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How Sponsoring a Shelter Dog Can Change a Life Before Adoption
Adopting a shelter dog is the most beautiful act of kindness people could ever do in their lives. It is a gesture in which they take in a soul that was once abandoned and give it a home and a purpose. And then, they get to watch it thrive, and their lives grow richer and ... Blog
Not the story people expect: inside a front line evacuation in Ukraine
By Dana Costin, founder of ROLDA I’ve just returned from another journey into eastern Ukraine, near the Donbas front line, an area where the war never really recedes, it only pauses. When people imagine animal evacuations in a war zone, they often picture urgency and spectacle: shattered buildings, animals pulled from debris, vans racing against ... Not the story people expect: inside a front line evacuation in Ukraine
How donations transform the lives of shelter animals
Long ago, in a past we would prefer to forget, abandoned animals in Romania only had two options: endure a bleak life of abuse and starvation on the streets or face certain death in public shelters. Some may think we are being too harsh by highlighting just these two categories, but we are actually omitting ... How donations transform the lives of shelter animals
10 Things to Know Before Bringing Home a Rescue Dog
You have selected your rescue dog, and your rescue dog has selected you! Congratulations! You’re about to begin a wonderful journey that should go smoothly, allowing you to enjoy your new life together from the start. The key to a successful transition for your dog—and, by extension, for your new life together—is to carefully plan ... 10 Things to Know Before Bringing Home a Rescue Dog
Canine Case Note: Advanced Rickets, Skin Inflammation & Nutritional Deficiency
Aria appeared as a stray in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, a town in northeastern Romania, in very poor physical condition. She was first noticed by a young local woman, who, having no means to take her in, walked from gate to gate carrying her and asking neighbours whether anyone could offer temporary shelter. The case was escalated ... Canine Case Note: Advanced Rickets, Skin Inflammation & Nutritional Deficiency
Left Behind: Pusha’s Long Road Back
They stopped the car, opened the door, and drove away. Pusha stood on the road watching them go, quizzical. He had been a household pet. He had known warmth, familiar smells, the sound of people he trusted. In a single moment, all of that was taken away. He was most likely left behind because caring for ... Left Behind: Pusha’s Long Road Back
Teddy’s Second Chance
Teddy’s story began on the streets of Romania, where he and his brother Toby were found trying to survive alone. They were still puppies, vulnerable and all alone, struggling to learn how to navigate the world with very little protection. When they arrived in our care, it quickly became clear that Teddy needed urgent medical ... Teddy’s Second Chance
4 Kilometres of Kindness
Abandoned, drowned or left to starve. Too often, this is the fate of old dogs who are no longer wanted. The man who brought these two elderly girls to us believed he was doing the right thing by trekking four kilometres with them to our shelter. They are now in our care. Vaccinated first and ... 4 Kilometres of Kindness
Tiny Courageous: How One Puppy’s Courage Should Inspire Us All
Each day brings new challenges, and each day, hope rises as another innocent life is given a second chance. Some stories, though, touch our hearts more deeply than others. When one of our ROLDA Rescue Heroes received an urgent call, it was about a tiny soul fighting to survive in the shadows of Bethlehem, unnoticed ... Tiny Courageous: How One Puppy’s Courage Should Inspire Us All
Alfie – Waiting For Kindness
This is Alfie. This is what it looks like to be born into life as an unwanted stray. From birth, this small black kitten sat on the streets of Tulcea, cold, hurting, and unnoticed. His eyes had, at some point, been so badly damaged that he could no longer see. So, this kitten, blind to the ... Alfie – Waiting For Kindness
Alya – Ten Years, no Loyalty
The small terrier sat where her family had left her, waiting for them to come back. She didn’t understand why they’d walked away. She couldn’t comprehend that at ten years old, with tumors growing on her belly, she was now considered disposable. How long did Alya wait before she realized they weren’t returning? In Ukraine, ... Alya – Ten Years, no Loyalty
When No Space Means No Choice: A Rescuer’s Impossible Decision
Story from a small animal rescue in Targu Frumos that ROLDA supports The call came about a mother dog and her puppies. “Take them, we don’t want them”. The rescuer’s answer was honest: “I can’t help. I’m completely full. I have no space.” But honesty doesn’t always end the conversation. The calls kept coming, every ... When No Space Means No Choice: A Rescuer’s Impossible Decision
The Things We Carry: Brownie’s Journey from the Streets to Safety
