The municipal dog pound of Seslavci (a village near Sofia) is a place that brings World War-II associations to mind. Functioning as a castration centre for the city of Sofia the pound collects street dogs. Some of them are castrated and released, but others are stuck there until the day they die. Puppies and dogs taken in by citizen complaints are the ones whose life ends at the centre.

The conditions are difficult to comprehend for a 21-st century EU citizen.

Hunger, desease, cannibalism, freezing cold or burning heat – there are many ways in which a dog can meet death in Seslavci. The puppy lifespan in Seslavci is between 1 and 10 days – even if they manage to avoid being eaten by their starving inmates – Distemper and Parvovirosis are permanent dwellers at the pound grounds.

Volunteers of Animal Rescue Sofia visit Seslavci 3 times a week, feeding the dogs with what we’ve managed to collect, pouring water into their empty thoughs, moving the aggersive ones into separate cages, making pictures, taking dogs out when a foster home has been found… 500 kg of food are being fed weekly.

It is hard work and the agony is overwhelming. But the most painful thing about Seslavci are the kind, loving eyes of the dogs that parish there.

It is only through your donations and generocity that we can work with the municipality to make Seslavci a place where dogs’ stories start, not end.

Please, help us help them.