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30 Oct 2024
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Description
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.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
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.
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 4 weeks.
IMPRITANT: The number of work / off days shown in the profile needs to be discussed.
Training/ getting to know the work takes 3-4 weeks.
Thus workawayers staying beyond that time are especially welcome.
Languages spoken
Bulgarian: Fluent
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
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.
What else ...
- It is wise to have some TRAVEL INSURANCE OR EU HEALTH CARD.
- Bulgaria is in both in the EU and Schengen Area.
Make sure that you check if you need a visa for Bulgaria.
For most countries you do not need a visa if you stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days in every 180 days.
- ETIAS
The rules of travel to most European countries are changing.
Starting in the first half of 2025, people from over 60 visa-exempt countries
are required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay.
7 Euro fee applies.
For more info, ask us for the links.
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.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
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.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
8 hours a day / 3 days a week
Feedback (18)
She approached me and booked her stay a year before the actual workaway time.
Simone was following our social media and was in love with some dogs even before she arrived to the shelter.
Both she and us were sad she could not stay longer and we believe she'll be back in the… read more
On my first day I flew in from Amsterdam and Yuliya send me very good instructions on how to get to a certain meeting point, where she was going to pick me up… read more
The team is amazing… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
She approached me and booked her stay a year before the actual workaway time.
Simone was following our social media and was in love with some dogs even before she arrived to the shelter.
Both she and us were sad she could not stay longer and we believe she'll be back in the… read more
On my first day I flew in from Amsterdam and Yuliya send me very good instructions on how to get to a certain meeting point, where she was going to pick me up… read more
The team is amazing… read more
He is the the kind of personalities that our project attracts.
I was right.
Mateo quickly felt at home with the rest of the workawayer' group.
He is smart, learns quickly and is patient.
He was part of a wonderful group where a few members were… read more
He is kind of person that you'd like to be around.
And you would feel lucky to be part of your team.
We were lucky to have him for 3 months. From day one it felt as if he had been with us forever.
Alois fitted so well both with the daily routine and with the WAs group.
He is intelligent, quite person,… read more
Curious about the countries and cultures that she visits.
There is a lot to learn from Roxanne about stray dogs and practices especially in South America. Her devotion to the cause is admirable.
We wish more people around the Globe are like her. She is especially passionate about ''castrate… read more
I could see how her confidense in doing the job grew overtime.
She was not shy to ask when not sure about procedures.
She always made sure to follow them which was very important to us.
She truly loved the dogs, the experience and being part of the team.
Fantastic team… read more
It did not… read more
She came for 4 weeks but stayed 9.
She fitted so well with both team members and workawyers.
Adored the dogs.
Easy-going, down to earth, no task is too much for her - brilliant help!
I can only highly recommend her and
we can not wait for her to come back!
Seriously!
Team members, workawayers, Terry and I.
Sarina stayed with us for 10 weeks.
She was quite and difficult to read in the beginning.
Once she was settled we discovered that radiant, rational, responsible old soul.
A young lady who cared about her duties, truly loved the dogs
and was an essential part of a dream… read more
Unfortunately it is not long enough to get to know a person.
Terry and I did not have the pleasure to have her at the drinks that we organize with workawayers.
Amanda is quite, polite, with very good English and I have heard about a hiccup between her and… read more
Yes, there is a lot to do in a dog shelter and workawayers have beed an important help to us for a year now.
Yes, there is commute involved.
We were blessed that Carmen chose to join us and help our cause.
She… read more
From the beginning on, everyone was so nice, helpful and welcoming.
The people in the shelter are lovely. They invest so much time and love in the dogs, each single one of them is very well looked after. That was… read more
Linc arrived at the… read more
This is no ordinary dog shelter - the huge yards here mean you can really see the dogs being themselves in their comfort zone. The crew… read more
We… read more
