SAVING ABANDONED & ALONE DOGS
Registered Charity - CIF No: G01720309
The Team
Our Founder: Charley Nathan
Charley Nathan has worked with dogs and horses for most of her life.
In 1987, after 8 years in the Metropolitan Police, Charley ran her own, extremely successful business producing and competing show jumpers and bred Cocker Spaniels. Always interested in helping rescue animals, Charley started adopting and fostering, which led to the setting up of AADR in 2013 with co-founder Karen James.
Our President: Charlotte Wilde
Charlotte Wilde is the president of AA Dog Rescue. She has been training animals for most of her life; it started when her parents finally gave in and bought her a pony for her 11th birthday. When Charlotte left school she got a "proper job" in accountancy, but decided to follow her heart after the birth of her son in 1994. Since then she has trained and supplied animals under direction of some of the biggest names such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese & Christopher Noland, has earned the priviledge of working on everything from Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean to Emmerdale. She say that being a puppy trainer on 102 Dalmatians has to be one of the most demanding. Most recent achievement has been to successfully train her rescue dog 'Shadow' to fly a plane as part of the 'Dogs might Fly' Team shown on Sky1. Shadow is an AADR rescue dog!
Our Patrons:
Nicky Stevens, born in Wales began singing at the very early age of four. In 1973, Nicki became a member of the famous pop group Brotherhood of Man. 40 years later, they are still together.
Nicki now also helps AA Dog Rescue and is a valued member of our team.
Born in Liverpool, John began boxing at the age of 10 at a boxing club in Kirkby.
John is a British former professional boxer who completed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1977, and regionally the European, British & Commonwealth titles between 1973 & 1974. As an amateur, he represented England and won a gold medil in the middleweight division at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in 2017. John was awarded an MBE for service to boxing at the Queen's Birthday Honours.
John was introduced to our work by our President Lord Rose & we are delighted that he is now a valued member of our team.
John Conteh, MBE
Born in Liverpool, John began boxing at the age of 10 at a boxing club in Kirkby.
John is a British former professional boxer who completed from 1971 to 1980. He held the WBC light-heavyweight title from 1974 to 1977, and regionally the European, British & Commonwealth titles
between 1973 & 1974. As an amateur, he represented England and won a gold medil in the middleweight divisio at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in 2017. John was awarde an MBE for service to boxing at the Queen's Birthday Honours.
John was introduced to our work by our President Lord Rose & we are delighted that he is now a valued member of our team.
Sharon & Stephen Garner
Our family are very proud to be asked to be a Patron of this amazing Charity.
We think most of you will know how important our rescue animals are to us, so to be involved and be able to support such a wonderful charity moving forward, is extremely humbling. We have seen first hand the amazing work they do and we promise as a family business, to do all we can to offer our support.
Thank you for asking us, Sharon, Steve, and all at Spanish Property Choice - The Garners of Sun Sea and Selling Houses
Vicki Michelle
Vicki Michelle MBE is an English actress best known for her role as Yvette Carte-Blanche in the television comedy 'Allo 'Allo!
As well as being the current president of the Heritage Foundation she now also helps towards our cause.
Françoise Pascal
Françoise is well known for the passion in her work and her vivacious love of life.
She is best remembered for her role as Danielle Favre in the television series 'Mind Your Language' and films such as 'La Rose de Fer' and 'Burke & Hare' and 'There's a girl in my soup' with Peter Sellers.
Our family are very proud to be asked to be a Patron of this amazing Charity. We think most of you will know how important our rescue animals are to us, so to be involved and be able to support such a wonderful charity moving forward, is extremely humbling. We have seen first hand the amazing work they do and we promise as a family business, to do all we can to offer our support. Thank you for asking us, Sharon, Steve, and all at Spanish Property Choice - The Garners of Sun Sea and Selling Houses.
Vicki Michelle MBE is an English actress best known for her role as Yvette Carte-Blanche in the television comedy 'Allo 'Allo!
As well as being the current president of the Heritage Foundation she now also helps towards our cause.
Françoise is well known for the passion in her work and her vivacious love of life.
She is best remembered for her role as Danielle Favre in the television series 'Mind Your Language' and films such as 'La Rose de Fer' and 'Burke & Hare' and 'There's a girl in my soup' with Peter Sellers.
Professor Jo Delahunty KC. Jo was called to the Bar in 1986, took silk ( made a Queen’s Counsel) in 2006 and was appointed Gresham’s Professor of Law in 2016, a role she undertakes alongside her full time silk practice. She has won many industry awards for her work. In March 2019 Jo was given the Freedom of the City of London to mark the centenary of 100 years of suffrage in recognition of her contribution to the Law. Jo is one of the UK’s leading family barristers specialising in legal aid child abuse law rising to prominence, and winning industry awards, for her work in contentious cases involving complex medical evidence and catastrophic injuries to/ the death of a child, child sex abuse, witchcraft/ ritualized abuse and ISIS radicalisation cases. Her clients often have mental health difficulties or serious learning difficulties and she acts for both children and adults. If there is a link between child abuse and animal abuse it is that they look to adults to rear, love and safeguard them. When they are failed , we should not stand idly by if we can help. That belief led to her involvement with AA Dog Rescue . She agreed to become a Patron in 2019 after getting to know AADR and its team . As Jo says ‘AADR does what it says on the tin: it rescues all dogs that come to its attention whether they be pups or seniors, in Spain or the UK. It’s a rescue service not just a rehoming agency. AADR puts the dog’s recovery, welfare and placement needs first and it’s after care to them and their adopters is second to none’. Jo has two of our Spanish pups. As she says ‘this is a protection network for dogs for their lifetime’: that’s unique and that ethos is down to the drive and integrity of Charley Nathan, its founder and fighter’.
