An unusual charity cause, or how to give abandoned pets a better life

I wrote this article at the end of last summer. A friend challenged me to take part in a version of the popular Ice Bucket Challenge, aimed at drawing more attention to the problem of abandoned pets. As someone who not only loves pets but also owns a licensed Samoyed kennel, Thracian Glory, I could not just brush the initiative aside.

After many social media trends, it was this one's turn: people filming themselves pouring a bucket of cold water over their heads. In the video in this article, as owner of the Thracian Glory Samoyed kennel, I took part in the so-called Ice Bucket Challenge, not for fun or for online attention, but to promote a good cause.

The Ice Bucket Challenge (also known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge) is a campaign linked to a condition called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The main idea is to raise awareness of this rare disease and encourage people to donate to research and the search for a treatment for those who suffer from it.

It is not clear how the ice water challenge started, but in mid-2014 it became hugely popular on social media, where participants posted videos of themselves pouring a bucket of cold water over their heads to draw attention to the disease. Everyone who took part could challenge others to do the same within 24 hours. The craze swept the world and lasted all summer. People poured water over their heads en masse, some just for fun and popularity on social media, others to genuinely support a noble cause.

I also took part in a similar cause, but this time the goal was to raise money for homeless animals. On behalf of my Samoyed kennel Thracian Glory, I donated 50 euro to Animal Rescue Sofia (ARS). It is a Bulgarian organisation that helps stray dogs and cats in need and tries to find homes for as many abandoned pets as possible. The shelter is funded entirely by donations, so I call on everyone who can help to support this good cause for our four-legged friends. The money raised will not only give them a better life but also make many families happier. We hope those of you who can will do a good deed. Because being a good person takes just a drop of willingness and a minute of your time, not a bucket of cold water.

You can find more information about how to donate here: http://arsofia.com/bg/dari/

Here is how your donation would help:

5 €	Two dogs from Bogrov get food for a week
10 €	Two multi-vaccines protect a puppy from disease
15 €	One dog's monthly needs at the retirement home
20 €	One female cat spayed, dozens of kittens saved
30 €	One female dog spayed, dozens of puppies saved
40 €	Two puppies with an infectious disease are saved
50 €	One injured dog gets orthopaedic surgery