It started with a wish!

A wish made by a big beautiful pup who wanted nothing more than a forever home to call her own. And a wish made by Lee, who wanted a furry friend to join his family… And a wish made by ROLDA who wanted to make these wishes come true.

Lee’s story

Lee’s story began the day Lee decided to take a look at our list of dogs waiting to be adopted… a list made up of all the goodest boys and girls who want a real home and family.

Lee saw Thalia on this list and instantly fell in love, he applied to adopt her.

ROLDA

At ROLDA we love the dogs we care for and we get so excited when a dog is reserved, but we are also careful… its a lot of responsibility, so we make sure to give lots of information during the adoption process and we do home checks to make sure the dogs are going to a suitable new home.

Lee was perfect. He had experience with big dogs like Thalia and a lovely home where she would feel safe.

Thalia Gets Ready

Now Thalia could start to get ready to go to her new home!
… Once a dog is reserved at the shelter, they are neutered (if they are not already done) and taken to the vet for vaccinations and health checks, and then their passports are prepared and their travel documents made ready.

A day or two before the transport, Thalia headed over to our spa (the grooming station), where she was given the full royal treatment, ready to make a great first impression.

First Flori, who works at the smaller shelter, bathed her and made sure she was all clean for her journey. Then she gave Thalia’s fur a good brush and clipped her nails… And of course Thalia was given lots of goodbye strokes and treats.
She would definitely be missed!

The Journey Begins

For international adoptions, we use Hope4paws Pet Transport. The vans are modern and air conditioned and they take really good care of the dogs.
The journey to the UK takes two days by road and EuroTunnel. This part is always hard and we can only imagine how Thalia felt… Confused and uncertain, in a strange van, surrounded by new sounds and smells, but everyone works together to make it as calming as possible… and soon, it was over, the van rumbled to a stop. The doors opened and Thalia found herself greeted by Lee, a stranger then, but not for long… He was her wish come true, and she his!

Now…

Thalia’s story started just before the new year, and we receive lots of regular updates from Lee.
It is clear to see that Thalia is loving her new life. She and Lee are best friends now. She has a bed of her own (a whole sofa) and enjoys long walks on the beach (which is five minutes away from her home).
She is happy.

ROLDA – THIS is what international adoption is all about and why our team works so hard to make wishes come true.

Since it started in 2015, ROLDA UK has been actively involved in solving the Romanian stray animal crisis.

ROLDA is starting this project in the UK and hopefully, over the years, we will expand it to other countries.

We have identified a number of items that will keep a pet healthy and safe, so they can continue to live happily with their owner.

Why should you sponsor this project? Here are a few reasons:

Why are we helping homeless people’s pets?

Homelessness is linked with poverty and social isolation and is considered a risk factor for both poor physical and psychological health.

Why #lifechanger: What pets mean to their owners.

These quotes were extracted from interviews given by homeless people in the US and the UK about how their pets transformed their lives:

Recycle your used printer cartridges for our charity so we can save more dogs.

ROLDA has teamed up with www.recycle4charity.co.uk to help raise funds for stray dogs in Romania —while helping the environment— by encouraging you to recycle your ink cartridges.

Why recycle your ink cartridges?

To protect our environment. Did you know that…
 The plastic used in the average cartridge will take 1,000 years to decompose
 The average ink cartridge can be reused between 3 to 7 times
 An estimated 350 million cartridges end up in landfill each year

That’s a lot of unnecessary waste! Many of us are not aware that most ink cartridges can be recycled, or that many charities collect them to help raise funds.

How will recycling your cartridges help save dogs in Romania?

When you send us your cartridges we ensure that they go through the proper channels to get recycled in exchange for money. We use the money raised to:
 Buy dog food for homeless dogs and dogs at our shelters
 Buy medicine, vitamins, and medical supplies
 Pay for veterinary bills (including operations and aftercare)
 Organize spay/neuter campaigns
 Organize vaccination campaigns

How much we can help our dogs depends on how many cartridges people recycle. Our goal is to raise awareness about cartridge recycling and the positive impact it has on our environment and for dogs in Romania.

