Bulgarian street dogs find new homes.

Pooches rehoused after being taken off Balkan streets

Stray dogs saved from the streets of Bulgaria have travelled almost 3,000 miles to be welcomed into loving new homes across Angus and Fife – thanks to the dedication of one local woman.

Anne Marie Grant, 67, of Methil, saved puppies Lisl and Rosie from death while holidaying in the Balkan nation in September.

She went out of her way to pay for them to be housed in kennels, vaccinated, microchipped and finally flown to the UK.

After making contact with Bulgarian charity Stray Angels, based in the capital Sofia, she also stepped in to help find homes for a further five dogs facing homelessness as a result of their “hostel” being demolished.

The Fifer’s appeal was so successful, seven of the charity’s dogs, including Lisl and Rosie, landed on UK soil on Monday. Three were welcomed to homes across Courier Country this week.

Among the arrivals was Eddie, a mixed-breed dog found aged between 10 and 15 days clinging to his dead mother in Bulgaria.

He arrived at the Leven home of Alice and Andy Hepburn on Tuesday evening to a heartwarming reception from the couple and their six children Lee, Heather, Amy, Mark, Caitlin and Gemma.

Clerical worker Mrs Hepburn said: “My last two cats were rescue cats. They (the kids) love animals to bits. It was horrible what happened to Eddie’s mum. Taking him in, it does make you feel better.”

Lisl, who Mrs Grant found “thin and starving”on a roadside layby in Bulgaria, has found a loving home with retired chef Dave Chalmers in Arbroath.

The 64-year-old said he was pleased to welcome the pooch into his life after losing his partner and pet dog last year.

Mr Chalmers added: “I read about it in The Courier. “I just thought, after reading the story, ‘well, here’s the chance’. It’s a rescue dog, I can give it a better life.”

Another former stray, Goshko, who is missing his back limbs, was welcomed into the home of Nicola Duthie in Dunfermline, much to the delight of her four-year-old son Alexander Mcleod.

Mrs Grant said: “They just seem to have matched perfectly, which is very, very emotionally good for me. I’m so happy they’d done it and I’m glad these people came forward.”

Rosie is yet to find a permanent home and anyone interested should phone 01592 713 196 or email: grantannemarie411@gmail.com

Picture above: Dougie Nicolson. Buglarian dogs in new homes. Clockwise from above: Dave Chalmers with his new dog Lisl and Anne Marie Grant, who brought the dogs back from Bulgaria; Eddie at the Leven home of the Hepburn family and Goshko with Graham Duthie, Nicola Duthie and her son...

Anne Marie Grant with Rosie, the only one of the Bulgarian rescue dogs she is still to find a home for.