Emma and Anthony are from Yorkshire in the UK. Anthony grew up in a farming family and has worked as a commercial diver for the past 25 years. He has lived in Bulgaria on and off since 2004. Emma worked as a response officer at North Yorkshire Police and, prior to this, was a sister at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
In June 2013, we moved to our new home in Glushka village near Dryanovo, in north-central Bulgaria, to pursue our career-break dream. We bought a house atop a tiny hamlet with breathtaking views of the Stara Planina mountains. Our initial years were spent renovating the house, cultivating a vegetable garden, and living our dream!
However, we were soon deeply saddened by the plight of street dogs in Bulgaria, witnessing their suffering and neglect. Motivated to make a difference, we embarked on a mission to help them and address the worsening situation.
In September 2015, a mayoral candidate for Dryanovo visited us. Having attended a Dogs Trust course in London, he shared our concern for the welfare of dogs in the area. For at least 20 years, there had been no effective neutering programme, with poisoning and shooting being common methods of population control. We connected with the mayoral candidate due to his compassion for animals and his commitment to change. Thankfully, he was elected, marking the beginning of our joint efforts. With a small budget from a friend's independent organisation, we launched a neutering programme.
The Need for Change
We were astonished by the prolific breeding of street dogs - one mother dog was found with 17 puppies, all infested with fleas and worms, a sad sight that compelled us to rethink our approach. Merely neutering and releasing them proved unsustainable; these puppies would soon breed themselves, complicating future efforts. Recognising the urgency, we converted our wood stores into kennels and transformed our garden into a sanctuary for dogs.
Collaboration and Challenges
Seeking collaboration with local communities, we held numerous meetings in those initial months. Over time, we secured a modest municipal budget for neutering, though it didn't cover dog food or medicines - we covered those expenses ourselves. Despite these challenges, we identified around 150 street dogs across the villages and town, excluding owned dogs.
Early Efforts
Our early days were marked by steep learning curves. We began in Radovtsi, a nearby village plagued by an uncontrollable dog population, endangering patients at the local hospital. The dire conditions, with dog faeces littering the grounds, necessitated re-homing efforts. In Dryanovo town, we uncovered severe neglect and cruelty toward animals: dogs languished in their own waste on apartment balconies, suffered from extreme tick infestations, or were left chained without food. Overcoming language barriers and cultural differences posed additional challenges.
Gaining Momentum
The scale of our task often felt overwhelming; Dryanovo encompasses 62 villages besides the town, straining our physical and financial capacities. Fortunately, support began to pour in: donations from Emma's colleagues in the UK, a successful cake stall at Harrogate police station, and fundraising efforts by British expatriates in our area significantly bolstered our cause.
Our Patron
In 2017, we welcomed Kate Lamb, an actress, dog behaviourist, and adventurer, as our patron. Impressed by our work but aware of our financial struggles, Kate initiated the launch of Street Hearts BG and gave us our name! This marked a turning point with the establishment of a dedicated website, a Shelter Manager database, and a successful GoFundMe campaign.
Achieving Milestones
Collaborating closely with Kate, and drawing on the expertise of our dog trainer, Lauren, we implemented behavioural training programmes to rehabilitate frightened dogs. As a result, we successfully re-homed them across Europe. Seeing these dogs thrive in loving homes validated our efforts and renewed our commitment to their welfare.
Our Commitment to Continuous Learning
We are dedicated to the ongoing professional development of our team to ensure the highest standards of care for our dogs. We believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and we are constantly striving to improve our methods and practices.
To stay at the forefront of canine care and training, our team regularly participates in courses offered by Battersea Academy. Whether attending virtually or travelling to their London location, we gain valuable insights and skills from their expert-led sessions. These opportunities allow us to expand our knowledge and apply the latest, evidence-based techniques in our work. In addition to formal training, we also actively engage with the latest research in dog training and care.