Ready to recycle your cartridges?
How do I recycle my cartridges?
Please visit www.recycle4charity.co.uk

We know that, having adopted an animal from us, you want to give them the best life possible.

With advancements in veterinary medicine, it’s essential to choose the right insurance for your pet so you can get the right treatment for them without having to worry about the cost.

Not all pet insurance is the same. The type of policy you choose can have implications on your pet’s veterinary care, so it’s important to choose the right cover.

When shopping around for a policy, we suggest that you consider the following:
● What are the Veterinary Fees excess?
● Will the insurer pay the vet directly?
● Does the policy provide lifetime cover, or are conditions excluded after 12 months?
● Does the policy cover congenital, hereditary, hip-related, dental and behavioral conditions?
● Will your premium increase if you make a claim?

We work in partnership with Petplan® who offer a range of plans to suit every budget. Take a look below:

No cover is provided for pre-existing conditions. Your premium will increase over the lifetime of your policy and terms, conditions and excesses apply and may be varied on renewal. Typically a 20% excess (in addition to the fixed excess) is introduced at the pet’s 10th birthday for cats and dogs and 7th birthday for rabbits and some breeds of dog on our Covered for Life® plans. On our Essential plan, the 20% excess is introduced at the cat or dog’s 8th birthday (5th birthday for some dog breeds).

I write this letter because it’s important that this dog story be told. I don’t intend to make you sad, but if you read the letter until the end, you will agree with me that we still can save the dog’s World and reshape the future of many who still have a chance and for whom it’s not yet too later.

I came as a puppy into your family and you liked me at the beginning.

But when I grew bigger, you put me on a chain in front of your house. And forget that I existed in your life. I remain alone in my small World, in my little improvised doghouse and this is how years were passing. Days when it rained inside, when I freeze, when I starve, days when I was so alone! And this is how years were passing and I became old.

My legs hurt, and my eyes were tired. I felt many times so sick. And so alone! You grabbed me one day and chased me off your garden. That day, I became a stray, one of the many dogs that become homeless when we get too old.

It’s my last winter …and again, I haven’t eaten for days, it’s hard to walk to search for food, it’s hard to eat it with my teeth, I got really tired. So I lay down, on the floor near the wall of a house, which could be mine, and I fall asleep. That day I got my wings and I moved up in the clouds, in the Dogs Heaven where my dreams come true and where I am fine.

Why it has to be like that and people can’t be dogs’ best friends on Earth, while we are still alive? I write this letter because I know you care. I know some people do care about dogs like me. I remind you shelters are overcrowded and some dogs still have a chance to be rescued. No dog should die nameless, starving, freezing, no dog deserves that because you might not know, but we, dogs, hope until the very last moment.

Please help shelter dogs! Every euro gives hope, food gives warmth and helps us to stay alive and continue to hope to be rescued by real humans. And at ROLDA, thanks to you, we do help dogs. We shelter them until a forever home is found. Or for the rest of their lives.

00:00
If I will take only 1 minute from your time, I would quickly tell you that ROLDA continues to need you to transform the lives of abused and neglected dogs in a country with 2.5 million strays. Because every minute in Romania a dog is hit by a car and suffer until he passes away, alone. When you will finish reading the whole message, 1 more will be gone in dogs Heaven, either from under a truck wheel or from a horrible dog pound.

00:20
Please listen… I have 40 more seconds left to give meaning to time that is passing too quickly, word after word, second after the second and to ask you to stay TOGETHER and empower this time with the gift of life. Because you have the power to make from this minute a unique opportunity. This minute, it’s the time of a whole life. A life like Pingu’s.

