The desire to help dogs has been with me my whole life. A dog isn't a problem to be solved, but a being looking for its place.
For a long time I couldn't afford a dog of my own, so I looked for other ways to be close to dogs – I volunteered, helped at a breeding kennel, and walked and looked after dogs for neighbors. Even then it was clear that working with dogs wouldn't just be a hobby for me, but a purpose.
My first major experience was a year of fostering a female dog named Bella. Bella was highly reactive and responded aggressively to most stimuli. But she taught me the most – patience, humility and a deep understanding of canine emotions.
Thanks to Bella I understood that no dog is "bad", only shaped by its past. When we bring a dog into our family, we accept its story too – its joys, fears and insecurities. Our role is to give it time, safety and patient guidance so it can become a full part of the home.
After Bella came volunteering at another organization focused on dog rescue. There I gained important experience with rescue, adoptions and how the whole structure works. At the same time I increasingly realized that one day I wanted to help differently – more systematically, with an emphasis on responsibility, continuity of care and supporting adopters even after adoption.
A pivotal step was adopting Lily, my current dog from Bosnia. That experience is what led me to intensive help abroad. I've personally been traveling to Bosnia to help for three years now – with adoptions, direct rescue and material support. The collaborations that gradually formed there became the foundation of Psi bez hranic.
Within the organization I work as a volunteer without any financial compensation. Outside of it I have a full-time job, and helping dogs is a personal commitment for me.
Continuous education is essential to me. I completed all lessons of Pavel Bradáč's Dog University, passed the exams for a dog-catching course in Brno as well as exams for transporting animals. I've also learned a lot about training from our Veronika of the Hand for Help project.
As founder and director I'm involved in every aspect of running the organization – from direct dog rescue, through adoptions and material collections, to administration, accounting, marketing and strategic development.
My goal is to build an organization that truly helps dogs without borders and without conditions. It doesn't matter where a dog comes from, what it's been through, or how challenging it is – every dog deserves a chance. I want Psi bez hranic to be a lasting support not only for dogs but also for people – rescuers, volunteers and adopters alike.
