. This enables vital funding to be utilised elsewhere where by saving on ground rent.
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 (the officiant said so), so of course we’re curled up together right here. We first found BTC in late November 2024 and by December we’d welcomed two perfect 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 very quickly.
I (Molly) am a proud home‑checker, making sure every future pup parent has the ideal set‑up for a their forever friend. I am also the deputy manager for the team and adopters. Together, Phoenix and I handle anything and everything to do with this very website—the one you’re scrolling through right now.
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.”
Role within the rescue: Tom is our in-house trainer. He gives training advice, makes the graphics, does techy bits and general support of the rescue
Time with the rescue: Tom has been with the rescue for just over 2 years
Favourite breed: Terriers
3 facts about Tom:
5. a) I like dogs
b) I was a dog photographer for nearly 20 years.
c) I prefer dogs to people.
Role: Amy is our fundraiser but also willing to jump into our group chat to offer owners advice and do home checks when needed.
Time with rescue: Amy has been with the rescue for 7 years.
Favourite dog breed: Chinese crested and rescue.
3 fun facts about Amy:
I love singing and will jump on karaoke any chance I get
I have been on tv, took some antiques items on “the bidding room”
I love to travel to sunny places and have been to Tenerife over 15 times!
Role: Bev does advertising the dogs on some of the sites we use
Time with the rescue: Bev has been with Break the chains for almost a year
Favourite breed: Bev doesn’t have a favourite breed and adores all animals.
3 fun facts about Bev:
Bev is a retired care worker
She is known as Auntie B to most people
She has fed foxes that come to her bedroom window for 16 years
Role: Jo helps with the admin tasks (not a small job in a rescue organisation), she also moderates our Facebook and is soon to train as a home checker.
Length of time with the rescue: Jo is a more recent addition to our growing team and only joined in October 2025
3 facts about Jo:
Jo loves dog walking in Devon, particularly Hope Cove in the South Hams area.
Jo likes to dress up, along with her husband for pirate weekends they have attended for 18 years.
Jo’s husband, Max is a Santa for schools and at Pennywell farm at Christmas time