Story is from The Great Catsby – A ROLDA-funded local cat rescue partner The woman who reached out to us didn’t know what else to do. For weeks, she had been watching them. A small brown cat and her two tiny kittens were surviving in the grubby, desolate gap between apartment buildings, where no one ... The Things We Carry: Brownie’s Journey from the Streets to Safety
Coins of kindness
Do you have any leftover currency from your holidays? We would love it if you donated it to ROLDA USA. We have partnered with Global Coin Solutions, who turn the currency you no longer need into $$$ to help us rescue and rehome dogs from Romania & war-torn Ukraine. Drawers or Jam jars filled with ... Coins of kindness
Maddy’s Trip to ROLDA shelters
Getting on a plane and driving across a country could feel like an arduous task at hand but given the bigger picture at play, I knew this was going to be a special one. Last week, I flew out to meet the dogs and cats at our shelter in Galati, Romania and was truly touched ... Maddy’s Trip to ROLDA shelters
The Invisible Killer
When the young dog arrived at a ROLDA Rescue Team Ukraine shelter, she wasn’t bleeding. There were no obvious wounds, no visible signs of trauma that would make someone stop and say, “This animal needs urgent help.” But our experienced veterinary team knew better. She was lethargic, her eyes dull with exhaustion. Her body was ... The Invisible Killer
Mira’s Fight for a Second Chance
The shack was barely standing—four broken walls and a collapsing roof on the outskirts of Tulcea. Inside, curled into the darkest corner, was Mira. A tourist passing through spotted movement in the ruins and knew immediately something was wrong. They contacted a local man, who didn’t hesitate to reach out to our partners at The ... Mira’s Fight for a Second Chance
Dezzi and Delia: A Heartwarming Friendship
My name is Delia. I manage fundraising and awareness campaigns for ROLDA. Today, I want to take a moment to share the story of my sweet Dezzi… Dezzi (originally Daisy) is 8 years old. I adopted her in 2021 from a woman who was keeping 18 animals in a small apartment before leaving for Italy. When I first ... Dezzi and Delia: A Heartwarming Friendship
Mica’s Tough Discovery
One of the most recent cases we have been asked to help with is Mica, a little cat whose life has sadly taken a sudden and brutal turn. The woman who contacted us had often seen Mica wandering near her apartment block. The woman noticed Mica’s belly beginning to swell and grow steadily larger for ... Mica’s Tough Discovery
Learning from the Podcast: Dana Costin Asks the Questions
From discussing abandoned dog rescues to sharing lessons through football, Dana Costin guides the conversation with the podcast host, highlighting empathy, dedication, and the power of small actions to make a difference. 1. What is your first memory of an animal? My first memory is of a half-breed dog named Suru. He was a big ... Learning from the Podcast: Dana Costin Asks the Questions
A Second Chance for Two Mothers in Need
Not long ago, we received a message from a man in Brăila asking for our help. Not one, but two new mother dogs and their puppies were living in terrible conditions, stray, alone and barely surviving. He felt they were likely to start dying soon if left in their current circumstances. We were all immediately ... A Second Chance for Two Mothers in Need
The most beloved fur-grandchild
Joker, a stray Romanian dog, had stumbled across the building of his dreams. Taking up solo residence in the courtyard of an old multi-story apartment block, Joker was quickly doted upon by several elderly ladies. All at age seventy-five or above, these sweet women collectively and informally took Joker into their care, looking after the ... The most beloved fur-grandchild
Styopa (Stephen)’s Crown
Styopa’s eye could not be saved Meet Styopa, whose name means “crown” — and he’s proven himself worthy of it. When a car struck Styopa, the impact was devastating. Frightened, injured, and losing his eye, he tumbled into a nearby hole where most would have given up hope. But despite not being able to jump ... Styopa (Stephen)’s Crown
Barsik’s Breakthrough: When Love Straightens What Pain Has Twisted
Barsik’s head was painfully locked to one side Picture a cat unable to look straight ahead — whose world had become permanently tilted to one side. This was how animal rescuer Lyudmila first encountered the stray cat Barsik on the streets of Ukraine, and the sight broke her heart. Barsik’s head was locked in an ... Barsik’s Breakthrough: When Love Straightens What Pain Has Twisted
When Survival is a Daily Battle: Xena’s Story
In the shadows of an old Romanian churchyard, a tiny cat barely out of kittenhood was fighting for her life—and the lives of her unborn babies. At just one year old, Xena was far too young to be facing motherhood, but the harsh reality of street life doesn’t wait for cats to be ready. An ... When Survival is a Daily Battle: Xena’s Story
