You can get an original and environmentally friendly gift for Christmas and in the same time help our doggies!

Our friends at ECO CANDLES will donate 10% of every sale to Animal Rescue Sofia.

All the candles are made from real beeswax and environmentally friendly decorations.

US corporation Shevron has won a contract with the Bulgarian Government – to study the shale gas deposits in North-Eastern Bulgaria. Shale gas extraction (through fracking) is proven to be harmful both to the environment and to the people, living in the area.

We are AGAINST the signing of this contract for many reasons – to begin with Shevron corporation has been badly popular in Ecuador where they have poisoned both people and nature for decades and are now refusing to pay for the much neaded contamination recovery. We beleive shale gas drilling in the Varna region – Bulgaria’s wheat production zone will be extremely damaged. There will be centuries of consequence for the people in the region  in comparison to just a few short years of drilling.

Information about the latest on shale gas in the country can be found on the webpage of citizens intitiative group For a Clean Bulgaria.

You can help also by signing THIS PETITION.

Some of the basic arguements AGAINST the drilling for shale gas (wich WILL happen after this research is being pulled-off):

1.It’s proven that 1 in 20 drills crashes. Shale gas extraction needs many more drills to extract gas, therefore making the risk of a crash times higher. A drill crash means that dangerous chemicals will be leaked into the underground water lakes and rivers, in particular – the water of the whole north-eastern Bulgaria will be contaminated.

2. Contemporary shale gas extraction methods cause series of micro earthcuaqes that are very damaging for the infrastrucure and buildings close to the drill-sites.

3. Each and every drill requires infrastructure leading to it. Since many drills are necessary – large perimeters of quality farm land will be unusable for agriculture.

4. Each drill requires vast containers for the contaminated water left after the drilling – chemical and toxic substances can easily leak back into the environment, thus poisoning all land and wates supplies in the perimeter. And don’t forget shale gas needs HUGE quantaties of drills installed.

5. Shale gas extraction at a certain point takes about 3 to 8 years. In comparison with earth gas this is times less. This means that for just a few years of extraction we would be destroing nature for centuries upfront.

Our HUGE THANK YOU to Beat Senn of Tierhilfe Sofia for finding homes to yet another group of dogs! All of those dogs have spent many long months in waiting for happiness to find them. It is such a relief to know they will be loved and safe.

Now let’s see who left us for good:

Whoopie and Molly are two sweet small ladies. Little Whoppie has been at the shelter for months, but remained at her grand 5 kilograms. She is a fragile, sweet little girl who had a hard time fitting in and was very happy to go. Molly on the other hand was the most playful, fun-loving, energetic little lady who never had enough games at the shelter.

Can you recognize these two? They are Hose (Son of Esteban) and Kira from the Vivacom gang (Rayna). Both were adopted by families in Sofia and returned to us. Hose the Dachund was said to be “hard to control” and beautiful Raina was “jumping too much” when she was greeeting her owners… No comment. The important thing is both stayed for just a few days at the shelter and immedeately left for a safe future abroad.

Karaman the gentle giant comes from Seslavci where he was destined for euthanasia. Dr Stankova saw him on one of his routine visits to the municipal dog pound and couldn’t leave him there. His friend Mort, although a look-alike comes from a different background – he was a tiny dumped puppy when he miraculously found his way to safety.

Bobby and Mimmi are a mother and her son. They were living with an elderly lady who had a severe mental ilness, but were rescued just on time. Their tiny friend Bini (who weighs about 5kg as well) was recued from a chained life. Bini has actually lived chained for 5 years of her life.

Here are two photos of Shoky – the sweetest possible girl in the world. The first shows her whilst still in Seslavci municipal dog pound. On the second you can see her hugging happily afret being taken to a safe foster home.

Tigra and Aruna are two dogs that are very special to our keeper Vessy Kostourska. Tigra was actually one of the first stray dogs she took for neutering (and obviously – couldn’t let go) and Aruna is one of a handful of puppies Vessy fostered from Seslavci in the beggining of 2010. It has been 2 years in waiting for both these sweet ladies, and now we say farewell in your lovely new life!

