I received a call from a man in Vanatori village frantic about a dog in terrible pain. He said he saw the dog trying to jump a metallic fence, but got stuck and broke both legs. He also said that men tried to help her, but she was defensive, not allowing them to approach her. The men got scared and left.

The man told me that he feared for the dog because she was in agony and losing a lot of blood. He also mentioned that many unfriendly strays roamed around the area and feared they could attack her, however, he said there was a big dog protecting her and licking her wounds.

I called the vet to meet me and our Rescue Team at the dog’s location right away. The vet arrived quickly and found the dog’s legs covered in blood. She had lost a lot of blood and was indeed guarded by another dog. The injured dog had to be tranquilized.

One leg may need amputation and the other seems to be healing but the vet cannot give any guarantees.
The man who called me later told me that this dog gave birth to 6 puppies last summer and that 2 died in front of her after being struck by a car. He said she was “guarding them” for days, mourning their tragic death. We named her Maia.

5 Hours in Surgery

The Saviet veterinary team operated on the graver leg first. They removed articulation, transplanted small bone fragments, and attached a temporary prosthesis. They had to leave two holes in Maia’s leg to drain the liquid post-surgery and also because she didn’t have enough healthy skin tissue for the suture. Healthy skin tissue from her abdomen will be transplanted into her leg to finalize the procedure.

Maia will have surgery on her other leg in one week. Maia’s surgeries are very complex due to the severity of her injuries. The current cost of this first phase is €1000, including discounts from Siavet (who is not charging us for the 30-day hospitalization, x-rays, and other tests).

Maia still has a long road to recovery and the outcome of her operations remains unclear, but she is receiving excellent medical attention. We are extremely grateful to have a devoted and dedicated veterinary team who is doing everything possible to save Maia.

Maia has endured a lot of suffering since her accident, but it’s comforting to know that she is surrounded by people who believe in her and who want her to get better so that she may live a long, fulfilling life. Just days ago she was hanging on by a thread on that fence while blood oozed from her shattered legs, slowly draining the life out of her.

Now, Maia has the opportunity to find a forever home with a loving family who will provide her with the delicate care she needs. But first, she patiently prepares for her next surgery. After that, Maia can begin her recovery.

If you didn’t get a chance to support Maia, you can still make a donation to help cover the costs of her medical procedures and rehabilitation. She is a brave dog who is allowing us to help her because she wants to get better.

And you can help her get better.

Thank you, kindly
ROLDA Rescue team

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.