Thank you for your interest in adopting one of our wonderful Street Hearts! If you’d like to know more about how our adoption process works, then you’re in the right place! Please read the overview below:
Stage One: Complete our online Adoption Application Form (which can be found here). A member of our team will then review your application.
(Please note: You will always receive a response and feedback from us, regardless of whether or not your application has been successful).
Stage Two: If we wish to progress your application further, you will be invited to attend a Zoom video interview with a member of our team. This usually takes around an hour, sometimes longer, and all adults involved in the adoption will need to be present for the call.
Stage Three: If you are successful at the first interview stage, we will then conduct a video home check.
Stage Four: If your home check is satisfactory, you will then be invited to a second Zoom video meeting with the team in Bulgaria where we can virtually meet one another, ask / answer questions, and introduce you to the dog(s) you’ve applied for.
Stage Five: If you are successful at the Zoom meeting stage with the team in Bulgaria, we will complete a reference check.
Stage Six: Following a successful reference check, completion of adoption paperwork and reservation of your chosen dog!
Next steps: Before your dog leaves the shelter
As soon as we are able, the Street Hearts BG team will provide you with a set date for Collection Day.
We transport our dogs from Bulgaria to the UK around once per month via our custom-built vans, 'Renee the Rescue Bus' and 'Frankie the Furever Bus'! The maximum number of dogs that we can transport at any one time is 20.
Before your dog leaves the Street Hearts BG shelter, you will be asked to attend our mandatory Pre-adoption Welcome Presentation with our patron and dog trainer / behaviourist, Kate Lamb. This Zoom presentation will cover all aspects of what to expect when adopting a Street Heart. It’s filled with an abundance of useful information, as well as helpful tips to set you up for adoption success! At the end of the presentation, Kate will also answer any questions or queries that you may have.
Around one week prior to your dog leaving the shelter, you will be added to a WhatsApp group where the team will provide you with your dog’s measurements, as well as information regarding collection day (e.g., meeting points* and times). This group will also be used to provide you with photos and updates about your dog throughout their journey to you! We also give you the details of the GPS system for our van(s) so that you can follow your dog’s journey as he / she travels from Bulgaria to the UK!
(*Please note that you will be required to travel in order to collect your dog from a predetermined location. We do our utmost to ensure that collection locations are within a reasonable distance of adopter’s home locations).
Post-adoption, the Street Hearts BG team are available to offer advice, and we actively encourage adopters to keep in touch! We have a private Facebook group for our adopters, which is currently 700 members strong (and growing!), where you are welcome to share updates, stories, photos, and ask for advice.
We offer lifetime support and rescue backup for all of our dogs.
