Our Story

Sand To Sofa was created by Nadia Leishman when her friends in Saudi Arabia adopted a dog which had been rescued on the streets of Riyadh. Having been a rescuer previously in Cyprus, Nadia decided it was time to start saving dogs who needed loving forever homes once more. One or two rescues have now blossomed into a steady stream of deserving dogs looking for loving new homes. Nadia is licenced to rehome dogs by Aberdeenshire Council. The Saudi side of Sand To Sofa Rescue is Alya who tirelessly fundraises and brings in the dogs from the streets to be cared for and treated at the veterinary clinic and kennels prior to transportation to their new homes. From modest beginnings, we've grown through unwavering dedication and a commitment to saving as many dogs as possible from a life on the streets.

Nadia Leishman is co-founder and UK Head of Sand To Sofa Rescue. Nadia has rescued, rehomed and fostered more dogs than she could possibly count. She was brought up and lived in Cyprus where she and her husband Andy were prolific in dog rescue and fostering. They introduced and administered an island-wide spaying scheme to control overpopulation which was rife at the time. On moving to Singapore in 2016 Nadia and Andy continued to foster dogs. When work brought them and their family to Scotland, the opportunity to set up a rescue presented itself and Sand To Sofa Rescue was born. Nadia holds a rehoming licence for dogs issued by Aberdeenshire Council and is a qualified Canine First Aider. She and Andy have two dogs and two cats of their own and one day she'd like to continue with her other passion which is owning horses.