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On Tuesday, 24th, Madeleine from the ROLDA UK Team set off for London. It was a special day in the Houses of Parliament as the All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group met for the third “State of UK Rescue” event and with a kind invitation from Marc Abrahams himself, I was due to speak and give my presentation.

The parliamentary group was set up in 2017 to bring industry professionals together to discuss, challenge, highlight and offer solutions to improve the health and welfare of animals and their humans. Meetings take place every few months and include informal presentations with a chance to network and encourage discussions around working together to make the sector stronger and with the hope of changing legislation that impacts heavily on our animals.

The February meeting she attended was to highlight the many issues that the rescue sector faces and a chance to discuss ways forward as a collective:

“From the ongoing hangover of abandoned pandemic pups to a seemingly never-ending cost-of-living crisis, plus the increasingly compromised mental health of rescue shelter staff & volunteers, the no. of greyhounds currently ‘stuck’ in the system awaiting spaces at rehoming centres; there’s clearly still so much that needs support, improving & fixing.

Worryingly, dog rescue in the UK remains still in a state never seen before, but with a long awaited Government consultation into licensing rescue shelters now on the cards APDAWG is, once again, truly honoured to be joined by some of the most respected voices from across the sector, generously sharing their experiences past & present…” – APDAWG Website.

It was incredibly inspiring being in a room full of fellow rescue advocates who all had such inspiring stories to tell and reasons for operating the rescues they do. There was an astonishing amount of experiences which felt crucial in coming together as a collective and taking inspiration to better our foundations for animals worldwide.

From rescues supporting ex racing dogs, to those offering sanctuary and medical care to council pound dogs, to charities offering support to disabled dogs just wanting to live their best lives and other individuals speaking with incredible heart and passion who do what they do, not because they get paid necessarily but because they understand that if they don’t do this work it is only the animals that suffer.

“It was important to me that I shed a light on ROLDA’s work and how change starts within – spay, neuter, education and campaigning for better laws within the UK but also world wide. I was also able to discuss how this cycle sometimes starts with so many dogs ending up in rescue due to a lack of general knowledge around canine breeds, behaviour and communication – leading many to end up in rescue when expectations are not. It made me proud that we as an organisation offer this training and behaviour support to our adopters, so we can mitigate these communication and training concerns before they reach crisis point.

It also showed me that overseas rescue should always have a seat at the table and there are charities working hard to make the safety and welfare of dogs all over the world a priority. Overseas dogs now make up 5-8% of dogs in the UK and if we do not continue to support the charities doing this ethically and sustainably, then the strain on UK rescue centres will only increase. Further, the dog population will continue to grow and it is thanks to ROLDA’s free neuter and spay campaigns that we are proudly keeping a cap on these numbers in Romania, can the same be said for here in the UK? It is charities like us, who should be recommended and highlighted amongst the noise and fear mongering around rescuing a dog from overseas – because rescue and animal welfare should know no borders or limits.”

Here is an excerpt from my speech:
“It is important to me that we don’t shy away from the fact that overseas adoption is now a part of our UK rehoming system and is not something to fear. I joined my current role to set a clear standard when it comes to sustainable and ethical adoption from overseas. Such as behaviour assessments, strict health tests and a growing foster network which remains the reason we can offer rescue back up without relying on UK shelters. With on-going training and behaviour support offered to our adopters, I have worked with some incredible overseas dogs who have settled well into UK life and are adored by families who have been totally committed to them and touched by their unique personalities. These dogs deserved a right to a home as much as any dog in the UK.”

After waiting patiently and passing their relevant health checks to be able to travel to the UK, Chicco, Rosie, Daisy, Teddy set off on 12th Jan to their very patiently waiting new foster and adopter families! It was a long journey for the brave souls and they finally landed in the UK on 16th January, some late into the night.

Each dog has taken incredibly well to their new home and family, with Rosie zooming around upon arrival before making friends with her reflection in the mirror! Chicco took a bit of time to find his paws but has since been snuggling and snoozing as close as he can to his doting family. Daisy and Teddy went into their foster homes, where they quickly made themselves at home – Daisy taking to the sofa instantly and Teddy finding the toy box right away!

Of course there will be hurdles along the way and lots of new things to contend with in a very different place – like household appliances, other dogs, new people but that’s why we are here every step of the way with our after care and training support.

We have already had some amazing progress within the first week, Rosie has enjoyed her first walk, Chicco has bravely engaged with new toys, Daisy has found her adoptive home and Teddy is showing his foster carers how smart he is by figuring out every toy food puzzle he has!

We can’t wait to see more dogs settle into UK homes, as it’s these happy endings that bring us all together in why we do what we do at ROLDA UK.

If you are interested in adopting a ROLDA Dog, head to our adoptions page to read over the dogs currently available and fill in an application form – from here our adoptions team will reach out for a chat and virtual home check. It’s as simple as that and could just mean another happy ending!

Discover the steps you need to follow to adopt a #ROLDAdog.

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Imagine being able to help two dogs at the same time! All you need to do is adopt a dog in Plymouth. Yes, you read that right. One dog gets adopted, and another one gets saved. Or you could also adopt two dogs, but we know few people have such resources, so even finding one home for one of our amazing dogs is great enough.

At ROLDA, we are driven by a deep commitment to animal welfare. Our Romanian animal rescue team operates two shelters in Galati County, entirely funded by the generous donations and sponsorships of people like you. For over 15 years, we have tirelessly saved and cared for thousands of dogs, ensuring they find their forever homes or a haven with us.

We do our best to make our pups as adoptable as possible with the medical treatments they need, such as giving them the right type of food and having them work with a dog trainer to assess their behavior. We teach them to go for walks, see how friendly they are, and how they play with other dogs. When you come to us to adopt a dog in Plymouth, you will find pups we have worked with to turn into the best pets possible.

But we cannot take credit for the most important aspect: they are already the most loving and sweet pups. Surely, you can already imagine that we are biased since we love them all and would like nothing more than to find a loving home for each one – like the one you will give to when you adopt a dog in Plymouth. Even so, note that nothing impresses us more than the resilience and the power these pups have to forgive humans. Some of their stories are heartbreaking, yet they are still willing to trust people.

Therefore, our efforts would not be complete without you and people like you. While our shelters are places where these dogs are treated with decency, love, and respect, it is still not home. And home is where their humans are, those willing to adopt a dog in Plymouth. So, start browsing our website, and you will find your little friend smiling at you in a picture or shying away from the camera. Even these small gestures will give you some idea of each dog’s character and help you find your best match.

Once you find one incredibly adorable and can already see nestled in your favorite couch, contact us, and we will give you even more details about him to make sure you are that perfect match. It’s not that we don’t trust your judgment or your wish to adopt a dog in Plymouth, but he is still our responsibility, and we want to make sure that when we put him on a plane and prepare him to go to his new home, it is permanent, and that we say our goodbyes for good.

When everything checks out, we can contact our ROLDA international helpers and see what documents and travel arrangements we need to take care of. They could even visit you to ensure you can provide the proper conditions and accommodations for your new friend.

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 by the incredible souls I met – animals and humans alike.

Meeting the dogs at our shelter in Romania was about them – learning about their personalities, understanding what they’ve been through and hoping it would help bring them one step closer to their forever homes. As we grow our adoption programme in the UK, we want to offer these dogs the best chance they can and to be able to go to Romania and get to know each dog means we are one step ahead when choosing the type of home and family that will best suit their personalities and individual needs.

It is hard to miss the strays that litter the streets in Romania, it is part and parcel of moving around the country. Some dogs are settled street dogs and are looked after by kind people who go out of their way to feed them and offer kindness. However, it’d be dishonest to not mention that they can still be under some threat by those who are not part of the “dog loving” community – meaning most are left uncared for with little help. Some discarded after being used as hunting dogs or guard dogs, some, despite being owned, neglected medically and in very poor condition and others simply having litter after litter, adding more pups to the stray dog population. That’s what spurs us all on to do the job we do at ROLDA.

It is safe to say the dogs who have landed and found themselves in the shelter in Galati are in incredible hands, and I certainly felt no different. The team who run our small shelter welcomed me with open arms and are the tiniest team of two ladies called Flori and Aurelia – who love each animal as their own. They work hard, day in day out ensuring each cat and dog have what they need, whether that’s as simple as their daily meal or administering medication or relentlessly aiming to walk each dog and socialise them in the local village. And what was most special to see? The way these ladies adore each animal and shower them with love that is kind and gentle.

Throughout my time in the shelter, I played with, trained and assisted with preparing the dogs for adoption. This consisted of spending time with each one, recording their weight and measurements and observing their personalities. Time and time again each dog showed me their uniqueness, willingness to learn, openness to love – despite maybe having not known it before. Most incredibly, even if they were nervous to meet someone new, they had a desperation to trust, to try as hard as they could to experience the kindness that was on offer to them if they wanted to take it. It is this resilience that dogs embody that amazes me every time I work with rescues and I believe it is no doubt down to the kindness that is shown to them at the shelter.

I also got to spend time with Dana – who is the driving force behind all of ROLDA’s efforts – globally! Dana is a selfless woman, striving to make a difference in every unfortunate animal’s life, no matter where they come from, what they’ve been through and how they are today. I felt truly lucky to be on her team and part of the charity’s mission to bring hope to every animal and globally make lasting change to animals’ lives in Romania and beyond.

With a force of nature such as Dana, a team that are dedicated every minute of the day such as Aurelia and Flori and dogs and cats that are truly some of the most special souls I have met, the future for ROLDA is going to go from strength to strength. I got to see the land where the Pawz Up center will be – a sanctuary that is going to offer so much promise and will be groundbreaking for the lives of so many animals and the conversations we had about how plans for the future are going to encapsulate the best intentions of every animal’s welfare was truly exciting to be a part of. ROLDA’s mission goes above and beyond what overseas rescuing has ever done before and means we are one step closer to changing the stigma of animals being “just a stray” or “another overseas rescue”. I feel privileged and lucky to see how we grow and hope you will join us on that journey.

Adopt a dog in Wales and help us fulfill our dream of finding forever homes for most residents of the ROLDA shelter. We have over 700 dogs needing loving people to welcome them to their homes and hearts. While we know we probably won’t find homes for all of them, we still know we did our best to find homes for most of them.

This is where you come in. Quite conveniently, you are located right at the end of this long list of good things that happen to dogs once they end up in our care. But your contribution to this is by far the most important. Why? You are exactly what these dogs are looking for, which is a loving family and a permanent companion to love.

One of the things that move us to tears every time is that no matter how broken and undeniably crushed these dogs are when they end up in our care, they seem to retain hope that not all humans are bad, still trust some of us, and are still very capable of showing love. How much faith these animals have in us is remarkable! The least we can do is to reach out and open our homes to them. So, if you want to adopt a dog in Wales, you are in the right place.

So, what happens to the dogs that do not get adopted?

Don’t worry. At ROLDA, we are above the practice of euthanizing dogs in our care that have not been adopted by a certain time so that we can process others in our system. We do not operate like that, so choose us with full confidence when you want to adopt a dog in Wales.

The first thing you need to know about us is that unless our dogs are blessed by someone looking to adopt a dog in Wales, who has the resources, the time, and the patience, not to mention the knowledge and the help to take on such a dog, the ones that are too old, sick, or traumatized to ever end up in a forever home will stay with us. Thus, ROLDA becomes the forever home of all the unadoptable dogs. We do not shy away from helping even in the most extreme cases, knowing full well that we will probably care for them until the end of their lives. This is the commitment we have made. That no dog will suffer alone in the street while we are active.

So, while we cannot expect any of our international adopters to take on a load they are unprepared for, we insist on them knowing that one dog adopted is one more spot opened up for another to be saved off the street—or more resources for our permanent residents.

In other words, we are happy you chose to look at our pups when looking to adopt a dog in Wales! We are convinced you will find a match in one of our 700+ residents. We are happy to help with any details you might need, including videos showing how they interact with other dogs, with people they do not know, and with people they recognize. Look at our doggies and know that any of them would be extremely happy to come home to you!

How wonderful that you want to adopt a dog in Southampton and choose one of our pups! We rely so much on international adoption because our main goal is to find a home for each rescued dog. While our shelter is built and run with extra care, kept operational at high standards, and ensures that these animals get the treatment they lack their entire lives, it is still not home. We love them; we take them to the vet for periodic check-ups, vaccines, and medicine and provide food suited for each one’s medical condition. Also, we give them lots of cuddles and kisses and take them for walks. But, at the end of the day, they remain in the shelter and do not get to go home with anyone special.

This is where you come in. Your wish to adopt a dog in Southampton might be enough to help us give these pups their real chance at happiness. Despite our best efforts, we cannot take everyone home and shower them with love. We try to compensate when we are at the shelter, but there are over 700 dogs in the ROLDA shelter. So, we need you to do this for us. We need you to be the ones to take over for us and let these wonderful animals become part of your families.

At ROLDA, we have rescued and rehabilitated several thousand dogs and are proud of our achievements. But as long as pet abandonment remains an issue, we will always have our hands full, no matter how impressive the numbers. International adoption has been a great help and has represented the real shot at happiness for thousands of animals. Every time one of our dogs sets off for his forever home and someone else wishes to adopt a dog in Southampton, we almost do a little dance.
It means that our efforts are paying off.

For all this to work, we have set up a very good system that assists people looking to adopt a dog in Southampton. Our ROLDA colleagues are equipped with the legal and logistical information to provide all the support you need. They will also drop by to see where the dog will live, give pointers, and help in any area you need: Is the home suitable for a dog? Should you dog-proof the place? Do you have a yard, or can you walk your new friend around daily? Does the dog have special needs, and do you need any special accommodations?

You can also find assistance during the accommodation process, and we will check in to see how you are doing. The testimonials of other international adopters have been a great help in the past for people looking to adopt a dog in Southampton. You can read about the personalities of the dogs they adopted, the problems they experienced in their new homes, and what was done to help them. You can clearly understand what to expect in general terms and how equipped other people were to handle those issues.

Will your experience be similar? Who knows? It might be easier or more challenging. But you have us rooting for you and a whole group of people willing to help you adopt a dog in Southampton, especially since you may have the only chance that dog has ever been in a real home.

We are so happy you are looking to adopt a dog in Sheffield. Nothing gives us more joy than seeing our dogs leave our shelter and travel to their forever homes, even if that is very far away and we never see them again. International adoptions are our lifeline, and we appreciate everyone who becomes part of our story, one happy ending at a time.

Why is your help so important? Although we do a lot for these dogs, people like you, the ones deciding to adopt a dog in Sheffield, bring things to completion. The effort we have put in these past 16 years is enormous: from building two shelters by ourselves, only from donations, with no government support (on the contrary, with a lot of legislative, bureaucratic, logistic, and political obstacles), to placing thousands of dogs in their forever homes and being the permanent shelter for those too broken ever to get adopted; we did everything we could to help these dogs.

Yet, you are the real MVP. And we mean that! Because coming in to adopt a dog in Sheffield is no minor thing but a lifetime commitment to another soul. Signing on to become a dog’s forever home and family means until the end of that animal’s life. So, does it still feel like we are doing most of the good deeds now?

We need you to complete our mission and provide for one dog what we cannot, which is the one thing that matters most to them: be their loving family. We love them dearly, treat them with lots of care, go on walks, and help them recover from whatever traumatic event may have broken their souls. But nothing ever compares with the bond a dog has with its human. We rely on you all for this. Every dog in their forever home, surrounded by a loving family, is cared for and appreciated. See now just how important it is to us that you decided to adopt a dog in Sheffield.

