At the Peak of the Sun

Between sun and olive trees, dogs find their home

Initiators

Petra Hartmann
Petra Hartmann Afantou, GR
Peter Hartmann
Peter Hartmann Afandou, GR

Project Overview

At the Peak of the Sun – the **Κορυφή του Ήλιου** – 17 rescued souls have found their home. Now we need your help for fences, shelters, and a work vehicle to make this place safe and lasting – a home that endures. 🐾 So that a refuge can finally become a true home. And surely, more souls will find their way to us – to a place that protects and carries them. 🌿

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12%
1.800 EUR
of 14.500 EUR
3
days
of 55 days left
9
Boosters
supported project
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun

Funding goals

  1. Stage 1:

    4.500 EUR

    40% funded

    🟢 Stage 1 – The Foundation of Safety

    Before we can start building our new home, we have to begin from the ground up.
    The old fence still standing in some places is completely rusted, rotten, and without any foundation — beyond repair and a real danger for our dogs.
    With this first stage, we’re creating the base for everything that follows:
    We’ll completely remove the old fence and build new, stable foundations from concrete and post anchors.
    These will later hold the new safety fence that keeps our dogs protected while giving them freedom.
    ➡️ With €4,500 we can purchase the materials for the foundations and lay the groundwork —
    for safety, stability, and the beginning of a true home. 🧱🐾

  2. Stage 2:

    9.500 EUR

    0% funded

    🌿 Stage 2 – The Fence That Protects Life

    Once the foundations are ready, we move on to the heart of our project: the new safety fence.
    It’s what makes freedom possible — because only a stable, secure fence allows our dogs to move safely and freely.
    Some of our dogs are true escape artists — curious, full of life, and endlessly energetic.
    Without a safe fence, they can’t run free. The risk is too high that they might wander into nearby fields where sheep, goats, and wild animals live.
    The shepherds on Rhodes do not tolerate stray dogs — for a lost dog, that could be deadly.
    ➡️ With €5,000 we’ll build the fence that protects lives and gives freedom —
    for our dogs and for the animals around us. 🌞🐾

  3. Stage 3:

    12.500 EUR

    0% funded

    🛖 Stage 3 – Warm Shelters & a Sense of Home

    A secure fence brings freedom, but only a safe place makes it home.
    Once the area is fenced, we want to give our dogs proper, weatherproof shelters where they can rest and feel safe.
    We’re building the shelters ourselves — from pallets and recycled materials, with insulated walls and waterproof bitumen roofs.
    This keeps them dry, warm, and protected, without sharp edges or injury risks.
    Several group areas with wind protection and solid ground will give every dog a chance to rest, feel safe, and simply belong.
    ➡️ With €3,000, we can complete the building work, finish the remaining shelters,
    and create calm retreat areas where every dog can live dry, safe, and comfortable —
    a place to rest, breathe, and truly arrive. 🏡🐾

  4. Finish Stage:

    14.500 EUR

    0% funded

    ⚙️ Final Stage – A Work Machine for Land & Care

    Once everything is built, we want to make sure our new home can be maintained in the long run.
    Our land sits on typical Rhodian soil — rocky, hard, and difficult to work.
    By hand, it’s almost impossible to maintain foundations, paths, and general upkeep.
    With a small work machine, we can maintain the property, repair storm damage, and keep paths in shape.
    This ensures everything we’ve built remains safe, stable, and functional — for years to come.
    ➡️ With €2,000, we’ll secure the tools needed to care for and maintain our land —
    so that everything we’ve built together stays strong and lasting,
    and our dogs will always have a home that endures. 💚⚙️

We’re building a safe, permanent home on Rhodes for 17 rescued dogs.
To let them live free, protected, and secure, we urgently need:

a stable safety fence, secure retreat areas, and solid, dry ground.

