Just like most of her coevals, Aksinia Peycheva, 20, wants to believe that she can live in a better world, with no violence or pain. A world of smiling and good-hearted people, who are above all responsible not only to their social engagements, but also to the surrounding nature. The young lady has realized that harmony in our reality would mean not only love for people around, but also for all living creatures. In her words exactly animals can teach us how to be real persons and not only sensible human beings, involved in seeking of career opportunities and purchase of objects only. Right now Aksinia studies for her master’s degree with the National Art Academy and her thesis can explain her leisure time activities: she is a volunteer at the Animal Protection Association at the town of Kyustendil and she is a coordinator of adoptions there. The composition of her pictures also reflects the wish of the young artist to make people be more active and sympathetic to the problems that surround us. The eyes of the young artist see the common thing between her profession and animal care – that is sensitivity towards the living world that surrounds us. “I have always loved animals,” Aksinia says. At one point, however, I decided that I couldn’t neglect the stray animals issue that in fact concerns our entire society. That is why when last year Four Paws kicked off a neutering campaign in her native town of Kyustendil, she decided to help with the adoption of stray animals from the town’s shelter.

“At that stage I had no relations with animal welfare organizations in Bulgaria, but still I tried to attract the attention of people to the problem and eventually to find foster homes across this country,” she recalls. “I had never thought of any attempts abroad. However, it turned out that I could get in touch with the Teirschutz Nrw German association and in February 2013 we sent the first three puppies. Our cooperation proved to be really successful and we have had over 70 dogs and cats adopted so far. I am truly happy when I succeed to change an animal’s destiny for good. Somehow it gives you the strength to go on. On the other hand I think animals can totally change one’s point of view. They are naïve, they show no malice, they are pure creatures. Animals do not stand lower, as we usually see them, we can learn a lot from them – they are true friends that forget bad things, show compassion and are like members of the family.”

When Aksinia sends stray animals to Germany, she does insist on a feedback, in order to know more on what’s going on with those dogs and cats. “No feedback, no animal sent,” she states firmly, because unreliable adopters can be met not only in Bulgaria, but abroad either:

“Many people have got used to some ignorance, as far as stray animals are concerned. Most of them are not impressed by their sufferings at all, but when one communicates with people around the globe, he or she sees that things are not the same everywhere. In Germany for instance there are not stray animals, all pets are chipped and registered. When a pet is abandoned it goes straight to an animal shelter with magnificent conditions. At the same time the owner is traced down and seriously fined. You can’t see an animal, chained in the yard. Besides that all owners see neutering as something normal. The whole situation in Bulgaria is messed up and animals seem to be abandoned, most people here are not well-informed and neutering is sometimes rejected. If we love our dog or cat we do not neuter it, but we force it to take oestrus prevention pills. So, we see the stray animal issue as something that doesn’t concern anyone, but the state. Whenever there are free neutering campaigns few people decide to join. The way of thinking should be changed, if we want the issue to be solved. We use to say: “This is a lost cause,” whenever we see a stray animal with some health issue or a too scary one. Luckily, there are always people, who are ready to take care and their entire life changes. The animals themselves change too, at the moment, when they feel the love and care of their owners, turning into their faithful friends for good…”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev