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 authority’s 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 lose hope.
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 authority’s 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 lose 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.
January – February 2014
One of the worst times at the shelter was when huge amounts of snow accumulated and the snowstorm 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 2014
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, and to discover the daily work of animal shelters.
April 2014
Winning 2nd place in “Life is better together”(Fundraising section), a contest organized by PETCO Foundation USA, thanks to our team of amazing donors!
May 2014
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 Gatehunder fra Romania director, Hege and Mrs. B., one of ROLDA’s 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 a few weeks ago in Norway.
● The new plot, purchased end of 2013, was fully fenced.
June 2014
● 70 children were 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 volunteer 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 meet the kids from the local school.
July 2014
● Silje from Norway who adopted of a ROLDA dog in 2012, volunteered for a week to help us…and she couldn’t come with empty hands!
Read Silje’s 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.
● The second exposition was organized in support of Romanian dogs in Switzerland.
September 2014
● Yelena, an adopter of Homer from Switzerland visited our shelters. Read Yelena’s testimonial here.
She couldn’t leave with empty hands either… See how the 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.
● Goods collected from ROLDA in Holland. Thank you, Damen and all the Dutch animal lovers for your full support!
October 2014
● Sandra from the ROLDA Sweden board returned to our shelters. Read her testimonial here.
● Lolita and Anne return to transport 6 dogs to their forever homes.
● Swiss journalists interviewed Arcelor Mittal Galati’s 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 the photo, Lolita and one of the dogs of Mr. Jean-Hubert LEBET, the Ambassador of Switzerland.
November 2014
● Our rescue van crashed into an 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 rescuing 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 2014
● During December, some lucky dogs are scheduled to travel to UK and Norway.
● Our friend Shannon is busy organizing 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 a strong personality, adopted in the UK by Gail.
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 dying in public filthy shelters;
● 135 dogs were adopted in Romania and across Europe.
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