Welcome to our large-yard dog rescue sanctuary near Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria (2024)

Details

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  We run the biggest large-yard dog sanctuary in Western Bulgaria (by area = 27,000 m2) with 140 dogs currently.

  Apart from temporary yards for puppies or socialisation, our yards range in size from 240 m2 to 1,500 m2 and visitors to our facility are usually amazed by how friendly, socialised and emotionally/physically healthy our dogs are.

  While we work hard on finding their forever homes through adoption, our dogs live in large yards (see our pics), get excellent medical care from our 2 vets and on-site vet clinic plus high quality food and constant socialisation with people through walks with staff, volunteerism and company teambuildings here.

  In short, our sanctuary was built as a living prototype for how all animal shelters should be, all over the world in the future - this is the main philosophical objective of our foundation and sanctuary.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  General Maintenance

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  Bulgaria has beautiful nature, sunny weather, spectacular mountains, large lakes plus a rich history of ancient cultures.

  Since end of 1989 the country has been into the transition from socialism to EU membership with gradual modernisation.
  All that can be witnessed throughout the city (guided tours available) and in the museums in Sofia.

  The capital city has good transport links to the rest of the country.

  You would live in a very good part of Sofia, then commute and witness the daily lives of its citizens;
  see the outskirts of the city and beyond.

  You would work alongside our employed Bulgarian staff most of whom speak English.
  We have 2 German ladies as part of our shelter staff as well.

  You' be able to learn some Bulgarian expressions,
  we can teach you read Bulgarian.
  It is pretty straight forward
  once you understand the alphabet.

  You' d be able to witness some celebrations and traditions.

  You'd be invited to drinks with the founders of the shelter
  which proved to be very enjoyable for both sides.

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  Help

  In keeping with our core goal of providing the best possible care for our rescue dogs,
  main duties of the workawayers are:

  dog feeding and watering ; yard cleaning; dog walking, dog socialisation (e.g. patting puppies) , and,
  if possible, some basic building/maintenance (not mandatory).

  In return, a massive oversupply of joyful dog love is guaranteed.

  We require minimum stay of 3 weeks.
  The number of days shown in the profile need to be discussed.

  Training/ getting to know the work takes 3-4 weeks.
  Thus workawayers staying beyond that time are especially welcome.

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  Bulgarian: Fluent
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  ACCOMMODATION:
  A modern 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom apartment with a big kitchen / living room area.
  It is in a gated complex in Sofia city.
  Accommodates max of 6 people ( 3 in each bedroom).
  Sofia is also very safe - crime is very low.

  The founders of our sanctuary live directly across the street, 20 meters away, from the workawayers' apartment
  and they are always available to help you.

  ALLOWANCE:
  We do not provide the food.
  WE PROVIDE food + travel weekly ALLOWANCE.
  Workawayers cook for themselves or buy their food with the allowance.

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  Bulgaria is in both the EU and Shengen Area.

  Fun Facts about Bulgaria and Bulgarians:

  - The Bulgarian Kingdom was established in 681. So far we have had Byzantium domination of about 100 years, Ottoman domination for 500 years; Communism for 45 years.
  - Bulgarians nod for ''No'' and shake head for ''Yes''.
  - Bulgarians have created the Cyrillic alphabet which was spread across the Slavic people. It is used today in Russia, N Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and Belarus.
  - Yoghurt comes from Bulgaria. The bacteria due to which you can make yoghurt ( Lactobacillus bulgaricus) is only found primarily in Bulgaria. Outside this area it gradually degenerates. Only yoghurt produced in Bulgaria or with that bacteria is a real yoghurt. All the rest products can not be called ''yoghurt''.
  - Bulgaria is the world's largest producer of organic rose oil ( from Rosa Damascena) and lavender oil . The Rose valley is in the Kazanlak area. Roses are harvested in May/June.
  - The hottest mineral spring in Europe (103 C) is in Sapareva Banya,70 kilometers south of Sofia.
  - During the WW2 no Bulgarian Jews were sent to camps due to the uprisal of the Bulgarian citizens who refused to let the trains go. Despite being officially on the Nazi side of the war.
  - John Atanasov, of a Bulgarian farther, invented the first electronic digital computer in the 1930s. He managed to register that patent just hours before a Hungarian mathematician applied for the same.

  Sofia has an underground metro system that covers most of the city.
  Transport service is very good.

  Our workawayer accommodation is very close to a large shopping mall, supermarket, tram stop.
  Many buses are available in the area.

  Vitosha mountain (2,000 m high) is right next to the city, very pretty and offers spectacular walks, views over the city; night skiing in winter and a fairly unique lifestyle.
  You can reach it by bus or join Terry for his morning walks there.

  There are organized tours to The 7 Rila lakes which some of our workawayers had taken.

  Belogradchik Rocks is a very unique place in NW Bulgaria. Worlawayres that had been there had hired a car for the day trip.

  Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria. 1h 30 min by regular bus service.
  Staying overnight is recommended.

  Veliko Tarnovo is the old Bulgarian capital, situated on the hills over The Yantra river.
  It has a big fortress from the time of the 2nd Bulgarian kingdom, the time before the Ottomans conquered the Balkans
  which lasted for 500 years.
  After the liberation of the Ottomans, Sofia was appointed as the capital which was 145 years ago as per 2024.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Our apartment for workawayers has good wifi (2 routers).However due to the daily routine and commute involved you would not be able to work remotely. At least not on the days that you are helping in the shelter.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  8 hours a day / 3 days a week

Host ref number: 447829875312

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