‘Street Hearts’ is the immensely moving true story of a remarkable couple from Yorkshire who moved to a small town in the mountains of rural Bulgaria. There, they set up Street Hearts – an animal sanctuary for the many stray and abandoned dogs urgently needing the chance of a decent life.
The narrative alternates between the husband and wife team of Emma and Anthony Smith. They unfold the story of how they arrived in Bulgaria, the major issue of stray and neglected hunting dogs that they encounter on a daily basis, and how their dog shelter in the town of Dryanovo started to care for the local canines despite human opposition. As the chapters progress, we learn how the charity expanded its remit to run a neutering programme in conjunction with a local vet, an education campaign having won the backing of the local mayor, and finally a scheme for exporting dogs to loving ‘furever' homes abroad.
This is a story of overcoming adversity to achieve a goal, surviving against often impossible odds. The couple keep striving to look after the dogs they encounter simply through the compulsion to give as many hounds as possible the chance of a decent life. Along the way we meet a host of volunteers who have chapters to tell their stories as they give up their spare time to join Street Hearts where they can muck in and help out.
The wins that the book describes, such as persuading local politician Miroslav Semov to understand the situation and help them to achieve their objectives are uplifting moments in the book. Most especially, hearing about the happy outcomes for many of the rescues will raise spirits or even bring tears of joy to the eyes. But sensitive readers be warned: much of the book involves the relentless struggles and hardships the couple face in protecting Bulgarian dogs. Their indomitable spirits come through in the prose. Sometimes obstacles come from unexpected places such as the escalation of paperwork needed to legally transport dogs across borders that resulted from Britain's exit from the European Union.
At times though, ‘Street Hearts' not an easy read, and the authors pull no punches in outlining the obstacles in their way. The opening chapter gives readers a good indication of the stories to come, as the Smiths are called to deal with a street dog that has been attacked by drunken locals and left to starve in a shed. Terrified, hungry, angry and untamed, the large creature could do immense damage if not handled properly. Yet the Smiths must navigate easing him inside a crate before transporting him to the shelter. You can find out more about Big Lad's story in the book.
In a country where dogs are generally well-treated and there are laws against harming animals, it can be hard to conjecture the levels of canine cruelty and neglect that the Smiths encounter on a daily basis. Some of the harrowing stories will stick with you. There's the dog that had the remnants of its collar digging into the flesh around its neck that required surgical removal. Other dogs are left chained to posts, often barely fed and driven close to madness. Some are maimed by wild boars or deliberately poisoned. Hunters routinely target the dogs. They even threaten the shelter, and the Smiths find out the hard way that the authorities can't be relied upon for support. Quite simply, the stakes are high for the very survival of Street Hearts throughout the book. It is an eye-opening insight into how charitable activities in a land still scarred by decades of Communism aren't necessarily welcomed by sections of the local populace.
The stylistic device of alternating viewpoints between husband and wife works well, providing sometimes contrasting points of view on the same events. More jarringly, the narrative skips back and forth in time, from a decade ago and the foundation of ‘Street Hearts', incorporating the present day and also the pandemic era. The lack of chronological order leads to some confusion, such as the mayor popping in and out of power between chapters. It also doesn't add any tangible benefit to the flow of the book. Overall, a clean chronological structure would perhaps have been a better choice. The narrative can be a touch repetitive too, with many descriptions of obstacles to be overcome and dogs found in appalling conditions. It's not that the reader becomes desensitised to these accounts so much as that there's a limit to the number of ways to tell similar scenarios and retain the same impact.
Despite those reservations, ‘Street Hearts' is undoubtedly a good read. You get to know the characters of Emma and Anthony, appreciate what drives them and keeps them together, as well as understand their quirks. More importantly, you meet the often larger than life personalities of many charming dogs who need nothing more than a first chance, let alone a second.
The book is deeply moving and rewarding. Anyone interested in animal welfare or who invests time, energy and donations into supporting rescue charities will find this an engrossing and important read. It is written with sincerity, and the passion of the Smiths for their life's work shines through every page. There's an introduction by the actor Kate Lamb (‘Call the Midwife') who explains how she came to find and support the charity. The book ought to achieve the worthwhile objective of giving the work of ‘Street Hearts' wider recognition. It's testament to the legacy of a couple who have devoted their lives to the wellbeing of dogs in a land where Street Hearts is often their only hope.
Publisher: Harper North Publication date: 29th August 2024 Buy ‘Street Hearts'