Sharon previously worked for a Spanish rescue for 10 years. She has always had a life long love & passion for all animals, particularly dogs. She moved to Spain with Charley & is involved in the Admin & day-to-day running of the rescue there. Sharon became involved with AADR when her father, Brian, who was a professional photographer, started to photograph the AADR dogs combining their love of dogs & photography. Sharon keeps the website up-to-date and Facebook pages buzzing with images of our dogs. Her motto is "After the Rain, the Sun Always Shines"!
Brenda Beharrell & Glen Stafford have both been onboard from the very beginning! They work tirelessly in the office keeping everything running smoothly.
They also fundraise on our behalf and Glen owns the best looking truck in Essex! We would truly be lost without them!
Brian worked as a professional photographer for 40 years before he retired. He is camera shy himself, but his daughter finally papped him with the pic above!
He has also had dogs all his life so putting the two together is his idea of heaven! When he has finished a shoot with his daughter Sharon as his assistant, he then processes the photographs ready for her to upload. Once they are public he says "the icing on the cake is sitting back and watching the dog go off to their forever homes".
Anne Dee is a world-renowned Horse Communicator, Pet Psychic and Spiritual Advisor. While training to develop her gifts, Anne discovered that she had a unique ability to hear and understand the feelings of animals. Today, Anne receives countless requests for help with animal illness and other problems.
It is our great honour to have Anne on board helping the dogs in need.
Lesley always thought cats were her thing & Leon preferred the canines! Now both united on the dog front & heavily involved by helping the dogs at AADR!
They have 4 dogs of their own, two of which are from AADR & support the rescue by holding regular fundraisers which include an annual garden party, a cabaret night & boot sales. Lesley is always looking out for ways to support us for which we are very grateful. Leon is regularly tempted to add to their doggie pack!
They have also not forgotten the cats ... they support a Greek Cat rescue in their spare time!
Some dogs that we rescue have lived through some of the most difficult treatment and sometimes find it hard to adjust. This is where Bill Gibson of Connors Legacy comes in.
Bill has helped so much and AA Dog Rescue would not be the same without him on our side.
I've been a dog walker for fearful and reactive dogs for the last 12 years. I'm fascinated by dog behaviour and have a very dog centric approach to my job and life, these guys teach you an awful lot if you just know what they're saying, and listen. I discovered AA rescue while looking for my own dog and I'm so glad I did. I was lucky enough to be trusted with their most broken dog, a tiny Podenco I called Pizza. I didn't just get a dog from AA though, I've found like minded dog lovers, dedicated to the cause. I'm very proud to be a patron of the rescue, They go above and beyond, from the moment a dog is mentioned to them that needs help, they do all they can, until the dogs last days.
I have been a volunteer with AADR for the past 7 years. It all started when I delivered duvets to the rescue from Tesco. Further visits to the rescue with bedding & food donations led to walking the dogs and reaping the rewards of loving dog cuddles. I was hooked!
I have also been able to take more of a front seat (literally) on some of the trips to Spain to help bring the dogs over to the UK to their new homes.
I particularly enjoy getting involved with organising the Open Days and fund raising with my daughter Amber and feel very honoured to be a Patron.
Karen has been riding horses since the age of 6 and has always had animals. She used to fundraise door to door for the RSPCA as a youngster.
Karen assists with promoting the rescue and finding forever homes for the dogs.
I started volunteering September 2016, walking dogs and fostering when needed. I now help out when the dogs come over from Spain greeting all the new owners as they arrive which I love. Over the years I have met some amazing people and of course the star of the show the dogs themselves. We failed at fostering twice and have our own AA dogs Buddy & Smudge. It’s all worthwhile when you see the dogs and their journey on the AA Dog Rescue Owners Group on Fb.
I started out life as a mechanic. I went to college for five years as an apprentice. I went into construction after my apprenticeship and started my own business. We built the bridges over the Watford section of the M25, and laid all the drainage. I passed my HGV class one and drove long distances for many years, self employed. I then went into MOD surplus but continued to drive lorries. I had an accident that wrecked my back and ended my career as a lorry driver. I volunteered in crown court for the witness service, learning much about law in the process.
I first met Charley many years back along with Karen. I began to donate bedding for the dogs and, coats for girls at AA from the surplus warehouse. My family and i have adopted dogs from the AA ever since, the first being Flick, a staff cross. I am now semi- retired and love nothing more than to spend my time with family and carp fishing. I am an avid Arsenal fan as I was born in Woolwich and spent many a cold night watching the Gunners at Highbury. I also volunteer for the Tenerife horse sanctuary, working in the charity shop.
I love dogs especially from AA. I recently helped get the new clinic up and running, along with Charley, Sharon and Karen. I am honoured to be part of the AA dog rescue team & a patron.
Rebekah Straughan, a solicitor, and her husband Dave are massive animal lovers and supporters of AADR!
Gail has an entrepreneurial background, owning several businesses over the years, including an office equipment business, a Kentish country pub and, more recently a ladies fashion business, perfectly placing her to organise the fashion show and the fashion shoot for AADR.
Gail has been helping and homing abandoned and injured dogs since the moved to Spain in 2004, also volunteering at the 'Dog House' in Huércal-Overa until it closed. Thehome has 'revolving doors' for homeless and unwanted dogs and she currently has 4 plus one long suffering cat. She has been helping at the AADR Charity Shop for the last 5 years and she is now in her second year as event organiser. "All for the love of dogs"
Our fabulous and dedicated staff and volunteers at our kennels in Spain:
Roman Sanchez
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