The following is a partial English translation of Tiny Shelter’s website
Warm Welcome from Tiny Shelter
Warm welcome on the homepage of our support group for the privately run “Tiny Shelter”, i.e. Isabel Searle’s small animal shelter in Albufeira on the Portuguese Algarve. Isabel stands for sustainable animal welfare and fights tirelessly to improve the situation of as many animals as possible in Portugal. Sometimes it feels like a drop in the ocean, but constant dripping wears away the stone. We are convinced that the dogs can only be helped in the long term by working on site.
Therefore we would like to support Isabel and the many volunteers on site in their great and exhausting work for the animals. Even after many years of animal protection work, there is still a lot to do, countless furry friends still find their way into the shelter, which is financed purely from donations. The Tiny Shelter welcomes everyone who wants to help give Isabel and the dogs a little relief by making a donation of any kind.
Get an impression of our heart project and the animals and people that are connected to it – we are happy about every new fan! Because you know: animal welfare is community work and only together we are strong and can make a difference!
Tiny Shelter’s owner
Isabel Searle
Owner/Operator
In addition to her full-time job, Isabel has been running a small rescue center with around 25 dogs for the past 9 years with many volunteers.
In addition, she feeds groups of stray dogs outside the sanctuary to avoid them going hungry and possibly meeting the wrong people while begging. She helps bring lost dogs back to their owners so they don’t become strays too, and fights in the courts for pet bans for people who keep their pets on chains that are far too short and/or abuse them. And that tirelessly and almost 24/7.
She also campaigns vehemently for a ban on bullfighting in Portugal. THAT is what we call animal welfare!
Tiny Shelter’s story
The Tiny Shelter Albufeira, located on the Algarve in Portugal, was temporarily housed on the site of an old ruin for 5 years. At the end of September 2017, Isabel Searle was given notice and had to vacate the shelter within a month – with all the dogs living there. A mammoth task that could be mastered thanks to the countless active helpers on site, the foster homes that took in the dogs during the new building and the many animal-loving people who helped to collect the large sums for the new building through donations. The “groundbreaking ceremony” took place on October 12th, 2017, in mid-November all the fences were set, all the enclosures and huts were built, all the caravans and the mobile home were cleaned and disinfected and all the dogs moved back in! A wonder!
Miracle part two – a new beginning
The Tiny Shelter Albufeira, located on the Algarve in Portugal, was temporarily housed on the site of an old ruin for 5 years. At the end of September 2017, Isabel Searle was given notice and had to vacate the shelter within a month – with all the dogs living there. A mammoth task that could be mastered thanks to the countless active helpers on site, the foster homes that took in the dogs during the new building and the many animal-loving people who helped to collect the large sums for the new building through donations. The “groundbreaking ceremony” took place on October 12th, 2017, in mid-November all the fences were set, all the enclosures and huts were built, all the caravans and the mobile home were cleaned and disinfected and all the dogs moved back in! A wonder!
Unfortunately, the happiness and calm did not last. In June 2019, Isabel had to go looking for a new place for her Tiny Shelter again. Fortunately, there are also a lot of animal-loving, helpful, generous people in Portugal. Within just 3 months, with the support of many volunteers, she created the new Tiny Shelter Albufeira from scratch.
After successfully moving in in November, the Tiny Shelter Albufeira now has 9 enclosures with various cozy kennels and beds, a small and 2 larger quarantine boxes and a common area for playing. There is also a feeding hut on the new site, a “first-aid caravan”, a larger caravan in which volunteers who would like to experience everyday life in the shelter for a few days and help on site can spend the night. There is seating for the volunteers to rest and refresh themselves, a sofa for the dogs, a large outdoor scullery and an outhouse. A small paradise for all the dogs that often had to wait a long time for a little bit of luck.
The Tiny Shelter certainly does not replace a home, but it promises security and a large piece of security and attention until the move into the new – final – dog life in the lap of luxury.
Construction
The construction of the Tiny Shelter Albufeira was not without setbacks. After massive storms, a huge stone came loose from a wall next to the enclosures and destroyed a box. Fortunately, the dog living inside was not injured! The brick enclosures also had to be improved because the water masses could not drain off.
But as always, neither Isabel nor all her hard-working helpers let that discourage them. In the meantime, the enclosure has been newly fenced in, drainage options have been created and both the outer fence and a box have been expanded to be escape-proof. Because there are always monkeys among our dogs who can’t get to the arriving volunteers fast enough to pick up cuddles 
Is the construction of the Tiny Shelter Albufeira complete? Not at all!
The feeding hut has just been moved so that the washing machine for the blankets can finally find a suitable place and a BBQ area can be set up in front of the caravan. In addition, a privacy screen has been added to the outside fence to allow more rest for the dogs and the outside kitchen will be expanded to allow water to be available in several places on the site. Next, the caravans and the BBQ area will be covered so that there is a shady spot available even in the Portuguese summer, and at some point our dream of an external playground will come true so that the sick dogs in our quarantine boxes can get even more peace and quiet.
2021: Still Planning After Two Years of Construction
It can be said that after two years of countless hours most of it is finished. And yet there are other plans… 😉
What is there now (as of July 2021)?
The 9 large boxes mentioned above have now become 11, all with large, rainproof wooden houses and lots of sun protection.
The feeding hut is now a warehouse for transport boxes, blankets and the like.
The “First Aid Caravan” has become more of a “Zions Caravan”.
A brick, rat-proof feed store also contains the medicines.
A toilet directly on the shelter area.
The volunteers area including caravans, seating area and BBQ.
The huts for the dogs running freely on the shelter grounds are now covered and some have small separate “front gardens”.
3 quarantine boxes including their own smaller play area and separate entrance so that sick dogs can enter and leave the shelter without direct contact with the other dogs.
A large brick outdoor kitchen with sink, shade and plenty of space for fridges and freezers and the new large washing machine
A large fenced play area that adjoins the shelter grounds and allows dogs to run around.
A large pool in the play area What is still emerging: Each box has double doors, i.e. a lock so that dogs can no longer slip out unnoticed and quarrel with others.
What we still dream of:
A newer caravan or a small mobile home for the volunteers. Because rain and heat have really taken its toll on the one we have now.