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Important moments 2014
The day by day challenges in Romania keep our lives extremely busy, from the lack of volunteers and financial resources to the corruption, bureaucracy and the authorities indifference to our efforts to help the local community to solve a major problem.
When a new year is about to start, my heart and mind get full of new ideas, enthusiasm, new planning and new hopes. I learn from dogs and one important thing is to never loose hope.
Looking back to identify the most important moments in 2014, I should mention:
December 2013
Invitation from the Norwegian Embassy to attend a conference about Corporate Social Responsibility. Meeting H.E. Tove Bruvik Westberg, the Ambassador of Norway in Romania.
January – February 2014
One of the worst time at the shelter when huge amounts of snow were accumulated and the snow storm that last a few days isolated the shelter from the village. We had to walk to reach the dogs, give them food and water and check if they are all OK.
March
60 children from nearby schools visited our shelters to become acquainted with our dogs, to learn about dog behavior, what sterilization means and why it is important, to discover the daily work from an animal sheltering.
April
Winning the 2nd place of “Life is better together”(Fundraising section), contest organized by PETCO Foundation USA, thanks to our team of amazing donors!
May
A new international branch of ROLDA opens in Switzerland.
Demonstration in Geneva: 200 people, including members of the Association ROLDA Suisse protested against the killing of dogs from Romania.
The Swiss media covers the event.
The Gatehunder fra Romania director, Hege and Mrs. B., one of ROLDA top supporters returned to our shelters. We made a short stop in Bucharest to talk to the officials of the Norwegian Embassy about the Romanian street dogs’ problem.
Visiting with Hege the local pound was a mixed- feelings experience read more
One of the dogs rescued from the local PS arrived few weeks ago in Norway.
The new plot, purchased end of 2013, was fully fenced.
June
70 children challenged in creation contests (drawing, literature) to raise awareness about the street dogs of Romania.
Genial suggestion to encourage the local people to adopt street dogs vs. pure breed dogs…Can you believe it’s coming from a teenager named Rebecca?
It says: “Leave your prejudgments aside! Big dogs. Small dogs. Breed dogs. Ugly dogs. Too ugly, too small, too big, too hairy….”
Emilie and Anne traveled from Switzerland to do volunteering work in our shelters and at the end of their journey, transported 4 lucky dogs to their adoptive families.
Our supporters from Holland help us organize Flights for Freedom all year round.
Anne and Emilie meets the kids from local school.
July
Silje from Norway who adopter of a ROLDA dog in 2012, volunteer for a week to help us…and she couldn’t come with empty hands!
Read Silje ‘ lovely testimonial here
H.E. Matthijs van Bonzel, The Ambassador of Holland visited our shelters.
The sterilization and return programs continue in partnership with AMG, our local sponsor.
Exposition of paintings in Montreux, Switzerland creations of the artist Muriel.
A delegation from ROLDA Switzerland visited our shelter and returned home with 9 adopted dogs.
Second exposition organized in support of Romanian dogs in Switzerland
September
Yelena, adopter of Homer from Switzerland visited our shelters.
Read Yelena testimonial here.
She couldn’t leave with empty hands either….See how fastest ROLDA adoption happened.
The first stamp created for the Romanian dogs became one of the official Swiss Post stamps!
ROLDA’s newest international branch is in Sweden – Association ROLDA Sverige : thank you Heidi, Sandra and Lisa!
Remember her? She is Miki – one of the ROLDA luckiest dogs, adopted in Switzerland by Muriel.
These are some of the goods collected from ROLDA in Holland. Thank you Damen and all the Dutch animal lovers for their full support!
October
After 7 years of struggling with the bureaucracy, we finally have electricity at the large shelter.
Sandra from ROLDA Sweden board returned to our shelters . Read her testimonial here.
Lolita and Anne returns to transport 6 dogs to their forever homes.
Swiss journalists interviewed ArcelorMittal Galati’ representative. Photographer: Shane from Blick.ch
Special meeting of ROLDA branches: ROLDA Romania, Gatehunder fra Romania and Association ROLDA Suisse representatives meet in Galati!
Swiss delegation meets H.E. the Ambassador of Switzerland in Bucharest . In photo, Lolita and one of the dogs of Mr Jean-Hubert LEBET, the Ambassador of Switzerland.
November
Our rescue van crashed in accident with a truck with no brakes. The truck had no insurance and in these conditions, we have no alternative but to try and raise funds so we can buy a new vehicle to continue rescue dogs.
Swiss Animal Protection, Lolita and Michele PM covered almost half of the van cost. We still need to collect the rest.
End of November, our Swiss partners attend two public events to raise funds (sell objects) for our dogs.
December
During December, some lucky dogs are scheduled to travel to UK and Norway.
Our friend Shannon is busy to organize the first charitable concert for the Romanian dogs and not only – because during this event, we asked people from California to donate items for the local shelters, too!
Dog of the Year 2014
Meet Light, the Dog of the Year 2013. Two legs dog with strong personality, adopted in UK by Gail. To vote the Dog of the Year 2014 – please follow this link
Major investments
Plant trees to form a natural barrier to protect shelter against snow storms (first phase)
Connect the clinic to water and electricity
Numbers that count!
- 700 dogs feed and looked after, 24/day , 7 days/week
In addition:
- 792 dogs sterilized from which TNR 235 dogs sterilized and returned, SOCIAL 167 dogs sterilized in the village;
- 396 new dogs rescued from suffering on the streets or from being brutally killed, or ending up to die in public filthy shelters;
- 135 dogs adopted in Romania and across Europe.