Therefore, everything we do, from rescuing the dog off the streets, taking him to the vet for a check-up, giving the poor animal the medical care and attention he never received, putting him on a healthy diet, providing a safe and caring environment where he would feel comfortable enough to heal from past trauma, is all meant to help him get rehabilitated so you can find in him a good companion, worthy to take home.

Will there still be dogs in our shelter? Unfortunately, yes. Some of them can only make it from the street to our care and manage to adapt with great difficulty to being here. They are so scared and fearful that traveling to a new place with new people would be too much. So, as long as they feel comfortable in our care, they can remain with us permanently, as it is a better option to be alone in the streets.

While you were still considering whether to adopt a dog in Sheffield, we have already rescued 2 more dogs and started caring for them. Therefore, we may save them, but you give them a purpose, which is why we do it.

Remember the last thunderstorm you experienced? We are talking about a really loud one that got you scared. And have you seen video clips of dogs who need to be held by their owners because they are too scared? They are scared; their eyes almost pop out, their ears so far back they practically disappear, and they need to be wrapped in a blanket or hidden in some room with their favorite human patting their heads. Now think of the 700 dogs in the ROLDA shelter, alone in their kennels, with thunder booming all around them, no one to hold them in their favorite blankets, no treats and cuddles—only the loud thunderstorm. But you could change that if you want to adopt a dog in Lancashire and give one a loving home.

We are ROLDA, a Romanian animal rescue team dedicated to saving as many dogs as possible and finding loving homes for them. Although we did not wish to make you sad at the thought of our scared little dogs in their kennels during a thunderstorm, we still need you to understand that these are the lucky ones. Other dogs we did not have the opportunity and the resources to save from the streets must experience these thunderstorms in places that give them no shelter from the rain and the cold. So, while you may feel sad thinking about the dogs with a roof over their heads but not an owner, they are still in a better condition than the ones still living in the streets. All of them are waiting for you to adopt a dog in Lancashire.

How can you help? By being the last piece in a puzzle depicting a happy life for these pups. Remember when we mentioned those in the shelter, protected and cared for but with no one to call their own? Luckily, you are just looking to adopt a dog in Lancashire and be exactly what that dog needs. Your decision to adopt could be the turning point in that dog’s life, bringing them from a shelter to a loving home. Our plan of finding happy homes for each dog cannot be completed without people like you and everyone willing to open their homes to a poor animal.

Also, once you take one of our pups home, we can use the resources we used to house him and redirect them toward saving and bringing in another dog, giving your new best friend the same chance your new best friend got when someone else starts looking to adopt a dog in Lancashire or anywhere else.

International adoptions are our main chance at finding homes for our pups. We currently have 700 dogs in our care, but thousands have passed through our shelters. Not all of these stories have been happy endings. Some dogs arrive in our care so shattered that the doctors can do nothing more to help. Others have a lifetime of recovery to look ahead to, so most chances are that they will remain in our care. But most dogs we rescue from the street are healthy, happy, and perfect to be someone’s companion. It would be a shame if no one ever found them worthy to take home and protect during a thunderstorm.

So, next time you hear thunder and maybe feel scared, remember that you can always adopt a dog in Lancashire and keep each other company until the storm passes. You might need each other like that.

Suppose you are considering international adoption and looking to adopt a dog in Kent. In that case, we are prepared to meet you halfway and handle many other pesky legal and logistical stuff. We are ROLDA, a Romanian animal rescue team from Galati County, responsible for rescuing thousands of dogs. In the more than 15 years since our shelters became operational, many animals have had a real chance at a happy life with us.