00:30
We can transform a dog’s life to prevent him to end up under a truck wheel or in filthy prisons called public shelters. Pingu was saved by ROLDA from the local public shelter, he was living in a kennel full of large dogs which wouldn’t give this gentle dog any chance for survival. With eyes full of tears, our mind was blocked by hundreds of images of dogs we already met during that day, but in that second, when we saw Pingu, we knew he is too vulnerable and needs our help. ROLDA saved Pingu from sure death, we transported him to our shelter and in June he travels to a forever new home in Canada.

00:50
10 seconds left won’t be enough to describe a visit to the public shelter, how dogs climb the gate, how they stuck their heads between bars, looking into your eyes to see your soul. But to cheer you up, I have enough time left to tell you how gorgeous Pingu’s smile is today. Every minute is vital especially for those who run out of time, suffering in this cruel world. The good news is, for some, we can make a difference before it will be too late. It only takes a minute, but it will last forever. My time expired, a promise is a promise. If you love all dogs from your big heart, be the promise they need.

How can you help us?

PS.: For me, for ROLDA team and all wonderful supporters like you, 7884000 minutes already gone, from the beginning in 2006 when we officially became a registered charity. 15 years already passed. Together, we are the change for animals in need.

For our 15 years anniversary, we couldn’t have a dream to celebrate this moment with anyone else but you. Because with you, together, we’re the people we’ve been waiting for to give these animals a better future.

Save Romanian animals from a cruel life and you’ll have an extra reason to be proud on your Birthday!

Want to make your birthday super special this year? Celebrate it by making a difference for animals!

It’s really easy – and the best part is that everything you need is available through your Facebook account.
1. Get ready: create your Facebook fundraising page here: https://www.facebook.com/fund/ROLDADOGS/. Make sure it’s ready to go on your special day.
2. Get set: setting a goal is a proven way to motivate people to pitch in. Add a zero to whatever age you’ll be this year. For example, turning 30? Go for 300$/EUR/GBP. Remember that no matter how much you bring in, every cent you raise will make a difference for animals.
3. Get creative: personalize your fundraising page. Choose a great photo, and write a short, personal message about why you’re using your birthday to help animals.
4. Share, share, share: share your page with your Facebook friends before and on your birthday so that they know what the perfect gift for you will be this year.
5. Celebrate: don’t forget to enjoy your big day – and remember to thank everyone for the birthday wishes and for helping you make a difference for animals.

Thank you on behalf of #roldadogs and the ROLDA Rescue Team!

Big Surprises for the Residents of Galati Retirement Center on Romanian National Day

To celebrate National Day, ROLDA host a special dinner for the residents of the Galati Retirement Center. To give our gathering an extra dash of holiday spirit, we decorated the center with lovely Christmas ornaments, and we spoiled the residents and the staff with thoughtful hand-made gifts created with love by Romanian artisans.

But our biggest surprise for the 150 residents of the Galati Retirement Center was Tarot, the tiny dog we saved from a boiling tar pit. We are thrilled to announce that Tarot has been adopted and scheduled to meet his new family in Sweden on December  17—just in time to enjoy his first Christmas with them!

So, Tarot was on a mission before leaving Romania. He was determined to spread holiday cheer to all those in need, and he has not forgotten our fellow senior citizens. We believe that the Tarot’s story can inspire anyone to appreciate and give thanks for the little things in life. It can also help us be more grateful that there exists people and organizations in the world who are devoted to helping others—people and animals alike. Tarot is alive today because our generous supporters chose to help him. The elderly in retirement homes are cared for by dedicated staff and volunteers.

“I have wanted to help more people in my community for many years now, and I feel like our charity now has a little breathing room to offer such support once in a while,” said Dana Costin, founder of ROLDA. “Each time my team and I organize an event for people in our community we want them to know that they can count on us to be there. We all live in this county, and we all want to feel safe and happy.”

