A first-hand account by Dana Costin, Founder of ROLDA

At ROLDA, we like to say that our volunteers are the heart of the charity. The passion, dedication and determination of our volunteers make such a difference that they help shape our future.

Small charities can be highly dependent on volunteers, especially when they cannot afford to pay salaries and hire staff for day-to-day activities. So, it is thanks to volunteers that the World is often transformed in amazing ways by small grassroots causes in the direction that we hope it will one day become.

Throughout my life, I have focused on ROLDA. But when emotionally compelling opportunities started appearing for me to volunteer with like-minded causes in Ukraine, I couldn’t resist. Looking back over the last three years, I might have changed a few things, but at the time, urgency was a priority, and so I made my choices based on my principles, judgment and followed my heart.

The first time I met Ruslan, he picked me up in an old, basic vehicle that had seen better days. What struck me most wasn’t the car—it was his incredible driving skills and his fearless passion for speed. What some might call dangerously fast driving, I quickly realized, was actually a survival skill that had kept him alive through three years of war. Ruslan lives in Kharkiv, a region that has been a hotspot of military action since the invasion began. While some Ukrainian residents in safer areas live relatively peacefully, Ruslan has chosen to remain in an area where death and destruction rain down constantly. Some territories in his region have been lost and regained; others remain under occupation. The permanent shelling and ground attacks have transformed entire cities and villages into mountains of ruins.

As most of the population fled abroad or to quieter areas in Ukraine, Ruslan and his team remained to save animals from depopulated zones or regions evacuated by the authorities. At some point, he also helped people who, until the very last moment, refused to abandon their homes and move only when invading ground troops were almost at their doorstep.

A few days ago, I met up with Ruslan again.  I wanted to volunteer again to help with the ongoing task of extracting animals from the war zone. And if I were returning close to battle zones under fire, where situations rapidly change, and exposure to bombs and bullets is a very real threat, I wouldn’t choose many people above Ruslan.

Each time I travel to Ukraine, I must prepare myself mentally. I want to be an asset, not a liability. While I hope to document the lifesaving work that ROLDA supporters make possible, I must prioritize the mission: find animals that need help, secure them, and make a safe, swift exit. Then repeat.

Explaining my trips to colleagues, supporters, friends, and family is always a delicate matter. They have my best interests at heart, and I understand their concerns. Each journey is emotional, upsetting, and undeniably a little dangerous. But I feel compelled to go—these animals have no one else.

For my recent trip, I drove a total of 2400 km from my town in Romania to where I met Ruslan in Kharkiv, with a little detour along the way. My detours were to deliver dry and canned food for dogs and cats in two different cities in the Northeastern Part of Ukraine, both near the frontline. Things quickly became very serious once I met Ruslan, and our mission took us as close as 5.5 km from the live shooting zone, where Russians were bombing a forest where they thought the Ukrainian army hid.

Not long ago, Kupiansk used to look like any other city in the Kharkiv region. Kupiansk was under Russian occupation for some time, but was later retaken by Ukrainian forces. As a result, most of the buildings are now in ruins, and the people who remain there lead exceptionally tough lives. I witnessed something again that I had learned on previous trips to Ukraine: the people who choose to live here now are fiercely tough and proud. It is a genuine honour to help those who dedicate and risk their lives to help the animals abandoned here. When they risk so much, I consider my volunteering the very least I can do to encourage and support them.

Before we arrived, bombs were shaking the ground from 8 am until 12 pm. And soon after we arrived, the warning alarms started, and we could hear the noise of bombs not very far into the forest, which we could then see beginning to burn. Watching Ruslan’s reactions was enough to gauge how close the danger was. He also used personal connections in the military that he had developed to help protect himself and his team and maximise the success of his higher-risk missions. It seems to me that he has become such a skilled specialist that he enjoys the adrenaline thrill from the risk and the reward of successful rescues. I believe he wouldn’t even now swap this self-carved role for a classic, well-paid, six-figure office career.

While visiting, I observed Ruslan giving instructions to new volunteers on how to handle animals. Now, I am not fluent in Russian or Ukrainian. So, I didn’t know exactly what he was discussing with his team, but his gestures reminded me of my own beginnings and how I trained the animal carers at the large ROLDA shelter to correctly enter and exit an enclosure without letting untrained, scared dogs escape when opening the door.

