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Heidi: volunteering at Lucky Hunt

Хайди за доброволчеството

The youngest volunteer at Lucky Hunt this summer was only 18 years old. What are the impressions of Heidi from Düsseldorf about her stay in Bulgaria and about the work for the benefit of the rescued animals, you will find out in the following lines. 

"All the dogs want is love and a little bit of your attention for some cuddles or play."
Heidi - volunteer Lucky Hunt
Heidi Kipping
Volunteer from Germany

What inspired you to volunteer at an animal shelter and why did you choose Bulgaria?

I recently graduated Highschool and before starting university, I wanted to take some time off to work, explore and voluntary projects like Svetlana's Lucky Hunt.

I do have a pet at home! My dog is from Romania, a country with a similar stray situation like Bulgaria. My motivation comes mainly from my experience with my own dog. I know that she had a difficult life before finding her home with us, and as Bulgaria is quite similar to Romania concerning stray dogs, I equally considered this as a place for me to go. And then, I did some research and found Lucky Hunt and was convinced.

What was your first impression upon arrival at the shelter?

I was really astonished by the beauty and size of the shelter Lucky Hunt City. It was larger than I had expected and its design is great. And when I saw the dogs coming to greet us I already felt they were taken well care of.

Tell us about a typical day at Lucky Hunt.

We drove to the shelter every morning and started by cleaning the dogs compounds. We gave them water and food , and as it was usually very hot in September, we filled up their pools so they could cool down and refresh. We also brushed and petted them, they were always happy to cuddle.

During midday, most of us took a lunch break and we made coffee and sat together to talk.

Most of the times, I could go to the pitbulls complex as well which I really enjoyed too. 

And in the late afternoon, we drove back home.

What challenges did you face while working at the shelter, and how did you overcome them?

I did not really face many challenges at the shelter.

Maybe the language barrier could be considered one, but I managed to communicate with the team through various languages, so it made this experience fun and exciting. And it was never a real problem that made me feel uncomfortable but rather a funny experience which we joked about.

Can you share a memorable moment or a particular dog that left a lasting impact on you?

I have many moments that I like to remember.

One of them are the pitbullsthat society considers aggressive and dangerous. I was never convinced by this but when meeting them, I learned that it is actually the exact opposite. They are kind and playful and love human company..

They are very frighted because of their past but you can see them evolve and gain security and confidence.

Furthermore, there was one dogthat always came to me and when I sat down on a bench, he put his front legs around my body and laid down on my legs and it always looked like he was hugging me. He really needed the love and physical contact, which I have noticed with all the dogs. All they want is love and a little bit of your attention for some cuddles or playing.

What differences have you noticed between Germany and Bulgaria in terms of animal welfare?

There is a large difference between Germany and Bulgaria because first of all, we never had or probably won’t have so many stray dogs. So it is difficult to say how the Germans would behave towards them.

However , animals are generally treated better and with more worth, than Bulgaria does.

How has your experience at Lucky Hunt changed or influenced you personally?

For me personally I have realized that working with animals is a very fulfilling yet difficult task.

Of course, there can be hard or sad moments, but taking care of those helpless dogs really gives you a purpose. I will miss being greeted by all the dogs   that run towards you because they know you, I will miss cuddling them and seeing them get better.

And I will also miss the friendly and caring team that made me feel so welcome and took care of me.

I would recommend it 100% to anyone who loves dogs, wants to visit a new country and get to know another culture and who enjoys new tasks. For me personally, it was also a good break from my hometown and I enjoyed to be surrounded by mostly animals instead of other people, because it can be very calming and refreshing.