Meet the Team
You’ve met the dogs and now it’s time to meet the team, from one rescuer and her mum in Bulgaria to a small but mighty team here in the UK from advertising and advice to our invaluable fundraisers.
Founder & OwnerLeesa
Role: Leesa’s role includes all of the rescuing alongside dealing with enquiries and regulatory paperwork, policies and contract plus much more
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.
Leesa’s mum and general supporter in Bulgaria
Carol
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.
UK manager
Karen
Role: UK Manager
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
Admin and Homechecker
Jo
Role: Jo does a lot of the rescue’s admin (this is no small task in a rescue) and is a home checker
Favourite breed: I honestly don't have a favourite breed, I just love dogs.
Time with the rescue: Jo is a more recent addition to our growing team and only joined in October 2025
3 fun facts about me:
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
Head of high risk appeals
Rita
Role: Rita has a very important role in the welfare, dealing with our high risk appeals. These are dogs in immediate risk of being put back out or euthanasia or those on chains within the pound through no fault of their own
Favourite breed: Chinese crested and rescue.
Time with the rescue: Since 2023
In Rita’s own words:
“I absolutely love Labradors and have had 3. 1 of each colour.
I’m not really a fun person but I have a dry sense of humour. I love gardening, walking and reading.”
Pets4Homes advertiser, Home Checker and Foster
Trish
Role: Trish does our ads on Pets4Homes, this is where most of our adoptions come from so this is a very important role
Favourite breed: I love any dogs but mixed breeds/cross breeds are amazing. I do have a soft spot sorry Staffies though I have never owned one.
Time with the rescue: Trish has been involved with the rescue since 2024
A few facts about Trish:
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.
Maria
Fundraiser and BTC Devon meet-ups co-ordinator
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…😊
Free Ads advertiser
Bev
I’m a retired care worker.
Known as Auntie B to most people.
Adore all animals.
Have fed foxes that come to my bedroom window for the last 16 years. No favourite breed of dog.
Have 2 BTC dogs. Started advertising for the rescue after getting Bud last year which was in April
Molly
Deputy manager and owner advisor
Role: Deputy UK manager, Website designer and home checker
Favourite breed: Obviously, all of my favorite dogs are rescued but if I had to choose a pedigree it’d be one of the discriminated against dogs like Pitbull Terriers, Staffies, Rottweilers, etc
Time with the rescue: I joined the rescue in December 2024 after getting my two best friends from BTC and just knew that I needed to be a part of the mission. I have since worked my way to deputy UK manager alongside other roles and am sometimes supported by my wife, Phoenix.
3 fun facts about me:
1. I got married when I was just 19
2. I grew up in care under section 31 of the Children’s act and this is where I met Phoenix
3. Alongside 2 dogs we have 5 guinea pigs. I have always had pets and couldn’t imagine life without them
I am pictured right and Phoenix, my lovely wife on the left
Fundraiser
Amy
Role: Fundraiser, general group chat support and home checker
Favourite breed: Chinese crested and rescue.
Time with the rescue: Amy is one of our very long term volunteers at 7 years and counting
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!
Graphic designer and foster advisor
Briony
Role: Briony does our marketing graphics and advises our fosters
Length of time with the rescue: 2yrs
Favourite breed of dog: Mixed breed rescue obviously 😉 Otherwise, I do love a cocker spaniel or a westie
3 fun facts:
I speak German
I was once bought a drink by Bruce Willis
I have an obsession with the TV show Neighbours 😄
Training advisor, graphic designer and tech
Tom
Role: Tom is our in-house training advisor, if another volunteer doesn’t know what to do then Tom certainly will! He also designs some of our graphics and is our in-house tech guy as well as general background support for the rescue.
Length of time with the rescue: Tom has been with the rescue for just over 2 years.
Favourite breed of dog: Tom’s favourite breeds are terriers.
3 fun facts:
5. a) I like dogs
b) I was a dog photographer for nearly 20 years.
c) I prefer dogs to people.
Fundraiser
Rachel
Role: Rachel raises vital funds for the rescue to carry on with it’s mission of saving as many lives as possible
Length of time with the rescue: Rachel has been with the rescue since 2022
Rachel has saved countless lives through adoptions within her direct & extended family educating along the way to dispell some of the misguided outlooks surrounding these adjusted & living dogs.
She also spear headed the mission to keep the rescue going with a year’s supply of food by nominating BTC as the best rescue adopting to the U.K. when jolly’s pet suppliers ran a competition. Rachelle and her family went out of their way to collect the donations from across several branches nationally and store them in her limited space. She also fundraised by setting up stores outside the Jollyes branches with a collective effort of voluneered making crafts & cakes.