These sweet ladies are Atila (yes, a girl) and Lorrie.  Atila we took from Seslavci, Lorie was an abandoned puppy who was lucky to be fostered for a while. Both sweet girls have been waiting for hapiness over a year now. Check this out – we have photos of them in their new homes already, look:

You lucky little souls!!!

Dana and Labbie. Both came to us the summer of 2010. Dana was a young mother with a whole litter of lively pups she was nursing and Labbie as a tini-tiny little puppy. Both ladies became kind of addicted to food, Labbie escpecially, she will finally get the diet she needed so badly!

Patty and Aretha were both found on the street as small puppies. Patty’s siblings were all ran over by cars and she was sitting terrified waching them. And Aretha was just a shocked little creature at a crossroad, sitting unable to move. Aretha was already missing an eye when she was found at about 1 month of age.

Darcy and Bubba – two softhearted cuddly ladies.  Darcy was abandoned as the smallest of puppies at a deserted road just outside of Sofia. And kind plumpy Bubba was dumped at a Sofia pertol station where she was making a living by following people around in the hope of a snack. Both are absolutley lovlely, of course.

Pablo, Roshi and Salma are 3 dogs that we have had for over 1 year – anyone who knows them would tell you that they are the kindest, sweetest dogs ever to walk the planet. Pablo and Roshi came as little dumped puppies. Pablo was the last of Alana’s children to be rehomed. Roshi came without a mother and was always just a bundle of joy. Salma we took from Seslvaci – she was deemed for euthanasia because some idiot called her “agressive”. Well, perhaps she was wagging her tail too agressively!?! Anyway, these three should be the pride and joy of their new owners, we are sure.

Here are Lizzy and Raya.  Two quiet, calm, friendly and patient girls. It is a mistery how two such lovely and sweet dogs raised no interest in anyone for over 1,5 years, but their wait is finally over – they will have their own cosy homes for Christmas!

Marmor and Stella are the youngest on this trip. Marmor is a puppy we took from Kremikovtzi – he was just a handful of life when Marietta picked him up there. And Stella was dumped in a empty lot where she sat quietly by a the loaf of bread her owner left her “humanely”…

Timmy and Tina – SWEEEET DOGS, rarely sweet, really! Timmy is the brother of Aisha – also a golden heart, she was rehomed last month. And Tina is only about 10 kilos, so meltingly kind and gentle she could make you cry. Both angels were overlooked for a very long time, but – not anymore!

Kalinka was a dog that came only to be neutered. But she was so gentle, so kind, so sweet and sooooo skinny that d-r Stankova took her in as a foster dog. Berly on the other hand was neutered by Ecobalance (Municipal company) and returned to the wrong spot. But the people from the neighbourhood brought her in for neutering not knowing she was already done. When she crossed the path of d-r Stankova – the kind doctor couldn’t forget her and did all she could to help Berly find safety.

Akayla and Kara were both pets. Akayla was rescued just moments before she was killed by her owner. He beat her nearly to death as a “punishment for coming into season”…. Kara on the other hand was a guard dog who didn’t do much guarding – she loved people too much. For that – she was kicked out on the street…

Rocco the sweetheart is a a deaf dog who had been coping on the street with great difficulty and many problems for almost 3 years before he was rescued. 

So, these are our newest lucky doggies. Once more – our regards and appreciation to Beat Senn and Tierhilfe Sofia. And thanks also to you, our donors – none of this would have been possible without you, it is through your generocity that these dogs are alive and happy. Without your kindness they would be vaishing somewhere on the harsh Sofia streets…

We are glad to inform you that Animal Rescue Sofia has been registered with Donors Message Service!

Owners of Bulgarian mobile phones (VIVACOM, M-tel, GLOBUL) can now send a message to short number 17 777 with a message saying: DMS DOG

The message costs 1,2 BGN (tax included).

Do CONTACT us if you would like to place a benner on your website or have another idea how to spread the word about this initiative.

Not much use to the English-speaking croud on this web, but still worth mentioning – Animal Rescue Sofia now hosts an online forum for our adoptive parents and volunteers.

We are very happy that to be able to add another useful tool to our communication and hope this will help us be more coordinated and in touch.