Nicola and I met Dr Stoyanov in Sofia this summer after we had found and rescued two abandoned puppies both just weeks old, starving, seriously ill, infested and without any doubt hours from death. Having nursed them back to health over a few weeks and with all the necesary veterinary care associated with it - we took them to the BSAPP to be ( hopefully ) re-housed but what we saw broke of hearts. We were emmotionally over-come by the stories of animal suffering we heard, in particular how 'unknown people' who wanted the rescue centre closed down because of the 'noise of dogs barking at night' had poisoned two dogs with pesticide and how another had been run over and how further the electricy supply to the centre was now vandalised and disconnected. We left the two puppies ( now named Starra and George )with Dr Stoyanov as we had to return to the UK within days but after only a short drive both Nicola and I broke down into floods of tears and were compelled to return back. We had spoken with friends in our village in Krushevo who had agreed to care for the dogs at our Bulgarian home in our abscence as we would sponor them to do. We simply could not expect this wonderful kind man who works entirely voluntarily to take on any more dogs in such sad and desperate circumstances. We both agreed to do all we could to help him and ease the burden on the BSAPP in what ever we could.
Welcome my new friend and THANK YOU for your support.‘Debut – The Collection’We’re busy raising money for a little known rescue centre where dogs have been poisoned with pesticide. All proceeds from the sale of this album (donated to us to sell) will go to the BSAPP emergency appeal. Can you help?ALL PROCEEDS (Yes, I did say ALL) IN AID OF THE BSAPP EMERGENCY APPEAL http://www.freewebs.com/bsapp/emergencyappeal.htm‘Debut - The Collection’ is a ‘best of’ from the first three outstanding albums from talented singer/songwriter, Jonathan Taylor.‘Jonathan is a thoughtful and intelligent lyric writer and a superb musician. His voice ranges from Cat Stevenesque right through to smoky blues. All in all a fantastic collection from three wonderful albums. ’Richard Hollis. The Unofficial Steeleye Span Website. 2007.Buy this amazing album here; (Hard copy and digital downloads)http://cdbaby.com/cd/taylorjonathan And help us help Dr Stoyanov re-house his dogs!Jonathan is the Great Grandson of soprano singer and early recording pioneer Rebecca Johnson (nee Reece), Grandson of Ivy (nee Johnson) Usher (a play anything by ear Pianist) and a Cousin of Robert (Bob) Johnson - Steeleye Span. He has appeared on both Independent Television and BBC Radio. His youth-work CV has included work with Toyah Wilcox (Courtesy of BBC Manchester.)Our sincere appreciation and THANK YOU!http://www.myspace.com/friendsofthebsapp
You can visit my 'music MySpace page' at www.myspace.com/jonathantaylorbulgaria or via the 'my friend profile link' below (Jonathan Taylor.)Click on the band website link CDBaby - I promise you that every penny I make from the sales of 'Debut - The Collection' will now go directly to Dr Stoyanov and the BSAPP. Further - If you invite me to do a gig for you then again all profit I make will also go directly to the charity, regardless of where or when I perform. Just advertise it as 'in aid of the BSAPP.
And of Starra and George our puppy heroes? We know it's not an ideal situation left at the house alone and yes, we are still looking for a permanent home for the two now very healthy puppies as we are ( as we write this )now back in the UK - but it is at least a home where they are fed, watered, sheltered and cared for. They can also run free all day with our many wonderful Bulgarian friends in the local village (Krushevo) popping in to see them at regular intervals ( and still refusing to be paid for there time and help in doing so!) The picture above is the now ' knicknamed ' Taylor Made Thermo-Barrel ' where George and Starra now live. It's an old wooden beer barrel converted into a kennel which we have rolled and wrapped in 3 layers of roofing insulation - then covered it with a tarpaulin sheet. The inside being lined with a quilt and many pillows. It is housed off ground in a dry water-proof horse box and it really is very cozy for them! When we next return to Bulgaria in October / November we shall go equiped with an 'electric thermostatically controlled green house heater' to protect them from cold and frost. Bulgaria is known for winters as cold as minus 20 degrees and many, many meters of snow and the young 'Street Dogs' as they are known simply die from the extemes of weather. http://www.freewebs.com/bsapp/emergencyappeal.htm