Ruslan’s organization had to move the shelter location because of the battlezone, and they have built new animal enclosures in their new location. I could see that the new shelter is a beautiful place for volunteers to spend time and be helpful for the cause they care about. However, strict rules are in place to ensure it runs smoothly, with correct safety instructions to keep staff and animals safe from dangers and also control diseases.

“Staying away from dangers” is somewhat idealistic in the present context in Ukraine right now; the day after I left Kharkiv, a massive attack with bombs, rockets and drones happened at night and very close to the shelter I had just left. Thankfully, no animals died. But the staff who were there told me it looked like a heavy rain was suddenly coming from the sky, shooting in all directions.

The t-shirt you might see me wearing in a picture or two was a gift from Irina, one of the first people ROLDA was helping when the war in Ukraine started. On the t-shirt back, you see the word for ‘Volunteer’ in Ukrainian: волонтер

After buying food for animals and visiting her rescue clinic, I went to meet some of the animals that Irina and her small team had rescued. Some are being brought in injured by the military, while the general public finds others.

I believe it is essential for our supporters to see the animals they help recover, of which the vast majority are doing well, and all are being well cared for.

When we got closer to the battlezone, Ruslan stopped the car and gave me a bulletproof vest to put on, but curiously, no helmet. Immediately, I noticed he wasn’t wearing a helmet or a vest. I told him he should at least take back the bulletproof vest he had given to me, since he was a lot more valuable and necessary than I am today. When he refused, I asked him, laughing, why I need a vest if our heads are not protected, especially since drones shoot from above. He replied very casually, “The head is tough”.

Wearing my t-shirt from Irina, I have a sensation, a kind of gut feeling, that the power of fighting for what you love somehow gives you a protective shield that helps you overcome obstacles; it makes you tough.

As I return from Ukraine, I feel a strong sense of fulfilment, purpose and determination. The people I met there, the incredible front-line animal heroes like Ruslan and Irina, are, in conjunction with ROLDA supporters, doing exceptionally important work. Lots of people like pets, but when war comes, they become low-priority, forgotten victims.

The pets of Ukraine have been largely forgotten, and many suffer unimaginably as a result. But I have once again experienced first-hand the life-saving difference that distant, caring animal lovers from around the world can make by donating to the ROLDA Rescue Team.

And I had the privilege to read in those little scared eyes of each animal he holds that there is an immense gratitude that pushes that man further every day, with no protection equipment, with “tough head” and a big heart for the cause he risks his life for over and over.

On a quiet road in Ukraine, a dog lay trembling in the dirt. Her leg was bent at an unnatural angle. She had likely been hit by a car. No collar, no identification, and no one nearby to help. Her name is Hanna, and her story is heartbreakingly common across Eastern Europe right now.

When we found Hanna, her femur was fractured. But thanks to emergency surgery and care funded by compassionate donors, she is now in a safe foster home. Hanna’s recovery is a small victory in comparison to the ongoing crisis of strays.

The sheer number of stray dogs and cats is unimaginable in Ukraine and next door in Romania. Economic hardship, limited access to affordable veterinary services and Russia’s war on Ukraine all contribute to the cycle of neglect and abandonment.

Many dogs are now born on the streets to mothers who have never known a home themselves. Other dogs were abandoned by owners who could no longer care for them or were forced to flee because of the war. At no fault of their own, highly domesticated dogs and cats across Ukraine and Romania have been left helpless to defend themselves.

With no one to look after them, these animals face unimaginable hardships. Intense injury and illness without veterinary care mean hundreds of animals lose their lives unnecessarily. Starvation and dehydration, especially during winter, add even more stress to their survival. Despite these silent killers, the stray population continues to grow due to unchecked breeding and a deficit of spay and neuter programs.

This is why stray neutering charities and active animal shelters are so essential right now. With the horrific conditions of the Ukrainian and Romanian stray populations, immediate action needs to be taken to help these animals. ROLDA and others like us are able to provide medical treatment and rehabilitation for animals in every situation. From abandoned house cats to dogs trapped in war zones, we know that every animal deserves a second chance at life. We help these animals off the streets to shelter, foster care and eventually adoption, where they can recover, physically and mentally, from all they have fought against.

