The Bulgarian Connection of the Goalscorer Who Brought Spain the World Title

Ferran Torres, the Spanish international and forward for La Liga champions Barcelona, has adopted a dog named Milo from the "Street Hearts BG" shelter in the village of Glushka, Dryanovo, as confirmed by Emma Smith, the founder and director of the organization.

According to Smith, Milo's story began in June 2021 when three abandoned puppies were discovered under a bridge between the Dryanovo villages of Skalsko and Gostilitsa. A British citizen reported them, prompting the shelter's team to organize a rescue operation. "The puppies were very scared, severely emaciated, and covered in fleas and ticks. They had clearly been abandoned for some time. We managed to catch them, housed them at the shelter, had them examined by veterinarians, vaccinated them, and began searching for homes," Smith recounted.

In September 2021, Torres adopted Milo through an organization the shelter was collaborating with in the UK at the time. The footballer was then playing for Manchester City in England, where he lived with the dog. Following his transfer to Spain, he brought Milo with him. Today, the dog lives with Torres and three other pets. Emma Smith believes the world-renowned footballer's gesture is a testament to both the shelter's work and the qualities of Bulgarian stray dogs.

"It was a tremendous honor for us that Ferran chose to adopt a dog from our shelter. Milo is an incredibly intelligent dog, and Ferran is a wonderful ambassador for Bulgarian dogs because he regularly posts photos with him on social media. Thanks to this, we've been able to find homes for other animals as well," she said. Smith added that the organization has spayed and neutered approximately 5,000 dogs, but its primary mission remains finding permanent homes for stray animals.

"I hope Torres's example encourages more people in Bulgaria to adopt a dog from a shelter. We have many wonderful dogs waiting for their families," Smith added. She emphasized that adoption knows no social or national boundaries. "Anyone can adopt a dog – whether they are a footballer, work in a shop, or live in a small village. It simply shows that a person has a good heart. For us, social status is not important, but rather one's attitude towards animals," she stated. The latest information available to the shelter, from 2025, indicates that Milo was doing excellent, fully adapted to life in Spain, and continued to live with Torres.

Emma Smith is the founder and director of the "Street Hearts BG" shelter in Glushka village. She arrived in Bulgaria from the UK in 2013 during a career break from the British police force. After encountering the problem of stray dogs in the area, she and her husband Anthony established the organization, whose initial goal was a spay/neuter program for stray animals, later expanding to include rescue and adoption activities.

Last night, Torres became one of the most talked-about figures globally after scoring the sole goal in the final against Argentina, securing a 1-0 victory in the 106th minute of extra time.