We call our home “At the Peak of the Sun – Κορυφή του Ήλιου,”
because up here, between olive trees and sky, a new life begins for many.
Our dogs are the Children of the Sun – rescued, found, and finally home.
16 of them came from the streets or beaches, or simply appeared at our door.
Some were even born here – and of course, we wanted to keep them safe too.
And one – our old senior – is the only dog we ever consciously chose.
He’s been part of our family for many years, long before all the others came or found us.
A quiet soul who has shown us what loyalty and trust truly mean. 🐾
For eight years, we’ve shared our lives with this colorful, lively pack.
We’ve rebuilt everything three times – fences, shelters, safe spaces.
Now, we want to create the place where we can finally stay.
At the Peak of the Sun

After years of searching, we finally found the perfect place:
a quiet piece of land surrounded by nature, with enough space for us and our dogs.
All our savings went into the down payment, and our children helped us too.
The owner – an animal lover himself – believes in us and offered the remaining amount
as an interest-free loan for the coming years.
Now, we want to build this place step by step –
here, at the Peak of the Sun, where we can finally arrive and stay.
At the Peak of the Sun

We don’t just give our dogs a home – we give them their lives back.
Many are former street dogs, full of freedom, scars, and stories.
Here, they can be who they are – free, safe, and part of a community.
We take them to the beach and the mountains, let them run, sniff, and play.
Here, they can be dogs again – loved, safe, and finally at peace.
And yes, sometimes another one joins us – like the emaciated hunting dog we found recently.
If no owner is found, he stays – as our 18th dog.
Because we don’t send a single soul back into uncertainty
At the Peak of the Sun

To make this place truly safe and livable, we need your support.
Our main steps:

1️⃣ A stable safety fence with solid foundations – protection, freedom, and security in two stages
Before the new safety fence can enclose the property,
the old, rusty fence must be removed.
It’s broken, has no foundations, and no longer protects our dogs or nearby animals.
In the first step, we’ll remove the old fence completely and lay new foundations –
made of concrete and strong post anchors, so the new fence can stand safely and permanently.
Next, we’ll build the new safety fence around the entire land,
giving our dogs the freedom to move without risk.
This fence is the heart of our project – it means freedom and safety.
Only with it can our dogs live truly free: without a leash, without fear, but with complete trust. 🐾

2️⃣ Secure retreat areas
When we’re not on-site – for work or errands – our dogs must be kept safe.
These enclosures give them structure, calm, and comfort,
and give us peace of mind knowing they’re protected.

3️⃣ Solid, dry surfaces and paths
To keep our dogs from standing in mud during rain
and to ensure food, water, and care can be delivered safely,
we need to reinforce parts of the ground and create stable paths.
The weatherproof shelters are almost finished –
but the land still needs a lot of work before we can truly move in.
Every contribution helps turn this place into a real home –
for our dogs and for all those still waiting for their place in the sun.
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun

We’ve learned that even small steps can make a big difference –
with patience, love, and determination.
Every fence, every shelter, every piece of land we build
is part of something greater:
a home where trust, peace, and safety can grow.
With your support, we’re creating a place on Rhodes
where wounded souls can heal –
a space where sun, heart, and freedom come together.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking this path with us. 💚
Every donation, every share, every kind word helps make this dream a reality.
Together – paw by paw, step by step –
we’re building a home that lasts. 🐾☀️💚
At the Peak of the Sun
At the Peak of the Sun

Petra Hartmann
Petra Hartmann
Afantou, GR
Freelancer

🐾 Petra



I’m Petra – and my heart beats for the dogs nobody wanted.

Together with my husband Peter, I’ve been caring for 17 furry souls over the past eight years – most of them rescued, some born here and simply never left. One of them is our sweet old senior from Germany.

Our goal: to give them a home where they can finally live safely, loved, and without fear. 🐾

Peter Hartmann
Peter Hartmann
Afandou, GR
Freelancer

🐕 Peter



I’m Peter – and for me, animal welfare means taking responsibility.

Today, 17 dogs live with us here on Rhodes – rescued, found, or born with us. They’re a full part of our family.

My goal is to give them a safe home – with strong fences, solid shelters, and what they need most: peace, security, and trust. 🐾

Boost

Popular goodies

At the Peak of the Sun

EUR 50

Name tag on the dog house

15x available

At the Peak of the Sun

EUR 500

🌳 Tree Friendship – A Symbol of Hope

9x available

At the Peak of the Sun

EUR 1000

☀️ Heart Booster – Connected for a Home

3x available

Boosters

HB
Ingo / Verena Blenk / Bogar
A
A
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A

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