Hanna’s journey from the streets of Ukraine to the safety of a foster home is just one small story in a much larger movement—a movement of hope, compassion, and action. The fight for animal welfare in Eastern Europe is far from over, but with every rescued dog, every successful adoption, every life saved, we move closer to a future where no animal is left behind.

Stray cats have the unique ability to make almost anywhere their home. They fight fiercely for their independence and maintain that typical standoffish cat behavior; but the harsh reality is that many would not survive without help. Every day, these resilient animals face overwhelming challenges – finding food to fill their rumbling stomachs, warding off illness without medical care, and searching for shelter from harsh elements. Their lives are a constant battle for survival.

Odin’s life was no different. At less than two years old, this poor little fur-baby had only ever known the harsh reality of life as a stray. For years, he had fought to survive, but an unexpected altercation with a group of stray dogs suddenly made his life flash before his eyes.

Odin was left barely alive. Horrific wounds covered his lower back; some gashes were so deep his bones were visible. Odin was at serious risk of developing a deadly infection if he stayed outside without medical care. Luckily, someone spotted him and called the rescue shelter in a panic, asking if we could help this critically injured cat.

We were shocked by the background story we heard. We knew we had to do everything possible to alleviate Odin’s suffering and hopefully save his life. We immediately sought veterinary attention for him, but the poor cat had been torn to shreds, and some of his injuries were too severe to simply be stitched closed. Large open wounds remained, making it essential to prevent infection through ongoing intensive medical care.

Since early April, Odin has been receiving dedicated medical care. Daily wound cleaning and specialized local treatments are preventing further complications.

As the days pass, we have the honour of watching Odin slowly regain both physical and emotional strength. We hope that in just a few more weeks, Odin will be close to feeling fully recovered, with the remaining scars simply hinting at the story of his extraordinary bravery.

For now, Odin needs to continue regaining his strength at our clinic. Soon after his recovery, we hope to find him what he truly deserves – a safe and loving home. Odin, and all others like him deserve the love and stability that only a forever family can provide.

We are occasionally asked what a no-kill shelter is. This story is a very recent example of a no-kill policy in action, to help explain how it works and why it is crucial.

One of our sister rescue shelters, the Great Catsby, has been caring for a beautiful little white female cat called Cris since late last year. Cris was rescued along with two of her sisters from a yard in Tulcea. They had become homeless when their owner passed away, leaving them with no one to care for them.

Cris and her sisters when first rescued

Cris and her sisters were given the usual checks and treatments, and it was not long, probably because of their young age and striking white coats, before two were adopted. Cris waited patiently for her loving new home, but soon into the New Year, her foster carer reached out in dismay. Cris had turned yellow (developed jaundice), was extremely lethargic, and had lost her appetite. She was in a serious condition.

Cris was rushed to a vet in Tulcea, but they were unable to collect blood for testing, and so, assuming it was a liver issue, they started her immediately on liver medication.

One week later, Cris’s condition had worsened. She was in a terrible condition by now, and so was rushed to Top Care Vet in Bucharest for specialist care. They found her blood itself to be visibly yellow. Tests revealed, however, that liver failure was not the issue. Severe anemia was caused by hemolysis.

She was critically underweight, too, less than 2 kg at 7– 8 months old.

Marik is a blind, stray dog in Ukraine. As such, his chances of surviving long were tiny. Life can be tough for anyone who is blind. Let alone a stray dog.

Marik would not have lasted long, given the increased competition for scarce food and water as a stray and the added risk of being in an active war zone.

Yet soldiers posted in the city of Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine found Marik, recognised his condition, and fed and cared for him. Marik is a loving, fun young dog, and the soldiers shared Marik’s care amongst themselves.

These soldiers are actively fighting a war and are dedicated to saving their country from invading Russians. Always on high alert and living in fear for their own lives. Yet these soldiers still found the love and compassion to care for a blind, stray dog.

After some time, the soldiers were redeployed to another location. However, they could not leave Marik alone as they left. They took him to Irina, who runs the animal rescue shelter in Zaporizhzhia. He is safe there now; he lives there because his condition makes it too hard to adopt him out.

