Compassionate Impact Report: Dana’s Journey to Ukraine, October 2024, capturing the sights, sounds, and stories of resilience.
With a heart full of dedication and compassion, Dana Costin, CEO of ROLDA, embarked on a five-day mission to Ukraine in October 2024 travelling to the Kharkiv region, where she provided crucial support for animal rescue operations near the front lines. With a van packed with food and other necessities, she spent two days driving ... Blog
Stranded: Bridge’s encounter with the ROLDA Rescue Team
BOOM. A terrified dog huddles in the shadows, watching and hearing Russian missiles explode around him. BOOM. Our terrified dog hears people shouting and screaming as flames fill his surroundings and dark shadows flee for safety all around. BOOM. Our terrified dog turns to run as the foundation of his home, just meters away, is ... Blog
The blind kitten who chooses love
Thousands of stray cats live on the streets of Romania. No love or joy for them. Survival is all they can afford to think about. Street dogs chase them for the tiniest scrap of food found in the gutter. Toxic, bacteria-filled environments and harsh weather conditions cause disease and sickness to threaten their fragile bodies. ... Blog
Why Families with Children Should adopt a Shelter Dog
Families, especially those with children, can find immense satisfaction and happiness by deciding to adopt a dog from a shelter. By bringing home a shelter dog, families not only provide a loving home but also give children a special chance to learn compassion, responsibility, and more. Families with children can experience many benefits by adopting ... Blog
Toxic Plants that Can Harm Your Dog
When we imagine happy dogs at play, we often picture them outdoors feeling the softness of the grass beneath their paws, their noses twitching as they take in the scent of every flower. It’s a heartwarming sight, observing them in their blissful state—until their attention turns to devouring a plant or exhibiting an excessive fascination ... Blog
Latest blog posts
Dealing with Common Canine Health Issues: Prevention and Treatment
While owning a dog brings immense joy and love, it’s crucial to recognise the responsibility that comes with ensuring their health and well-being. As much as we hate to imagine it, our furry companions are susceptible to health problems and accidents as they age, just like humans. Taking the steps of providing proper care, practicing ... Dealing with Common Canine Health Issues: Prevention and Treatment
Ensuring a Safe Home: Practical Dog-Proofing Tips for New Pet Owners
The anticipation of bringing home a new dog creates a palpable sense of excitement. You’re likely picturing all the delightful moments in store, such as your pup relaxing on the comfortable couch or joyfully exploring the vibrant yard. It is essential to make your home safe and comfortable for your new pet. Prior to the ... Ensuring a Safe Home: Practical Dog-Proofing Tips for New Pet Owners
How to Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated with Toys
Dogs, much like humans, can feel bored with the repetitive daily routine. While routines are important for keeping things organised, it’s worth considering how this influences your dog’s sense of stability and predictability. A predictable environment is beneficial for dogs, but an excess of monotony can induce boredom and a sense of restlessness. Dogs, being ... How to Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated with Toys
The Devastating Floods in Galați County, Romania
As the floods struck Galați County in the dead of night, terrified residents scrambled to find safety, seeking refuge in attics or scrambling to higher ground in a desperate bid for survival. Tragically, the floods claimed seven lives and reduced countless homes to rubble, leaving the affected with nothing in a mere moment. International news ... The Devastating Floods in Galați County, Romania
Guidelines for Maintaining Canine Health through Nutrition
Once a dog becomes a part of your life, feeding them may appear straightforward—simply offer food twice daily, in moderate amounts. To ensure the well-being and extended lifespan of your dog, there are other aspects to take into consideration apart from merely feeding them.
The Little Coin That Continues to #GiveHope
A few days ago, I returned from another trip to the Ukraine. As you read this, please understand that this isn't a corporate report filled with numbers and statistics (though we can provide those), but something written from the heart—my heart.
APRIL 2024 Ukraine Crisis update
Fundraising with one eye smiling and one eye crying An honest, raw and emotional update from ROLDA Founder Dana Costin The war’s horror bled across borders, and as ROLDA stood witness to this unfathomable suffering, like many shocked others, we dashed to offer hope amidst the chaos. We share our soil with Ukraine – they ... APRIL 2024 Ukraine Crisis update
ROLDA Founder trip to Ukraine August 2023
I got two NP’s during my trip to Ukraine. Can you guess which one I took back with me home? There are a few reasons why I decided to visit Ukraine: I got the feeling that our international supporters were getting bored with this subject, sometimes get skeptical, and many living in West Europe are ... ROLDA Founder trip to Ukraine August 2023
ROLDA President’s Message May 2023
ROLDA Sverige was founded in 2014 by Lisa, and a group of volunteers dedicated to helping homeless animals live better. The main goals of this association are to help ROLDA Romania: fundraise to keep our shelters functional and rehome dogs from our shelters in Sweden.
