'I adopted a dog abandoned in a Lidl car park – I now help rehome pups'

Kind-hearted Laura is helping hundreds of pooches find their forever homes after she adopted a dog left to fend for herself in Bulgaria

- 

Animal lover Laura Norrey was desperate for a new dog after her beloved border collie Chuck died at the age of 12 following a short battle with an aggressive cancer.

She said: "Chuck came into my life at four years old after a family member's relationship breakdown. From the moment he arrived, he was pure joy – loving, funny and full of personality.

"He was more than just a pet, he was my rock. Through some of the hardest times, including my grandmother's eight-year battle with dementia, Chuck was always there, offering comfort in the way only a dog can."

After his passing in 2019, Laura knew she wanted another four-legged companion but she could not have predicted she'd soon be helping rehome dogs from Bulgaria with owners in the UK and beyond.

Laura, 40, who is originally from Manchester but now lives in Glossop, Derbyshire, was struggling to find a suitable dog for adoption when she came across Street Hearts BG online. The non-profit organisation rescues street dogs in Bulgaria and finds them forever homes, including with families in the UK.

She said: "We knew we could never replace Chuck but any true dog lover understands that a house isn't a home without a dog. We visited multiple rescues in Manchester but we struggled to find the right fit.

"Many dogs were too large for me to handle, while others had complex behavioural needs that I didn't feel equipped to manage. To our surprise, some UK rescues rejected our applications for seemingly minor reasons, such as our garden not being deemed secure because it had two gates.