Watch a short video from this event

In the end, it is compassionate people like you who make our work possible. ROLDA knows that without your generosity and humanity, our programs would have remained just beautiful dreams. But together with you, we can dream further, higher, and bigger. We can #givehope where no one else will.
Thank you from ROLDA Team

Collectible art donations also entitle you to a Fair Market Tax Deduction! There are far more benefits that may be yours once you decide to make a collectible art donation. These advantages include earning a tax deduction equal to the fair market value of your donated items and freeing up wall space to display yet more artwork.

Art is powerful not just because of its “artistic” meaning and value, but because it can be used to support worthy causes like ours. Transform your collectible art piece/s into real help for animals in need! If your artwork collection consists of abstract art, African art, American art, pop-culture art, classic artwork, classic art print posters, patriotic art or original oil paintings, you can donate artwork and support our rescue mission in Romania – next “Ken” that waits with a metallic box stack in his mouth to be saved, or tortured mom with pups waiting to be saved from death, or support our next sterilization event, or Helping poor horses new project.

Collectible art donations can include any of the following: Original drawings by Banksy, Jackson Pollock, Picasso, Andrea Boscoli, Henri Matisse, Raymond Pettibon, Jonathan Green, Walasse Ting, Al Hirschfeld or Max Liebermann.

An original vintage King Kong film poster from 1933, 1967 Monterrey International pop festival poster, Silkscreen posters by Roy Lichtenstein or 1920s vintage French Art Deco travel posters. Folk art and primitives; Textile and fiber art from Chris Roberts, Pablo Picasso, Jean Picart, or Carl Hank can include wool Aubusson tapestries, a baleen basket, embroidered applique art, wall rug portraits, or silk paintings.

Need more ideas?

Donate any of the following: Digital Art, Drawings, Antique art, Modern art, Contemporary art, Folk Art, Mixed Media, Paintings, Photographic Images, Posters, Prints, Sculpture, Carvings, Reproduction, Medium, Acrylic, Gouache, Oil, Watercolor, Abstract, Animals, Animation, Cartoon, Botanical, Children, Infants, Fantasy, Figures, Portraits, Floral, Gardens, Food, Wine, Landscape, Cityscape, Music, Instruments, Nudes, Religious, Inspirational, Seascape, Still Life, Art Deco, Asian, Cubist, Impressionist, Miniature, Outsider Art, Pop Art, Realism, Surrealism, Bronze, Ceramic, Porcelain, Glass, Jade, Metal, Paper, Stone, Marble, Wood, Figures, Nudes, Masks or Religious Statues…Give life to your collectible item/s today! Art is transforming the World thanks to the clever people who appreciate it!

Discover an easy and effective way to help ROLDA save more dogs from your work.

If you’re a current ROLDA supporter or someone who wants to help save stray dogs in Romania, and who believes our charity would make a bigger impact with more contributors, then you can make that change!

How?
Talk to your employer about contributing to our cause through workplace giving.

What is Workplace Giving?
Workplace giving campaigns are annual, employer-sponsored programs that offer employees the opportunity to make a charitable contribution through payroll deduction.

How impactful is Workplace Giving?
Very! Charities are extremely efficient with the contributions they receive. That’s why we always tell you that “no donation is too small.” We are grateful for every donation, and we put every dollar we receive to good use.

ROLDA is no different! We cherish every contribution, and we always ensure that our dogs reap the benefits. Your individual donations make a big difference in a stray dog’s life. But because you and I want to save more stray dogs from suffering, we need to ACT BIG!

Workplace Giving raises collective contributions by raising awareness. Perhaps your employer or colleagues are not aware of the stray dog crisis in Romania but bringing it to their attention may motivate them to contribute to our solution.

Will my employer or colleagues agree?
The only way to know is by asking. It doesn’t hurt to ask or to have a conversation about workplace giving. Just remember that it’s important to respect the decision and circumstances of others and not be pushy.

Even if they do not agree or are unable to contribute now, you should feel proud that you made the effort. And both you and I will always be grateful you did!

Thank you, kindly.

Matching Gift Program: click here
You can also find us on Benevity portal: click here