Bansko Street Dogs

21/01/2025

It was another full house for the quiz last night! It happens often in winter when people turn up hoping to join a team on the fly, but unfortunately we had to turn people away as there simply wasn't a single empty seat. If you're wanting to join the next one please book your place in advance ... We'd love to have you add to the fun! 🎉

It's not happened for a while, but our reigning champs managed to take the trophy home for the second quiz in a row ... Logheads snatched the win in the final round! 🙏🏼

Thanks to all ten teams who played along, and of course to those wonderful folk of 4Directions Bansko for hosting so well! We raised 435lev for the dogs thanks to your combined efforts ❤️

17/01/2025

This darling girl is the longest standing street dog in Bansko ... she's been the queen of the streets for at least 13 years now! You may know her as Princess, Goldie, Ginge, Joanna, Raya or something completely different - She had many names before we even got here, and she responds or doesn't as feels like it 😅

She's had a limp on and off since last month. It's caused by an old trauma of the knee that healed as is, and there's nothing to be done in terms of a big fix - she's old and it's very cold, so the limp will be on and off all winter. She's on pain relief, and has additional medication for any times it flares up ❤️

She was checked again today, and although slim weighs over 15kg, and is healthy aside from her limp. She has a new collar on to help with future catch and check ups, but she constantly loses them 🤷🏻‍♀️

Please don't give her any medicines. If she comes to you for a fussing feel free to give her a good belly rub, and any treats she'll take. She's finickety when it suits her, what she devours one day she will ignore the next ... she keeps us all on our toes! 😅

17/01/2025

Maverick and his siblings are now 5 months old, and he's the first of the gang to be neutered. He's an adorable boy, sometimes a little anxious around new people but as soon as he feels safe he's super friendly! Maverick weighs 22.5kg, and is expected to grow to around 40kg. He is looking for a foster or forever home within Bulgaria 🏡

We'll be getting the rest of Heather's pups in to neuter in the next weeks. Yes, we know 5 months is early to neuter large breed dogs, but when they are on the street we don't have the luxury of waiting it out for them to reach a year or two of age. Stopping more puppies being born to each of these babies is most important. There are not - and never will be - enough homes for all of the dogs already born 😥

16/01/2025

The worldschoolers are back in Bansko for the winter season, which means fun times for the dogs with bunches of kids! It's super icy and snowy outside still, but the teenies - Charlie, Looby and Mabel - got wintry walks and park playtimes! 🐾

Our guests spent time learning how to give treats to Manchee, Jack and Petra, and to get them to follow basic commands with verbal and visual cues. We love having visitors spend time with the dogs, and with the worldschooling groups being here for 6 weeks at a time the dogs and families get to build confidence with each other ❤️

16/01/2025

🐾 ANYBODY RECOGNISE THIS DOG? 🐾

Has been beside the sport hotel since early morning. Isn't moving about but is not injured, just seems like is waiting for an owner to return 😔

Haven't met the dog so don't have more information than what was messaged, am not sure is male or female, but if you recognise this baby or see someone posting looking for their dog please share the information 🙏🏼

15/01/2025

🌟 Grace update 🌟

Grace is doing her best for a few wobbly steps. We're still a long way from her walking yet, but she's making great efforts! Grace is noticeably stronger these past few days which is wonderful, and she's definitely starting to trust us ❤️

Next week Grace will return to the orthopaedic surgeon in Sofia, to have the stabilisers removed from her front leg. Her wounds have all healed, except the worst one on her back leg where the bone was coming through. That was hideously open, but is progressing as hoped, so we're optimistic this beauty is on the right track! 😁

Previous Grace story if you missed her so far https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14vSo6MP6J/

15/01/2025

This beautiful old guy is Chester. He's previously been a chained dog, but another that has just been left roaming the streets now he's no longer wanted. Chester is around 8-10 years old, and weighs 29.5kg. He has no microchip 😔

Chester has got a wonderful bunch of doggy friends, including some pups we think he fathered. He joins a local and her dog for walks and playtime most days, and is fed well. He's got a skin condition that we've treated today, and most importantly he's been neutered so no more babies! 🙏🏼

Chester was sponsored by Borja, Julieta and Lucas for one of their Christmas gifts - they chose helping him over a puppy, and their gift has paid for his operation today ❤️

15/01/2025

Kaya, Mochi and Willow are wonderful growing girls! Still teeny tots between 4.5-5.5kg, they're super healthy and thriving - a far cry from the abandoned babies who needed treatment to fight off parvo a few months ago! They just had their final vaccines and rabies, so in just a few weeks they will be able to go to forever homes 🏡

The girls will remain small, around 8kg when fully grown. They are super friendly, and very much enjoy having people around for fussing them. They are fine with other dogs, and we'd like to get them into foster homes for assessment with kids, cats and more ... If you're in Bansko and you can offer a temporary spot to a little darling please get in touch ❤️

If you're interested to know more about any of the girls drop us a message. Please bear in mind we're still playing catch up with messages, so just send one and wait for your reply ... if you keep bumping your messages you'll end up bottom of the pile I'm working through, and it'll be longer until your reply! 🙏🏼

