Seth lay in one spot unable to stand; the vet determined if Seth can walk again. Our veterinarian has informed us that he needs until next Wednesday to properly diagnose Seth’s condition in order to determine what type of surgery, treatment, and rehabilitation he will need.

Initial x-rays were inconclusive because Seth had not evacuated all his feces, but the second x-rays showed that there are no visible anomalies in his spine—which is great news. However, the vet still needs to run more tests to determine what underlying complication has paralyzed Seth. Right now, Seth can only stand on his four legs for just 5 seconds. He is wagging his tail though! Hopefully, this is a good sign for Seth.

This poor, tiny dog—who we estimate to be around 6 years old—was found out in the freezing cold, unable to stand and curling up to keep warm. His body shivered violently from the cold and the snow he laid on for hours…probably a day or two.

We don’t know for sure how he ended up in this field, but it’s most likely he was abandoned (given that he looked healthy aside from his paralysis) or walked to this spot after realizing something was wrong with him until he finally couldn’t move. We feel so fortunate to have found Seth, especially in this weather. Had he been outside like this a few days ago when the temperatures reached a low of -24C, Seth would not have survived.

We get emotional just imagining Seth spending a few minutes all alone, unable to move, feeling so helpless and desperate, barking endlessly for someone to hear his cries and come save him. But he’s here with us now, and while we patiently wait for his diagnosis, we are confident that Seth has a wonderful future ahead of him.

Please make a donation today to show Seth your support. As he waits in the clinic, we want him to feel that he has many kind people cheering for him to get well soon.

Thank you for your kindness and compassion.

6 puppies were left outside in the bitter cold to die. It’s utterly shameful, disappointing, and inconsiderate when someone doesn’t have the decency to let us know they are leaving 6 unwanted puppies outside our gates. This is a cowardly act from someone who has no regard for innocent life. Now, one puppy is dead from hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation.

The surviving 5 siblings huddled together in the cold, wet box to keep from freezing to death like their brother who lay lifeless next to them.

Can you imagine being left in a tiny box with your siblings out in the freezing cold without food or water? All of you are crying because your body starts to go numb and you grow increasingly anxious and desperate to try and keep warm. And then… your brother drops dead next to you.

You can’t even mourn him because you are paralyzed by the cold and the fear that you could be next. All you can do is bark, whimper, and cry with the hope that someone will rescue you before the harsh cold of winter consumes you too.

When we finally heard their cries and ran to them, I looked into their sad eyes, and I could feel each one of them speaking to me, all saying the same thing:

We are heartbroken that one puppy didn’t get a chance to be saved, but we are grateful for the 5 surviving souls who are now safely under our care. This is a tragedy that could’ve easily been avoided. If the person or persons, who left these puppies outside our shelters in a tiny box with a few measly straws thought they were doing the right thing, they are sadly mistaken.

But, it doesn’t help to dwell on the past. All we can do now is to remind others that if they have puppies, dogs, or any other pets or animals they don’t want, they can contact us directly. Leaving them nearby is not being responsible. Our sanctuary covers a large area, and we are a small group of staff and volunteers.

If you can make a donation today, that would be so inspiring. But if you can’t, we understand. You’ve helped us so much already and we couldn’t be more grateful.

What is dirofilaria immitis? How can ROLDA prevent and treat this fatal disease? Dirofilaria Immitis, or heartworm disease, is a serious and potentially fatal disease in domestic pets, wild animals, and humans. It’s caused by foot-long parasitic roundworms that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels which cause severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs. The disease is so widespread because it’s easily transmitted by mosquitoes.

Our ROLDA sanctuaries are surrounded by forest, agricultural land, and the Danube and Siret rivers, making it a favorable habitat for mosquitoes to thrive. The area is also home to hundreds of wild animals and stray dogs—all potential carriers of Dirofilaria.

Safety is the top priority at ROLDA. Every spring, we take preventative measures to protect our dogs from heartworm disease, including the use of a Mosquito Magnet which we were able to purchase last year thanks to the generous contributions we received from our supporters.

However, because the ROLDA sanctuary covers a large area, one machine cannot provide protection to feel secure. So, this year we are raising funds to purchase another Mosquito Magnet, and if you would like to contribute, you can do so here.

Help protect our dogs!

Any amount matters! With your help, we can ensure the safety of our dogs from Dirofilaria Immitis.

But even these machines cannot guarantee complete protection, especially against the vast mosquito populations in heavily wooded areas.

Thanks to our supporters, our dogs receive Advantix and Heartguard to protect them against heartworm during the warm seasons, but that still leaves thousands of stray dogs around our sanctuary unprotected and at high risk of contracting heartworm.

Meet Ken

Ken survived for days with a metal can stuck in his mouth. He was terrified, breathing with difficulty, extremely dehydrated and extremely skinny when he was saved by our ROLDA team.
It was a miracle he survived the anesthesia needed to safely remove the metal can from his mouth.
After the surgery, Ken continued breathing problems and our medical team couldn’t find the cause. Three days later, it was discovered that sadly, Ken has Dirofilaria.

Melarsomine (Immiticide) is the heartworm treatment drug with the least side effects, but, unfortunately, Ken is too weak to survive this treatment.

The vets have suggested a treatment using a combination of drugs for a minimum of 18 months, knowing that heartworms do not begin to die until 18 months of treatment have elapsed. This is the best chance Ken has to survive this fatal disease.

Help Ken and protect others from becoming like him

Thanks to our supporters, our dogs receive Advantix and Heartguard to protect them against heartworm during the warm seasons, but that still leaves thousands of stray dogs around our sanctuary unprotected and at high risk of contracting heartworm.

What is the connection between 41, 1 and 6?

A donation of €41 can protect 1 dog for a period of 6 months against this deadly disease.

The 6-month heartworm prevention treatment for all 650 dogs at our ROLDA sanctuary costs €26,415. That’s a lot of money. But a donation of €41 can protect 1 dog for a period of 6 months against this deadly disease.

How many dogs can you help protect? Any donation matters!

Millions of people, and animals, suffer and perish from starvation every day. Extreme hunger is an intense sensation that can drastically change a person’s behavior, even to the point of doing unspeakable things to feed themselves and their families. The same is true for animals.

What chances this dog would have if we wouldn’t be there to give him hope?

Ken was found in an empty field. We can only deduce that he was abandoned there, in this vastness of dirt and grass, where food and water are extremely scarce for miles. For a stray to even find a scrap of garbage to eat around here would be like finding a rare gem in a desert.

But Ken found one… and it was costly.

In this abandoned landscape lay an open can of tuna. Ken must have been starving for days before the smell of stale fish enticed him. He didn’t care if the can was months old or if it was empty, he just wanted to savor food and stop feeling hungry. We can only imagine the desperation and intensity with which.

Support Ken

Your donation matters! Click below to learn more on how you can donate for Ken or similar causes.

Now, he was unable to eat or drink anything. Now, it wasn’t just starvation that was consuming him, it was anxiety and fear.

We’re not sure how many days Ken spent like this, but by his level of dehydration, we estimate 2-3 days. We rescued him just in time. We needed to tranquilize him to take him to the vet, otherwise, it would have been risky to take him in while he was panicking.

When he awoke there was a nice warm, nutritious meal awaiting him. The metal can was safely and successfully removed from his jaw, but he remained weak, underweight, and traumatized. His breath was very faint, and our medical team is currently racing to figure out the cause.

Right now, Ken needs specialty wet food since his jaw and stomach are still very sensitive.

Seeing Ken with this can in his jaw, and his poor health and desperation, I felt like he was a “canned soul,” a kind and gentle being who wanted to escape his body, just to get away from the torment of being a stray. It’s difficult watching a helpless animal suffer, but it’s in these moments that I need to be strong and focus on being there for Ken. And that’s where I am, here by his side.

Ken needs specialty wet food

Since his jaw and stomach are still very sensitive

In the most difficult moments, some choose to stay and some run away. That’s also when you see what true friends are for. ROLDA is a responsible charity that helps abused and neglected animals in one of the poorest regions of Romania. We don’t turn our heads when seeing a malnourished, or very sick animal suffering at the edge of the road. Why? Because we are the only hope he has, his only chance to stay alive with dignity.

What chances this dog would have if we wouldn’t be there to give him hope?

I called him Nadie which means “No one” in Spanish. He had no one aside when we found him. The kids and even many adults were probably terrified to even look at him, many passed by either ignoring him “he is just a stray”… or exchanging comments like “he would be better put down”… while others find a reason to have fun “look what an ugly dog, that’s the worst I have seen”.

When I saw him, I froze. I couldn’t make any gesture and no thought came to my mind. I was in shock. By far, that was the worst case I have seen. The dog with the worst skin problems I could have seen in my life. I have seen a lot in Romania and every time, I found the power to move on, tricking my mind with thoughts like “It’s not the worst case” or “The other dog had fewer chances but we saved him” etc

In Nadie’s case, I knew from the beginning that’s the worst possible skin I have ever seen. His body is full of infected skin (due to parasites and scratching), small parts of thicker skin (probably past infected skin which healed) lot of red skin and of course, no fur. The skin around his head makes him look like a monster. He screams if we try to lift him from the ground, we have to use special gloves or improvise from very soft blankets ways to move him to the veterinary table, or back in his kennel.

Support Nadie

Your donation matters! Click below to learn more about how you can donate to Nadie or similar causes.

Courage doesn’t always mean a heroic brave act. For this dog in particular, and sadly for many others, courage is the power to survive until the next day and after that, to continue.

My mind stops before even trying to comprehend this dog’s pain or where comes this dog’s force to stay alive. The specialist opinion is that the way Nadie’s skin looks, it didn’t happen overnight. This dog suffered for weeks and weeks and her immune system, every cell of his body fought to stay alive and not die of general infection.

Together with the specialist, we decided to give Nadie a chance but there is one condition in this battle: in case his disease will re-appear, the case he suffers a chronic disease we will put him to sleep. There are chances that his liver will cease after the medicines we are going to administrate him for the next 3 months. I stay near him. I felt his breath. I know he wants to live, he is a fighter… He doesn’t have anymore the power to do it alone.   And he needs us. He needs you and you …and yes, you too.

No dog should live Nadie’s nightmare. No dog should end up in this health state. Together we can help Nadie be healthy again. Or at least give him one single chance.

I rarely start a rescue operation with the euthanasia option in my mind. I am a fighter, I feel the power given by hundreds of supporters who back me up and I know each stray we rescue is a fighter. Nadie is a special case. He is so fragile, so weak now …and from such a long time, so alone…

Nadie has only one chance to live.

To be enough strong to resist a very intensive treatment (assuming we didn’t find him already too late and his disease is not chronic) or he will be put to sleep.

To be able to tell you his story, I spent some more time near Nadie. He eats well today, with 2 little bowls of good food. He looks at you and quickly turns his head away: not in the mood for any “confrontations”. He is scared of strangers, but that’s not unusual. He is terrified to suffer more pain and already gave up scratching – all over, his body is marked with past wounds or new bleeding spots. I don’t think he gave up fighting.

I am asking you today to make a small or large donation to help Nadie, the dog who had no one and now, has only one chance. Help me keep a promise made from my heart for an amazing dog.  I aim to send you an update with Nadie so transformed that you will hardly be able to recognize him.

I left him today in a kennel placed outside, where the air is ventilated. I don’t know if I will find him tomorrow alive. Before leaving I made him a promise: I will not abandon him, and I will not let him die. Nadie needs special diet food, and antibiotics, combined with different skin treatments for the next 3 months before we will see an improvement. It takes patience, lots of money and luck.

Do you remember the puppies saved two months ago from trash? Thanks to all the great people that donated for their rescue, we can now report you the update. We named them: Andy, Charlie, Junior and Chasmine.

Andy and Chasmine after surgery.

All these names were selected by our supporters. The 5th pup didn’t survive long after being rescued. All of them suffered skin irritation, as we noticed immediately but thanks to Mette from Norway’s special food, their recovery was faster.

Two puppies (Andy and Chasmine) needed each to have one eye removed. Being young and very smart, they adapted easily to the new condition.

