The streets of Romania are full of dogs, it is no news and it caused by people’s indifference, lack of education and poverty, but also by the authorities’ indolence and corruption. These animals are our victims and they suffer in silence, often without ever being noticed. In order to survive, they are forced to eat garbage or things we wouldn’t even consider eatable or suited for dogs, such as corn and nuts (village dogs) or just empty plastic bags smelling of food. It must be very frustrating for them to smell so much food around, but never to have it offered and when they are so desperate as to steal it, they most likely pay with their lives. Because there are so many street dogs in Romania, the fight for survival is hard and it means the weak and the puppies almost never get to eat, unless they are very determined to live. I think their struggle and their will to live at all costs is caused by their perpetual hope in the good of the humanity; they are saving themselves for the day when they will be saved by someone. Their hearts are pure, but their bodies are often so broken and weak, it takes a long time to restore their health.
As a charity for dogs, along with ongoing spay and neuter campaigns to stop the birth of suffering puppies and kittens, we shelter 140 dogs and we also sustain other 50 dogs kept in the old public shelter (managed now by an older woman), meaning we have to feed about 200 dogs daily, apart from those in the woods around our town and for the weaker strays in town who are helped to survive the harsh winter. We might not be able to provide luxury conditions for these dogs, but for them, the sound of our car means they get to eat that day, they get to stay alive a day more, hoping that day might get them a loving home, after all. Our biggest fear is that we won’t be able to feed them one day and that our car will be empty and we would break our promise to them, that they will never have to go to sleep on an empty and painful stomach.
We rely on your kindness to keep that promise and to keep them healthy and fit until that very special family sees them. Thank you for your generosity!