The history of ROLDA large shelter read details
In 2004, ROLDA became aware of a horror scenario unfolding on our doorstep. A local steel mill, owned by one of Britain’s and the world’s richest men, Lakshmi Mittal, had become an involuntary home to countless stray dogs desperately seeking shelter and food.
I survived these mighty mites!
Alien survived a horrible infestation of fleas and ticks. Today, he is living at our ROLDA sanctuary happily waiting to be adopted. Alien was found by ROLDA rescuers in early spring, already completely covered with fleas and ticks.
ROLDA in Caracal
My name is Dana and I live in Caracal, Olt county. For many years, I save cats and I consider that the first step to stop the abandons is to spay/neuter cats. I contacted ROLDA who helped me already cover a large number of sterilizations for cats from Caracal town.
ROLDA in Tulcea
Starting in September 2021, ROLDA expanded its support to the nearby county, Tulcea. Danube river separates Galati and Tulcea counties (10 minutes by boat, which was the only connection between these two counties before the bridge was built).
ROLDA helps poor communities pets to live with dignity
The law says: Pet Dogs in Romania must be sterilized and microchipped. Dogs that belong to people must be sterilized, microchipped and registered in a National Registry (database) of dogs owners called RECS. This is a general rule that became effective in 2016.
President message 2021
You may guess I would begin with a story about a dog. However, this time I want to write about you because no matter how desperate I am to save dogs in need in Romania, no matter how this consumes me every day, this is not everything that makes me who I am. I want to improve and avoid mistakes. Sometimes I struggle to communicate and may not rise to your expectations.
The last letter from a stray to his human companion
I write this letter because it’s important that this dog story be told. I don’t intend to make you sad, but if you read the letter until the end, you will agree with me that we still can save the dog's World and reshape the future of many who still have a chance and for whom it’s not yet too later.
1 minute, time of a whole life
If I will take only 1 minute from your time, I would quickly tell you that ROLDA continues to need you to transform the lives of abused and neglected dogs in a country with 2.5 million strays. Because every minute in Romania a dog is hit by a car and suffer until he passes away, alone. When you will finish reading the whole message, 1 more will be gone in dogs Heaven, either from under a truck wheel or from a horrible dog pound.
Speak Toto language!
A few years ago, a child was killed by dogs in Romania. Media presented this subject but solutions were searched only during the time this subject was hot. We, at ROLDA, consider that animals and people can live in harmony, but rules must be respected, on both sides. Romania, and especially the rural part of the country, lack education and this affect both animals and people.
President message 2020
The modern human prefers to speak alone on a phone that has a mechanic job to convert accurately sounds into words, when not very many years ago, people were hand-writing letters to each other as a sign of appreciation.
ROLDA’S 15-year anniversary
When ROLDA started, I never imagined how we would be 15 years later, or how fast the years would pass. Together with my team, we were always busy with what happened TODAY, with rescuing and other struggles. We got used to authorities not helping us (sometimes contrarily), and we also got used to our community’s indifference to our work.
Ben – ROLDAs First Rescue Donkey
For 12 long years, Ben the Donkey was passed from abusive owner to abusive owner. Not one of them cared for Ben. They couldn’t even bother to stroke his ears or pet his nose. To these ignorant owners, Ben was just a working animal to be exploited for profit.
Aging horse asks for a peaceful end
My name is Big Bang. I believe people mean well. As difficult as my life is, theirs is just as difficult. I was born on a farm in Romania, and I was expected, as everyone in a low-income community is, to work hard. And the work I have. Now, however, I am old.
Horses in Romania exploited, then slaughtered
Most horses in Romania are used for intense labor and transport, especially in rural communities. There are an estimated one million “working horses” in Romania. Years ago, the European Union clearly demanded that all horses must be identified and registered, but thousands of horses are never registered so they can be sold for their meat—which is illegal in Romania.
Yelp you can’t ignore. Double donation (fall period)
It is the very early morning of the first sterilization day in Smardan, the veterinary clinic and its garden are full of people and their pets waiting – when Paula, our volunteer, rushed in yelping. That day, the ROLDA family grew with 2 more members: Two dirty fur balls; two pairs of innocent eyes that couldn’t open completely because of the abundance of ticks, trying to observe curiously or with precaution all our moves.