Junior and Charlie charmed two ladies from Germany who decided to adopt them if they pass safely the quarantine period, which they did. For the one-eye pair of puppies, we still search for the best adopters. Both will grow the medium size, are playful and sociable, clean and make efforts to learn to walk on a leash. If you wish to adopt one or both (as they get along excellently together)please contact us at rolda@care2.com

The 4 puppies are still with us for another few weeks and they would be extremely grateful (and so we would be!) for a gift of special food to give them strength and help them grow healthy.

Will you fill the bowl for one of the 4 remained pups?

Please make your gift today!

photo: Stephan with Charlie and Junior, both reserved for German families

A few days ago, Charlie and Junior welcomed a special guest, Stephan from Belgium who is an experienced activist for animals, mostly experienced with wildlife in Australia but also an active volunteer in Belgium, where he currently lives. He visited ROLDA for a few days and meet each and every dog, also joined our team during a rescue mission and fed the packs of strays from the surrounding – Stephan was fascinated by the behavior of strays in the “wild” but also shocked by the number of homeless dogs from Romania and the dangers to which they are exposed.

Do not turn your back on these puppies who have a long journey to reach their forever homes. While in our care, they have nobody else but you and us to rely on. Thank you for your support!

Click here to read Stephan’s testimonial.

Do you believe in God? Sometimes? I have reasons to and no doubt that Angels exist. I’ve seen them. I’ve saved them. And perhaps they’ve saved me. Some are big, some small. Some are black, some white. Some Angels see everything; and some wander without sight.

A White Angel captive in his dark world

Tiny, dirty, and blind. Barely more than a baby. Blinded by birth, or by brute force? We’ll never know.

White Angel is one that cannot see. She is so special, yet she suffers daily. She lives in a shelter where she doesn’t belong. You can sense her sadness the moment you meet her. You can smell it. Her loneliness and her pain permeate every part of the room. Somehow, she survived life alone on the street. With only her ears, her nose, and the feel of the frozen ground beneath her dirty paws to guide her to the garbage piles where she hoped to eat.

Rarely am I at a loss for words. Decades of rescue work made me think I had seen it all. I believe passionately that all animals deserve protection from abuse and abandonment. I feel proud to speak for those souls who have no voice.
White Angel took my voice away. But just for a moment. The first time I set eyes on this “throwaway” dog, I fell silent. But my emotions ran high. Tears? I thought I had them under control. This small girl brought them back to me with a vengeance.

Support the dogs we care for

Your donation matters! Click below to learn more about how you can donate to help rehabilitate dogs.

Tiny, dirty, and blind. Barely more than a baby. Blinded by birth, or by brute force? We’ll never know. What is certain is that she cannot survive shelter life. ROLDA is a no kill shelter. We wish we could save them all. We cannot. Always we need financial support.

But White Angel needs more. This young girl needs unconditional love and a forever home. A space that overflows with affection, patience, and understanding. White Angel needs time. But she has none. We desperately need to find someone who is willing to “invest” in her. To give her hope where none now exists.

Nothing good is easy. But we are certain that this blind baby girl will not disappoint. For some lucky families, for a special someone, White Angel will bring such joy. And her adopters or sponsors will bring light to the dark world our White Angel remains trapped in today.
Please share. Spread the word. Sadly, time is not on this Angel’s side.

PS. Already shared White Angel story? Visit here all the dogs currently in need of a home!

BRENDA

• female
• 1y 8m
• 50 cm

loves hugs and attention

Meet me

ESTELLE

• female
• 2y 8m
• 45 cm

loves attention and treats

Meet me

ROHAN

• male
• 2y 8m
• 50 cm

loves hugs and attention

Meet me

TOSCA

• female
• 2y 2m
• 30 cm

loves treats

Meet me

ALANA

• female
• 2y 8m
• 48 cm

loves treats and hugs

Meet me

SELENA

• female
• 1y 8m
• 30 cm

loves hugs

Meet me

Today we went to feed dogs from around the shelters area. It stopped snowing but the freezing was extreme. Our team noticed 5 small furry balls on a pile of abandoned trash, disposed of at the edge of the road.

One has an infected eye, 2 have severe infections on the skin, and one will probably need complete eye removal surgery…all 5 were dehydrated, skinny and have bellies full of worms.