Our commitment to these dogs goes beyond just rescuing them. We provide them with the care and attention they need, from medical treatment to proper nutrition and shelter. We even have trainers who assess their condition and make recommendations to improve their chances of being adopted. As part of our rehabilitation program, we teach them basic social skills, like walking and playing with other dogs. This comprehensive approach ensures that you bring home a well-adjusted and loving companion when you adopt a dog in Kent.

Isn’t the process of international adoption complicated?

It could be, but we took care of it so you can enjoy your new life with your new best friend as soon as possible. Our efforts and the work we do for these animals have drawn the attention of many people from various foreign countries, and these people are dedicated to working with us and helping us connect with as many potential owners as possible. Therefore, once you become interested and start the process, we can speed things up and help you adopt a dog in Kent.

First, look through our website to find the dog you like. Aren’t they all so cute? We know each would make a great pet, but we know that personalities must match between owner and dog, so we try not to interfere and influence your choice. Once your heart is set on a dog, we recommend contacting you for more information. As much as we can help, we will provide you with the pup’s background, like where he was found, his medical report with the age, and any medical condition.

If there is anything you need to know before you decide to adopt a dog in Kent, we will tell you about it. Transparency and honesty are crucial, especially in international adoptions. Future owners must know the full extent of the situation they are getting into and decide whether they have the emotional and financial resources to do it. You cannot blindside someone and then expect everything to be all right.

Therefore, we have a full report with what to expect from each dog and what he might need to get through the accommodation process – even dogs that are right as rain might need some time to get used to a new place, so you always need to consider this. Then, we have the international network of ROLDA helpers who know all about our work and help a lot in each international adoption process. You can trust that they are as dedicated as you are to making everything come together nicely when you decide to adopt a dog in Kent.

Can your life significantly improve overnight? Could you suddenly experience a burst of love as shown to you repeatedly every time you walk through the door? Could you constantly be in the company of someone who will never grow tired of you, around whom you can be yourself and will never find fault in anything you do? Is such a relationship possible outside of a novel? Yes! If you decide to adopt a dog in Devon!

Could your anxiety improve, and you learn to open up to new relationships? Could there finally be something that draws people to you and opens up conversations you feel comfortable having? What about expressing love and care toward someone without feeling embarrassed or concerned about not doing it right? Could you have such a stress-free, laid-back relationship? Yes, pick any one of our dogs!

Could you finally manage to get out of the house more? Could you finally break the scrolling cycle and keep going on daily walks? Even running in the park or outside, in the open air. Maybe you’ve tried it before but soon enough got back to bad habits and returned to scrolling for hours on end, spending too much time indoors. What could finally get you to become the active individual you always wanted to be? Finally deciding to adopt a dog in Devon.

What about becoming a responsible individual, capable of caring for another living being? We might have to discuss this last one before turning over one of our rescues because this is a big deal, and we intend to do it right. And so should you! If you decide to adopt a dog in Devon, your new friend will most likely be the answer to all of the questions mentioned above. The catch is that you need to be the answer to this last one, which is vital for him.

In other words, look at how much you will receive and how much your life will change for the better. Would becoming this very responsible person be a fair enough price for this life makeover? Have you considered adopting an animal before but have not followed through? Believe it or not, we have answers for this, too, if you don’t.

We are ROLDA, an organization in Romania, trying to find a place in this world for abandoned dogs. Our rescued pups are amazing creatures, ready to fulfill a great purpose: that of lounging on your favorite chair and becoming your new best friend. But before that happens, we have colleagues you can contact to convince them that you will take good care of our dogs. They will take a look at your living conditions, see whether you have the possibility to care for a dog, give you some pointers, and help out; then they will help you reach out to us once you’ve made up your mind and feel ready to adopt a dog in Devon.

And this is where the real struggle begins. Do you think sorting out your own life is difficult? Wait until you feel the pressure of picking one dog over the other, looking at pictures of adorable pups, and having to pick only one when you adopt a dog in Devon. But don’t worry; we can help out with even more information and counseling even in this phase. You keep your commitment to doing something good for someone. We got you the rest of the way!