BAHRAIN ANIMAL RESCUE CENTRE

MEET OUR TEAM

Meet our growing team of permanent volunteers. They dedicate their free time to help the animals in need. Learn more about them and how they started at the shelter. If you'd like to join the team, learn more on our Volunteer page here.

MISHO

ADOPTION coordinator

I have been a senior volunteer with BARC for 2 years. My interest in animal welfare started shortly after I got my own dog 4 years ago. My love and devotion to my furbaby motivated me  to learn and try and help others. I joined BARC as a junior volunteer in Aug 2020 and I've never looked back.
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Fun Fact I never liked cats before my involvement with BARC but now I am often referred to as Cat Lady as well as Dog Lover 😅

SOHA

fundraising & outreach

I started volunteering at the shelter in the summer of 2021, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’ve always loved dogs, but it wasn’t until I was immersed in volunteer work that I became aware of just how much joy working with and for rescue animals could add to my life. On a daily basis, I am inspired and awed by the animals’ resilience, emotional intelligence, and unlimited capacity for forgiveness and unconditional love. I consider it an absolute privilege to be a volunteer at BARC, working with and learning from an incredible team of compassionate and dedicated people both in Bahrain & abroad. 

EMILY

FLIGHT BUDDY coordinator

Growing up in Canada, I was always surrounded by dogs. A lot of the dogs I grew up around were pure bred dogs bought from breeders so I didn’t get to experience the love and joy rescue dogs can bring to one’s life. Thankfully, through meeting one of our other BARC volunteers, Alexis, I learned the value and importance of supporting rescues and volunteering with the animals that are in need the most. Joining BARC has truly been one of the most special things I have been apart of not only in Bahrain, but since moving abroad for my career. Getting dogs to Canada and finding them homes with wide open spaces has become my greatest passion here at BARC. I have also become quite the cat lover!

alexis

social media

From what I’ve been told, I’ve been a dog lover from the moment I could walk, I even tried to trade my brother in for a dog. I started my work with animal rescue and advocacy in 2013 and it’s been my true passion ever since. I have my own Mexican street dog and he’s taught me so much about the love that rescues have to give. When I took a teaching job in Bahrain in 2021 the first thing I looked into was if there were animal rescues and how I could get involved. To my luck, I was able to join an amazing team at BARC and it’s been one of the best parts about my move to the Middle East!

SARAH

volunteering coordinator

I've always loved animals, but I've never done anything like this before. Volunteering at the shelter started for me in early 2021, when I found a stray dog in need of help. Luckily for her, Muna, a fellow volunteer, came to the rescue and she is now safe with a beautiful family in Canada. After this initial contact with BARC, I started helping at the shelter and I haven't looked back. Throughout my time volunteering, I have witnessed the consequence of the actions of the worst of humanity, but far more often than not, I have seen the very best of humanity. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life; I have met the most amazing people, encountered the most loving animals, and I have become a first time dog mama along the way!

MUNA

volunteering coordinator

My devotion to this mission began in 2019 having witnessed the magnitude of the stray crisis here in the Kingdom. The size of the stray population is daunting, and with increased urbanization comes greater likelihood of injury, abuse, and lack of resources. I started setting up feeding stations and got heavily involved in animal rescue and recovery. Shortly after I began volunteering at BARC and ever since it has become a big part of my life here in Bahrain. It is a privilege to be part of an animal’s journey from street to home – a journey that we wish possible for not only our animals at the shelter but also all animals that have been forced into a life on the streets. Volunteering at BARC has taught me that one of the greatest rewards in life comes from being a voice for the voiceless and helping those that can never repay you.

RAQUEL

CATTERY MANAGEMENT

I discovered the "volunteering life" in 2015 for KareQ8 when my family finally decided to adopt a cat after 16 years travelling for work.  We came to Bahrain in 2019 and started to volunteer for BARC. I love all sorts of animals and plants, but as I have been treating and studying cats I am known as the cat lady for the group.
My dream is living in a green farm with chickens, cats, dogs, ducks and all animals who can live together.

JISUN

cat adoptions

‍One day a friend called me on a weekend "Do you want to go walk some shelter dogs?" I said yes as that sounded like a good way to spend a Friday. I have two cats at home and when I got to BARC that day I took some dogs on their walks and before leaving I was introduced to their cattery. The welcoming senior volunteers and the sweet fur babies have kept me returning every week and I feel I have found a community in Bahrain with like-minded people.

AMIN

SENIOR CARETAKER

Amin has been working in the shelter for over 16 years making him the second oldest member of the team. He has cared for hundreds of animals during his time with us. He's also the shelter's resident handyman which is vital to the shelter's wellbeing. His passion and dedication towards all animals in need is beyond measure.

CHULLA

SENIOR CARETAKER

Chulla has been working in the shelter for over 20 years. He was there when Tony Waters a.k.a. the DogFather first established the shelter back in 1998. Since then, he has helped tend to and care for hundreds of cats/dogs/birds and a donkey/goat!
His empathy towards all animals and his incredible hard working nature is an inspiration to us all.

MICHAEL

JUNIOR CARETAKER

Michael has been working at the shelter for over a year. He's a quick learner and hardworking. He always has a smile on his face and a willingness to help.

IVAN

JUNIOR CARETAKER

Ivan has been working at the shelter for under a year. As the newest member of the team, he is always eager to learn to better care for our rescue animals.

rachel

health checks and transport

I found BARC 2  years ago when I was looking to adopt another dog, which I did!
Over time, I wanted to be more involved and now I've been volunteering with BARC for almost a year. I started out fostering dogs going to their forever homes. It's been so rewarding working with the dogs and seeing how their personalities change in a home environment. I've been so fortunate to find and be involved with BARC and being able to work with other volunteers that have the same passion for loving and helping animals as I do.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

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