Every Dog Matters EU

We are a large-yard dog sanctuary in Western Bulgaria (by area = 27,000 m2) with about 140 dogs.

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.

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

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

WORLDPACKERS' DUTIES

In keeping with our core goal of providing the best possible care for our rescue dogs,
MAIN DUTIES of the worldpackers are:

Dog feeding and watering ; yard cleaning (poo picking); dog walking, dog socialisation (e.g. patting puppies), helping with washing machine duties, keeping the staff and office container clean as well as ''Roaming areas'' clean (sweeping, tiding up).
In summer - gardening ( weed cleaning, watering young trees ).
If possible, some basic building/maintenance (not mandatory).

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

We require minimum stay of 1 month.
Training/ getting to know the work takes 3-4 weeks.
Thus worldpackers staying beyond that time are especially welcome.

4 days On/ 3 days OFF.
Not always in a row. It can be discussed when you need certain dates off.
We do our best to accommodate requests but still we do not promise that 100%..

The shelter is outside of Sofia. Travelers will be accommodated in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Thus VOLUNTEERS will NEED TO COMMUTE to the shelter and back. It takes about 1 hr 30 min one way. It involves a tram, a train and some walking. We require 4 days 8 hours in the shelter and 3 days off. We provide money for the travel expenses and food. Accommodation is a very nice flat in a gated community; 2 shared bedrooms, 3 people in each; 3 bathrooms. Up top 6 people max in the flat. Large living area with a fully equipped kitchen plus washing machine. We provide internet, TV, bedding, bed linen, towels. Good way to explore Sofia and Bulgaria. Good cultural exchange. ------------------------------------------ ALLOWANCE: We do not provide/ cook food. WE PROVIDE ''food + travel'' weekly ALLOWANCE. Volunteers cook for themselves or buy their food with the allowance. ------------------------------------------- - It is wise to have some TRAVEL INSURANCE OR EU HEALTH CARD. --------------------------------------------- - Bulgaria is 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. Read more here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/etias-travel-authorisation-limited-validity_en -------------------------------------------- Fun Facts about Bulgaria and Bulgarians: - The Bulgarian Kingdom was established in 681. During that time Bulgaria was under 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 of the 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. You'll go through that small town if you are going to the Rila Lakes. - During the WW2 no Bulgarian Jews were NOT 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. Thus Bulgarians proudly say that they have contributed to the invention of the computer. -------------------------------------------------------------- Sofia has an underground Metro system that covers most of the city. Transport service is very good. From Sofia Airport to the city center is about 20 min on Metro (from Terminal 2). Our 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. There are organized tours to The 7 Rila Lakes which some of our volunteers had taken. Belogradchik Rocks is a very unique place in NW Bulgaria. volunteers 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.