About us

Setter Saviours established itself as an independent Charitable organisation in 2023 and was set up by Bernadett, Jane and Karen.

Prior to this we were involved with another rescue, and when that rescue disbanded, we took on the majority of dogs that were left behind in kennels and some of the debts.

The outlook for the dogs was very bleak without our support. We have successfully established a good working relationship with our partners in the Balkans.

We found there were over 100 dogs needing our help when we only knew about 50 of them.

 We are an experienced team with many years of rescuing and rehoming and fostering of setters and other breeds in the UK.

Between us we have helped to rehome over 200 dogs.

We adopt and foster dogs to the UK mostly but have also adopted dogs to other European countries.

We continue to reduce the number of dogs in our kennels; to find them happy loving homes to ensure we can provide care for and afford the remaining dogs.

 

Our Aim

Is to help and support our current dogs and to find them perfect forever homes as well as to be able to help new dogs crossing our path in the future. We also support those looking after our dogs so they can provide the best care possible for those still waiting to be noticed. 

 

About our rescue dogs:

We predominantly rescue setters but often found ourselves helping other breeds that desperately need our help.

Sometimes it’s hard to turn a blind eye to a dog in need. This is why you will find other breeds advertised.

Our dedicated rescue team in the Balkans get alerted to a dog’s plight and step in to secure the future of that dog.

Our rescuers work around the clock to help get the dogs to safety and to obtain emergency veterinary care for the old, sick, malnourished and injured.

Some dogs come directly from hunters/owners or from vets who refuse to put the dogs to sleep.

Setters are still a popular breed with hunters in Europe. This is because they can be kept together in huge numbers, they are a gentle and highly sociable breed and also, they are good at their jobs.

The sad truth is that many Setters are just a tool to be bred and worked with. They suffer terrible abuse and neglect on a daily basis. This means hunters breed them and when they reach 1-3 years old, they decide which ones to keep. Those who fail to become a good hunter for various reasons (i.e. gun shy, injured, sick) are often just killed, discarded (purposefully driven to remote locations and abandoned so cannot find their way back). Many are found on the streets or in public shelters (where dogs die on a daily basis).

 

How we work

Once each dog is assessed fit enough, they are transferred to paid kennels or paid foster homes. Unfortunately, we do not have our own kennels.

All dogs are given a full medical check, tested for all Mediterranean diseases including Leishmaniasis and Brucellosis and wormed and flea treated regularly.

They are spayed/neutered unless age or health issues prevent it. All dogs are microchipped and will come with a European passport.

Our rescue covers the cost of their kennel fees, feeding and all veterinary expenses from our adoption fees, sponsorship and fundraising.

Most of our dogs have never lived in a home environment so will not be housetrained and may never have walked on a leash.

​Sadly, we often rescue sick dogs, and our volunteers work tirelessly together with our amazing supporters’ fundraising which also helps to care for them.​

We also have a few very experienced foster homes here in the UK, which is a lifeline for us and for our dogs. ​But we are always looking for new foster homes. Click here if you would like to know more about fostering.

 

To maintain contact is very important for us. 

We work with a network of people, and they all put their heart and soul into helping these dogs. ​It is not just one person involved in each rescued dog. It never is. To keep them going through many heartaches and difficulties rescuing and caring for our dogs in exchange we share any information we have on any of our adopted dogs. This is why we ask you to keep in touch with us and provide regular photographs and updates so that we can share them.

 

We are small team of volunteers and we manage this in our free time. So please bear this in mind when contacting us. ​We do our utmost to respond to queries as soon as we can.​

So please ADOPT, FOSTER, DONATE, SPONSOR or SHARE our dogs. They all deserve a chance for a loving and spoilt life.​