We have always had a lifelong connection with dogs and a passion for their welfare, which naturally led us to volunteer within the island’s animal welfare community. Through that experience we gained a first-hand understanding of the scale and complexity of canine welfare and saw how individual dogs can transform when given the right support.

While many situations were heartbreaking, learning each dog’s personality, addressing their needs, rehabilitating them, and ultimately finding them a suitable family was incredibly rewarding.

It also became clear that the number of dogs needing assistance often exceeded the capacity of existing facilities and support networks, and that there was space for a more canine-specific approach — one that could work alongside wardens and other organisations while allowing us to use our skills and knowledge to provide focused support for dogs in need.

Our charity, Forget Me Not Canine Centre, was named with intention. Every dog’s life is worth remembering — an individual who has been loved, who has mattered, and who should never be forgotten.

Our long-term aim is to create a dedicated space built entirely around canine welfare: a centre that offers safe sheltering, rehabilitation, education, training, and eventually canine-assisted therapies that benefit both dogs and people.

The name is a reminder of why we began and what we continue to work towards — not just rescuing dogs, but ensuring they are seen, valued, and given the opportunity to live secure and meaningful lives.

At present, we operate as a foster-only rescue. This has many benefits, as dogs are rehabilitated in real home environments where they can learn routine and social skills naturally. However, it also has limitations. All of our foster families have their own dogs, children, or both, which means it is not always safe or appropriate to introduce unvaccinated or under-socialised dogs directly into those homes.

We have reached a point where a small, secure central location is necessary — a starting facility where dogs can be safely assessed, vaccinated, and rehabilitated before entering foster care or being responsibly rehomed. Our long-term vision is to build a community-focused canine education space where people can learn what responsible and ethical dog ownership truly looks like and understand why spaying and neutering matter.

Re-homing is often the most emotional part of the journey. There is something almost indescribable about taking a dog to meet a prospective family and watching the moment when it simply clicks. Some dogs immediately relax, their body language softens, and it is as if they are quietly saying, “this is home”. All the socialising, training sessions, early mornings, vet visits, cleaning up accidents, and patient waiting for a dog to show what makes them feel safe suddenly come together in one moment. It is not a fairytale — we are realistic enough to know that every family and every dog will experience ups and downs. That is part of life. But when the right match is made, it means a secure future, stability, and a home where that dog will be loved for the rest of its life.

Another part of rescue that is rarely seen is the heartbreak behind surrendering a dog. The reasons are not always impulsive or careless. We meet seniors whose only companion has been their dog until housing changes force them to move, families who relocate unexpectedly, and individuals who accepted a pet in good faith only to realise the responsibility is more than they can safely manage.

These decisions are rarely made lightly. For many, surrendering a dog is one of the most difficult choices they will ever face.

While there are cases where ownership was not fully considered, there are just as many where life circumstances leave people feeling they have no option at all. Our role is not to judge, but to support where we can — whether that means taking in the dog, offering guidance, or simply being an understanding ear and a steady presence during an emotional time.

Starting a charity, however, was never part of a grand plan, and the reality of building an organisation from the ground up has been intimidating. There have been many quiet moments where we have asked ourselves: “Why are we doing this?” The learning curve is steep — far steeper than we imagined. Beyond caring for dogs, there are legal requirements, financial responsibilities, public expectations, and difficult decisions that affect living animals.

One of the hardest realities is knowing we will inevitably disappoint people when we are unable to take in every dog or provide immediate help. Progress often depends on waiting until enough donations are gathered to take the next step, including the goal of securing a suitable facility. We began with zero funding — only a few generous contributions from friends who believed in the mission and trusted that we could build something meaningful.

We are not perfect, and we never claim to be. Every dog teaches us something new, and each case expands our understanding of what responsible rescue requires. Dog welfare is emotionally charged, and not every decision will be universally agreed upon. From the beginning, we established policies and ethical guidelines to help us make consistent and fair decisions — not because they make the work easier, but because they keep the focus on the dogs’ wellbeing and the safety of the wider community.

Our goal is for people to enjoy dogs safely, not fear them. At the same time, we must acknowledge a difficult truth: not every dog is safe for every environment. We do not have the space to operate a sanctuary, nor is lifelong confinement healthy or humane for every animal. Responsible rescue sometimes means making compassionate but difficult choices.

This journey is long and often emotional, but it is also filled with hope. Every dog that finds stability, every family that learns responsible ownership, and every conversation that encourages compassion moves our community forward.

Our commitment is simple: to continue doing everything within our ability to make Bermuda a safer, kinder place for its dogs — and, in turn, for the people who share their lives with them. We didn’t start this because it was easy — we started it because we saw a need we had the ability to help fill.

• Kelly Glazebrook is a cofounder of Forget Me Not Canine Centre