15/01/2025

Merlin was abandoned to the streets of Bansko in the summer last year. He was hit by a car, but we got him the vet help he needed and he has been doing great since then. Merlin's great with people and dogs, and is indifferent to cats. He's super chill and enjoys laying around a lot! He would happily walk with various people and their dogs each day - I often shared photos and videos of him playing with my dog and my foster 🐾

Merlin's blood tests were all clear, he's in great basic health, and he's neutered. He's an older guy, at least 7 years old. Recently he was collected from the street by the municipality, but thankfully a lovely guy has stepped up to foster him whilst a forever home is looked for 🏡

Merlin is very much an outdoor dog, so he would be happy with a yard to live in. It's new for him being inside but he's doing ok, so there's a possibility he could be an indoor/outdoor dog depending on your circumstances. Merlin absolutely needs access to an outdoor space to be entirely happy. If you are interested to know more about Merlin please get in touch ❤️

12/01/2025

The newest pups in town got set up with a slightly less shanty home today! 🤣

They're already undercover in the yard they are staying in - the snow was brought in with the kennel and on our boots! - but having their own house will help them feel more secure, settle together, and conserve heat ... Much needed with dropping night time temperatures ❄️

They're all eating well today, and even investigating a few of the toys they now have. We'll introduce you to them all properly soon, but for now the best place for them to be is together. Please don't message asking to adopt these little darlings unless you live in Bulgaria - they cannot go to homes in other countries until they are 4 months old, have a complete course of vaccines, and a clean bill of health 🐾

We'll be starting their vaccines soon, and getting Jack Black ready for hernia surgery in around a month. In the meantime if you're looking for a wonderful dog to adopt we have some crackers who are looking for homes, and ready to go as soon as we find their people ... check them out here https://www.facebook.com/100066725151736/posts/927548512812645/

* videos in comments *

12/01/2025

🌟 DO YOU KNOW THIS DOG?? 🌟

If you recognise this dog be has appeared in front of Hotel Katarino in Razlog. He is wearing a collar but has no tag. Hopefully he is just lost and waiting for his people to find him, and not yet another thrown out 🙏🏼

If you know anything about him please contact Beti 0038970335008 ❤️

11/01/2025

Today we got a message about three more abandoned puppies in town. We went to check on them, and thankfully all three tested disease free. We have dewormed them, and treated against ticks and fleas too. The largest of the three is a boy, and he has a hernia which we'll be keeping an eye on until surgery in around a month. The other two are girls, and have no issues ❤️

For now they are safe and well in a secure yard, and tomorrow we will set them up a little more comfortably. They are only around 4-6weeks old and should still be with their mama, but they are yet more who were dumped in a box all alone. They're so very lucky that Milena found them and did what she could to help, and we're glad that's she's going to continue their care alongside us! 🙏🏼

09/01/2025

Just a quick Grace update, there's not much to tell but we know many of you are thinking of her. Grace is doing as expected, and all is moving in the right direction for her. Grace eats well and sleeps plenty, which is all good for her recovery ❤️

Grace is still needing to be held whilst we change bandages and apply cream, but we'd never expect anything differently. She had never met us before the day we picked her up. She was so very broken and in pain, so gaining her trust is taking time. All going well Grace should start making attempts to stand next week. Have still never heard a bark, nor seen a tail wag or any excitement, hopefully that will come 🐾

* Video in comments *

07/01/2025

Massive thanks to all 11 teams who joined for the New Year's quiz last night. Great that you all not only persevered, but ended up with very respectable scores too ... yes it was testing, I could almost see smoke from a few brains around the room! 🤣

Shout out to Pi**ed on the piste (who became Pi**ed on pi**ed as the evening wore on!) for hanging on to second place, but congratulations to winners Logheads, who ultimately beat them by just two points ... About time you guys had a win! 🍾

Thanks to all at Smokey Mountain for the great food and service, and for allowing barman Speedy to join the quiz between serving ... The guy's got skills to keep up with both! Between the entrance fees and donation from the restaurant, we raised a massive 480lev. Thank you, thank you, thank you all, and see you at the next one! 🐾

06/01/2025

EDIT : I finally managed to get a few hours to just sit and answer all 🎉
This does mean though, I will have an influx of replies firing back at me, so I will continue to answer as quickly and thoroughly as I can. Don't panic if it's not immediate ... You won't get missed!

ADMIN UPDATE

Apologies, but with multiple vet trips hours away and a visiting volunteer out sick, I haven't been able to catch up with any more messages the last couple of days. You won't get missed - I will work through all who are waiting the upcoming days, and in order of whose have been there longest. Thanks for being patient 🙏🏼

https://www.facebook.com/100066725151736/posts/929256935975136/

ADMIN OVERLOAD! 🤯

The last few days have been an absolute battle to get everything done! We've all the normal dog tasks, as well as mammoth treks to a couple of specialist vets, the added care of Grace, and two new volunteers in for training ... When something has to give it's always admin, as the physical care of the dogs has to be priority. I've answered all the messages and emails I can and am still far behind, but I'm going to bed! If you are waiting on a reply I've got time put aside tomorrow to hopefully catch up with the rest, so please just bear with me and know that am getting to you as soon as I can! ❤️