Woman Rescues Dog From Lidl Parking Lot: Ends Up Saving Hundreds More

Chuck had been her “rock,” offering comfort through life’s hardest moments, including her grandmother’s eight-year battle with dementia.

After his passing in 2019, Laura, 40, knew she wasn’t ready to replace him, but she also knew her home wasn’t complete without a dog.

That decision led her down a path she never could have expected, one that took her from Manchester to Bulgaria, from job loss to dream job, and from mourning one dog to helping rescue hundreds.

A Stray Named Lidi From Lidl

Struggling to find the right dog through UK rescues, Laura came across Street Hearts BG, a Bulgarian nonprofit rehoming stray dogs.

That’s where she found Lidia. A friendly mixed-breed pup discovered wandering a Lidl parking lot by the charity’s founders, Emma and Anthony Smith.

“Lidi from Lidl,” as she’s affectionately called, was following shoppers and hoping for scraps. Luckily, she was in decent shape and took easily to rescue.

Emma and Anthony scooped her up and brought her to their shelter.

Laura says she fell for Lidi instantly. “She was nervous but clearly had been shown kindness at some point,” she recalls.

In 2020, Lidi made the long journey to the UK via a specially outfitted van. Laura still treasures the photos of her new companion exploring Europe during the four-day trip.

From Adoption to a Life Mission

After being laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura reached out to Street Hearts BG to see how she could help.

What started as remote volunteering turned into a full-time role. Today, Laura works as the group’s social media manager and adoption coordinator, helping dogs find homes across the UK.

“If I hadn’t adopted Lidia, I wouldn’t be working this dream job,” she says. “Now, I help save dogs every day.”

Founded in 2013, Street Hearts BG has rehomed around 1,500 dogs and spayed or neutered over 4,000.

Their mission is to break the cycle of stray dogs in Bulgaria through adoption, free neutering, and education.

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