Soldiers made a video about Marik asking Irina to care for him

Once the soldiers had formed a bond with Irina, they visited regularly with stray pets they had rescued from the front line. Dogs and cats who would almost certainly die if left to roam in the centre of conflict.

And this, in a nutshell, is a shining example of who Ukraine soldiers are. They are not career soldiers like the invading Russians. They could not be more different. Ukrainian soldiers are defending the country, the people and the animals that they love.

Recently, the soldier who took Marik to Irina’s shelter more than two years ago returned to the area. And so he made time to visit Marik and see how he is. The people of Ukraine are desperate for their lives to return to normal. Desperate for the war to end. Desperate to be able to love their dogs and cats once again.

Sterilization programs are one of the surest, most efficient ways of managing strays in the long term. As the number of homeless animals continues to rise, the challenge of protecting them becomes even more urgent. But, finding time to sterilize is still a priority. Winnie was a stray, taken to be sterilized at ROLDA partner shelter ‘The Great Catsby’, from a small village in Tulcea, Romania.

At first glance, we assumed little Winnie was a kitten, no older than a few months. But after a closer inspection, we were shocked to discover that she wasn’t a kitten at all. This poor fur baby was a malnourished elderly cat, likely between 10 and 12 years old.

Winnie was incredibly frightened at the beginning after a lifetime of fighting for survival on the streets. Her fragile body was under so much strain, and while examining her, we began to discover an alarming variety of health problems.

The first concern we noticed was an aggressive abscess under her left eye. We immediately provided the necessary treatment, but this was just the beginning of Winnie’s troubles. We knew she was too sick to go back to the streets, where she wouldn’t stand a chance.

While Winnie was in care, we noticed that she had started to show very worrying neurological symptoms. Winnie frequently lost her balance, became disoriented, and struggled greatly to stand, often collapsing onto her side.

We quickly arranged an emergency appointment for Winnie with a vet in Bucharest, where she underwent a series of neurological exams and tests. The results revealed an infection in her left ear, which we hope is the cause of her balance issues. Additionally, Winnie was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. As she receives treatment for these conditions, we are hopeful her health will begin to improve.

But that is not all; Winnie also has some serious dental problems and will need multiple teeth extractions. However, this procedure can only be done once she fully recovers, as we don’t want to add any additional strain to her already fragile body.

We’re optimistic that the current treatment will help her get back on her feet. If not, we will take further steps to investigate her neurological symptoms, including a CT scan or MRI.

Winnie is a prime example of the hardships faced by stray cats. Her health issues were caused and worsened by years of living on the streets. Exposure to harsh weather, a lack of food, and no shelter have all taken their toll on her underdeveloped body.

At ROLDA, we aim to offer these vulnerable animals the medical care, love, and shelter they desperately need, giving them a chance at a better life. With your support, we can continue our efforts and ensure more animals like Winnie receive the care they deserve.

She may never walk properly again.

But if that’s the case, we will know we tried everything possible to help her first.

Only a few seconds of bad luck means Ada faces the harsh possibility of never being able to walk again. More frequently than ever, we help dogs hit by cars. Some sustain only minor injuries, while some will live the rest of their lives disabled.

This is Ada’s story.

Ada was hit at a high speed early in the morning. She crawled to shelter at a nearby petrol station, waiting in immense pain for someone to help her. Inessa, one of our incredibly dedicated volunteers, heard about the injured dog and rushed to assist.

Ada was taken to a specialist veterinary clinic, where a thorough examination revealed heartbreaking news: Ada had multiple dislocations and fractures in both her front and hind legs. Several deep wounds and gashes across her body further intensified her immediate pain. Thinking long-term, we were unsure if she would ever walk again.

Surgical plates for her paws were quickly ordered, and Ada underwent immediate emergency surgery. The surgery went well.

Although she is just beginning her new life, Ada knows from the love and care she now receives from her foster carers and veterinary team that she will be okay. Although she’s still unsure and wobbly on her feet, her joy and excitement about her ability to move around are constant, and her energy and enthusiasm suggest she will keep progressing. She’s clearly in it for the win, which is why ROLDA is so happy to have caring supporters who ensure Ada and dogs like her get the care they need when they need it.

