Until the moment I started working with ROLDA, I didn’t think that the animals on the street live such a hard life and can be subject to some unbelievable abuses. Gradually, I started to know the dogs, their rescue stories and how they got into the ROLDA shelter. I appreciate all the efforts that Dana makes and the devotion she has, not many people would do this for some animals on the street. I’m glad I can help, even if my help is insignificant for their needs, I just hope it matters at least a little! Little by little it becomes much!

I have always been an enormous animal lover, dogs being my absolute favorite animal of all. I have three gorgeous rescue dogs, one of which I adopted from ROLDA in 2012. I was so bowled over by the fantastic rescue that Dana had built up from literally nothing. I followed the rescue over the years, feeling frustrated that I couldn’t do more to help them.
My ROLDA rescue, Mia is such an amazing girl, I couldn’t bare to think of other dogs like her suffering on the streets. I saw a post on Facebook from Dana one day asking for volunteers and jumped at the chance to get involved. I started off just helping with the inbox, sending thank you emails and answering inquiries. Then this year I became ROLDA’s adoption coordinator for the UK. The role is so rewarding, I get to help find loving forever homes for dogs who have had the most awful start in life. Once a dog is adopted that also frees space at the rescue for another dog to be saved from the streets. The ROLDA team are so caring, I’ve had so much support and help in learning the role from the UK manager Gemma. I now feel part of an amazing team that’s doing something really special. I would highly recommend volunteering, even if you only have an hour a week to spare, you could be helping to do something really incredible.

Working with ROLDA has been a really great experience. I love working with others who are so passionate about saving the lives of animals, and it’s very clear, in everything they do, that ROLDA puts the needs of the animals ahead of anything else. Through my work with ROLDA I’ve been given the opportunity to learn about the difference ROLDA is making in the lives of the stray dogs on the streets of Romania. It’s also given me a chance to share their story, and the stories of the dogs who are rescued, with animal lovers throughout the United States. I hope to work and volunteer with ROLDA for years to come, as I believe in their mission and the love they have for the dogs they rescue. A dream of mine is to visit the rescue one day, to not only meet some of the rescued dogs, but to also meet Dana, the human behind the mission. Dana is a force to be reckon with and I can confidently say her work is making a huge difference in her community, and throughout the world. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with such compassionate people!

My name is Anja, I live close to Hamburg. How did I come to join this project? First of all I met Sabine last year via Twitter. We got along great from minute 1…when I met Tofu (the sweetest rascal I’ve ever seen) I fell in love the second I saw him. Sabine and I talked a lot about Romanian stray dogs and I got to know a lot about how terrible the situation in Romania is for these animals. When Sabine told me she is going to be the head of the German operation I warmed up to the idea to help too. Muffin (Sabine’s second adopted dog) helped in making the decision to join this awesome project, because you have to know Muffin is just as cute and lovable as Tofu is. You can say I found one of my life tasks in the ROLDA organization.

2013 November 21 is a date we will never forget : It’s the day where our little “Pantera” passed away; she reached almost 16 years and had suffered from Diabetes. But November 21 is also a positive date, where Greta and Panduta arrived in Switzerland, thanks to the efforts of Lolita Morena and her friends.You, the staff, the volunteer’s and supporters of ROLDA are doing a great job. Hopefully we can contribute a little bit by spreading the word.

Dana is working relentlessly towards creating an amazing charity to help and protect animals. I have been working with her for the last 6 months and have found her to be totally honest and have high integrity.

ROLDA was founded by Dana Costin. She has put together an international team of volunteers and staff that are almost all women. I believe Dana herself is an inspiration for the young women and girls who work with her, and know of her work in Romania. I myself am impressed by her perseverance, her passion, and the devotion she demonstrates to her many projects. She is determined to make her community, and her country, more compassionate through education and animal rescue projects. It has become almost a cliché, but it still warrants repeating. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way it treats its animals”. Now Dana is not Gandhi! However, she and her team will drag the Romanian masses forward with a force hard to be described in simple words.