Rudozem Street Dog Rescue

We have been asked if we want to buy the small white building to the right of the shelter for 30,000 levs ( 15,339 Euros). It might seem silly trying to raise money to purchase another building while we are still trying to raise funds for the shelter roof and renovations but looking at it long term it makes sense and we may not get the opportunity again. No one is going to do anything with the roof now until the Spring and even then we have the problem that we need to empty one shed of dogs for each part to be done, and with so many dogs at the moment that will take some time.

The other point is that one of the main aims is for a clinic not just a shelter. Building a clinic here would mean taking up more space which at the moment is used for pens. That would mean having to considerably reduce the number of dogs that we can take in.

If we were to buy the building we have been offered, we could apply to have the clinic there and would be telling the truth when we say that no animals will actually be kept there. It would be perfect for a clinic and somewhere to have laundry facilities. We could have a clinic there much quicker than we could here as here as we would have to have the roof done first, architects plans, celings, hot water, drainage etc. Next door it would just be a case of tiling a room to bring it up to the standards required and connecting water. We could then have volunteer vets to come and neuter and spay. Neuter/release and offering free neuter/spay for people's dogs is going to be very difficult when we have to pay the vet here 50 Euros for every female . At the moment we may be saving some dogs but we still aren't doing anything to solve the problem long term which is frustrating especially when every other day we are being asked to take more pups and dogs and have to say no.

The other advantages are that RSDR would own the property next to the shelter so when we start the renovations here, we can be sure that there won’t be complaints from the owner of that neighbouring building. If someone else buys it, it could be one more person who complains and tries to cause trouble. The dogs at the shelter won't be disrupted by any dogs going to the clinic and we already use the man's parking area.

After a lot of thought and discussion with the team we have decided that we will try and raise the funds and purchase the property.