Every day counts for Ada and other injured animals. No animal deserves to be left suffering in pain just because it is not someone’s pet. You only need to meet a wonderful dog like Ada to understand how true and important this philosophy is.

Sadly, it is not uncommon for animals to face human cruelty and brutality. It is unimaginable how heartless people can be. ROLDA has helped so many animals with horrible pasts. We have helped cats thrown from windows and dogs chained outside in the cold, hungry for days on end. We have helped abused animals kicked or hit until they are scared of everyone.

But something especially heartbreaking is when a stray is hit by a car and just left for dead. It’s as if some people have absolutely no compassion at all. This is Knopas’ story.

Knopa, a small caramel-coloured stray dog, was popular in her hometown. Caring locals often threw her scraps as they passed, and several became fond of her. This was the only human kindness Knopa received as a stray dog living alone on the streets.

One of these locals came looking for our help when Knopa was crippled by human cruelty. Knopa had been found on the side of the road. She was in an awful state and seemed unable to even stand on her hind legs.

Knopa had been hit by a car. They did not stop to help, as any semi-decent person would. The driver sped off, abandoning the tiny dog they had just hit with a vehicle hundreds of times her size. How could anyone be so heartless?

We immediately took Knopa into our care when we heard about the situation. We rushed her to a vet for examination, but they were unable to determine why Knopa could no longer walk. Her legs appeared fine, with no fractures or obvious problems. Finally, after an MRI, we discovered the true cause.

A large hernia has taken over several of Knopas’s vertebrae. She will need immediate surgery to save her life. The operation will be very costly, but with the look in Knopas’s eyes, we know we cannot let her down. We are a no-kill shelter for good reason. Every life matters. We will find a way.

The surgery is scheduled imminently, and hopefully, everything will go well. No dog should have to live like Knopa, alone on the streets of Ukraine fending for themselves.

Knopa has been betrayed before, but we will not let it happen again. She will live the rest of her life warm and safe, but most importantly, she will be surrounded by love.

Romania is home to over a million stray animals. While many locals do their best to care for the strays in their neighbourhoods—especially the smallest and most vulnerable—not every animal is lucky enough to find kindness.

Lew, a tiny kitten just three or four months old, was one of the fortunate ones.
Despite her playful spirit and friendly nature, an elderly man who lived nearby realised something wasn’t quite right with her…

Life for a stray kitten is difficult at best. There is a constant daily struggle to find food, water, and shelter, to avoid danger from other animals, and to navigate busy roads. But for Lew, it was even more challenging. At just a few months old, she was facing life not just completely alone—she was also almost entirely blind.

The herpes virus — sadly a common illness among stray cats — had taken a devastating toll on Lew at only a few months old. Like so many others, she lost her sight, making her extremely vulnerable. We don’t know how long she had been struggling with impaired vision before she was rescued, but one thing is certain: if she had been left to fend for herself much longer, she likely wouldn’t have survived.

Luckily for Lew, a kind-hearted man didn’t hesitate to help. He rescued her from the streets, doing everything he could to keep her safe. For several days, Lew lived in his car, where he fed her and cared for her, hoping she would recover. But as time passed, it became clear just how sick she really was. That’s when he reached out for our help.

We took Lew to the vet, hoping that with treatment, she might be able to keep her eyes and regain a little of her sight. She was treated for the infection both locally and systemically, but tragically, her condition would not improve.

Despite all odds, Lew’s happy nature has not been affected despite her loss of sight. Right now, she’s receiving her vaccinations, and although she must stay in isolation, she is still one of the most enthusiastic kittens at the sanctuary. She spends her days chasing toys and soaking up the love and attention of volunteers. She’s gaining weight quickly, and her overall health is improving.

However, her journey isn’t over yet. Unfortunately, her treatment hasn’t helped as much as we had hoped.

Although the virus has caused blindness in both of Lew’s eyes, her left eye is at a much higher risk of infection and inflammation. Keeping it would be too dangerous, and we have been left with no choice but to remove it for her safety.

Soon, despite her permanent loss of vision, this playful kitten will join the happy cats at The Great Catsby. She will be surrounded by newfound friends in a shelter supported by ROLDA. She will finally have the future she deserves—a life full of warmth, safety and love.