All have bones problem caused by bad food, hunger and lack of calcium. We don’t know how many we can save. But we can’t refuse them the right to live. We can’t turn our back on these voiceless beings that wait for a miracle to happen to get their life back!

Click here to read the update on the 5 puppies.

Will you be a part of that miracle?

Donate safely by PayPal or Credit Card and save 5 puppies with us!

I thought that being hungry, freezing, or in pain is the worst. I was wrong. The day I saw you standing in front of me, lifting me up in your arms from the filthy floor to the point where I could look straight into your eyes was the most beautiful experience I lived. But again, I was wrong.

I was welcomed in your home, standing near you on the couch, sniffing you and the meals you cooked, relaxing in a clean, warm, perfect bed. I accepted the leash for you. I tolerated the small cat which was in your home before you got me. In the past, I used to chase smaller animals to eat them…this is how I survived up to the date you met me. But for you, I ignored the cat and even the neighbor’s annoying poodle. Walking aside you in the park made me feel proud… The day I peed on the entrance carpet you got upset, but I couldn’t help it: I was so happy to see you!

I stopped chewing the corner of the couch although evenings were so long, waiting for you to come from work! I stopped because eventually you came and I didn’t want to see you upset because of me. I got used to climbing and waiting for you at the window when you came late and because it was getting dark, we couldn’t go to the park, as we used to. But it was fine. We had each other.

The day you came sick and couldn’t move from the couch it was the first time in my life when I forgot about food and drinking. I stand near you, couldn’t do much but was so afraid I will lose you, my friend! Luckily, it was just a cold.

The day you returned from work crying, I knew something really bad happened. You packed a lot of boxes, and sat down in front of the house, saying nothing. You were not alone, but you couldn’t talk to me. I sat near you, I didn’t know what else to do but had the feeling you need a friend.

You buried your face into my fur and start crying. You keep repeating that we remained without a home and this could have scared me because the darkest time of my life was when I was homeless.

For the first time, I wished I could speak. I was only able to lick your hand and your face. And you hold me. And that was truly the best moment of my life, even better than the day I came into your home. I felt like a loyal, useful friend. And I really didn’t care that we’ll not go back to the house, in the cozy, warm bed as long as I have you near me, forever!

Please click here sponsoradog.org to discover our dogs ready to go home and adopt one!
Is it not the right moment for you to adopt? You can do 3 other things:
● Sponsor a dog
● Donate here to help us rescue more dogs
● Share our story with your friends. Spread the word out there! Each share will make a difference, you can be sure!

Dogs deserve the same unconditional love they give us! When Buffy, a tiny dog, suffered a severe injury to her eye, we offered to pay for the veterinarian bill because her family could not afford it. Sadly, the vet had no other option but to remove the injured eye. The vet also found Buffy full of fleas and worms, which he also removed.

After the surgery, Buffy was full of energy and ready to go back home. She was happy and healthy again and looking forward to seeing her family (with one eye). We were so excited to reunite Buffy with her family, but not as excited as Buffy was.

But when her family saw that she had lost an eye, they told us that they did not want to keep a one-eyed dog. We were shocked.

Buffy now lives with us at ROLDA, where she awaits a family that will love her unconditionally — as dogs do. Buffy lost more than an eye and her family. She has lost her enthusiasm, energy, and appetite. Sadly, she is depressed. Buffy was disowned by her family because she was no longer a “normal” dog. All they saw was an ugly dog that no longer deserved to be loved and cared for.

You and I know that no animal deserves such an injustice. When you click here to make a donation to ROLDA, you are helping pets with impoverished families receive food and medical care. Not all families are like Buffy’s. Most are extremely grateful for our help.

But we can only help them with your generous donation, which helps to pay for dog food and veterinarian costs. When you click here to donate, you are showing vulnerable pets and their families that you care because everyone deserves kindness. Even one-eye dogs like Buffy.

P.S. Thanks to our donors and ambassadors, we were able to help Buffy before she was abandoned while injured. Together we give hope to abandoned dogs. Would you like to click here to learn more about becoming our dogs’ ambassador?

How you can help dogs like Buffy?