Back in 2012 we set up TwitchyNoses to help stray, injured and abandoned dogs in the area where we lived in central Bulgaria. A few years later, along with friends who also involved in helping homeless dogs in Bulgaria we set up http://theneuternetwork.org . It has long since been an idea and hope of all involved to work together with other organisations to carry out a continued neutering effort in Bulgaria. It is only through neutering that the root of the over population of dogs and cats can be brought under control. For both street dogs and owned village dogs a like. And we feel the only real way to make progress is to set up our own neutering clinic, which we hope will become a base for neutering campaigns around Bulgaria as well as our local region, will be somewhere the latest neutering techniques can be taught and from where we can do out-reach vet work across the country.

In 2018 Rachel used private money (savings) to purchase a property in the local municipality town of Maglizh (through her Bulgarian company), which will be turned into a Neutering and Vet Clinic for TheNeuterNetwork.

In order to start renovations and get work underway Rachel has to date paid for the following from inhertiance from her late father and savings. This is all been paid for by way of a no interest loan to TheNeuterNetwork, with Rachel just paying the builders directly when required.

To date costs have been:

Plans and permissions from architect and other institutions: 2690 levs

Renovation works (costs in lvs):

2018

New windows – 2720

Reinforcing and concreting floors – 7125

All new electrics – 3000

2019

Inside plastering – 2948

Security blinds – 2445

New internal doors – 1735

Building of conservatory for waiting room and to give covered access to basement and also the roof repairs and repairs to rear wall – 11,500

Tiling of all floors and walls and other bits of work – 9700

New metal security door for basement – 650 lvs

Digging out driveway and clearing all rubbish and building debris and new concrete – 8,500

Re-render the outside of the building, repair the undersides of the roof gables, make the current driveway entrance bigger, make a new gate for the driveway & brick up the front wall - 6,000

Total: 56,323 levs ( 28,795 Euros)

After this the only other work will be making outside kennels (3 simple dog runs to keep dogs in prior to neutering if caught day before) and making 3 tiled, dog pens in the basement area for longer term cases and more serious diseases, fixtures and fittings like lights, sinks, boilers, A/C units. We need a new front gate as the current one is falling to bits. There will be a lot of painting to do and gardening but we will do this with the help of volunteers. We need a PVC wall divider to make consultation room and of course equipment.

Estimated further costs:

Internal dog kennels & external dog kennels : 5790 levs (2960 Euros)

New front gate: 650 levs (332 Euros)

Lights, sinks, A/C units etc: 3000 lvs (1534 Euros)

Consultation room divider: 1000 lv (511 Euros)

Electrician costs to finish off: ~ 500 levs (256 Euros)

Total: 11,120 levs (5686 Euros)

TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR CLINIC RENOVATIONS: 67,443 levs (34,480 Euros)

You can see details of the property here .

Received so far:

We were gifted a property to sell for the organisation, here in Bulgaria and a buyer was found for this and completion will occur shortly. After legal costs and taxes, this will raise around 12,000 levs (E 6200) and go towards paying Rachel back some of loan. We also took part in a marathon earlier in the year (2019) with some local vet students and raised around 1000 levs (E 511 ) and will be holding various other fundraisers but really need to raise some funds to help pay for building work.

Ongoing costs for clinic:

Vet wages: 13,250 levs/year ( E 6775/year)

Medicines & disposable equipment: ~ 10,000 Euros/year

Electric, water, internet, insurance, private security – 1,100 Euros/year

Miscellaneous : 500 Euros/year

We decided to use JustGiving as one of our fund-raising platforms as many are not available in Bulgaria or have large fees taken from each donation. This way the money can be paid to an account in the UK and TransferWise can be used to send the money in levs directly to Bulgaria, where it will be used for renovation work. Invoices will be posted as received and full transparency given.