Meet Daisy and Teddy, who have been our first dogs to be fostered in the UK this year. When we launched our new Adoption and Foster Programme at the end of 2025, we wanted to make this an opportunity to bring over dogs who needed the sanctuary of a home and a chance to find their paws on UK soil before finding their forever family. If you are thinking about fostering, we’d love you to read about Daisy and Teddy’s journey so you can see how impactful it has been for them and what a difference you could make today.
Daisy
Daisy, our 3 year old sweet and adorable Bichon Frise, who came into ROLDA’s care in October 2025. It wasn’t long before a dog as wonderful as Daisy drew plenty of adoption and a promise of a home of her own on the next journey to the UK on early 2026. However, due to unforeseen circumstances her original adopter had to pull out with not much time for us to find her a new home. However, we understand that circumstances change and we want the home to be ready and perfect for each and every one of our dogs, so in came our wonderful team member Joanne, who had already prepped herself to be a doted foster carer for our cause. Having a foster carer on hand meant Daisy could keep her reservation on the transport bus and meant all of her in date health checks wouldn’t go to waste, she had somewhere to go to and a safe place to call home whilst we worked on finding another family for her.
Once Daisy arrived with Jo, she was understandably a little nervous at first but like a true hero and with Jo’s kind guidance, she quickly made herself at home, began eating well, exploring the garden and finding her spot on the sofa! Like with most rescue dogs and with a quick change of environment, there is a lot to get used to so we gave Jo a hand with some tips on toilet training and teaching her the correct places to go. Otherwise, she adapted to Jo’s resident dog and the house beautifully, showing off her cuddly personality.
Of course it wasn’t long until Daisy caught the eye of a new family keen to give her the long term adoptive home she was here for. Within a week, Daisy had had the opportunity to adjust to a domestic setting, learn some basic skills and decompress from the journey and huge life shift. Jo, our dedicated foster, drove Daisy to her new home and spent some time settling her in with her new adopter. She went along with a few of Daisy’s favorite things, as well as the blankets she had been used to and watched as she charmed her new family right away.
Now nearly 4 weeks into her new home, Daisy is going from strength to strength. Her new family have been able to advance the skills that Jo taught her in her foster home, such as toileting and she is making great strides. She has the luxury of a cosy sofa and bed in most rooms, enjoys wrapping herself in her blankets and walks with the wider family’s friendly dogs.
We like to think that Daisy’s story is one of fate, if the sliding doors hadn’t happened the way they did, if Jo didn’t give her the sanctuary she needed to still come to the UK, she may not have found the family that she is so perfect for and adored by now.
A note from Daisy’s foster carer:
“I loved the whole experience. From following the GPS of the van travelling through Europe to Daisy arriving at 5.30am. It was so lovely to meet her and watch her settling in and gain her confidence over the few days I had her with me. We all grew so fond of her and whilst we were sad to say goodbye, it was great knowing that she had such a lovely home to go too. Daisy’s adopter was so excited to meet her and Daisy felt right at home immediately.”
Teddy
You may remember Teddy from a call out we did prior to January 2026, looking for a special foster home to help him leave Romania before the new Animal Welfare Bill came into play. Due to his docked tail, which was saved after his rescuer found him under a car with an injured tail, we were not sure if the bill would allow exemptions for rescue cases and therefore, if Teddy would be able to travel to any new home in the UK.
Thankfully, we had two wonderful foster carers that gave Teddy the best start he could whilst he awaited a forever home in the UK. On arrival, he was giddy and excitable – keen to play with the foster’s resident dogs and making himself front and centre when it came to cuddles and reassurance from his foster family. It is often this hyper attachment that means we also need to give the right level of attention and build independence from these dogs, who are so happy to have found their feet in a warm home with plenty of attention. Luckily – Teddy is a smart boy with plenty of eagerness to learn.
It was also clear to see what a loving and kind boy Teddy is, how able he was to take on new tasks and how happy he would soon make his forever family. Teddy was in foster for 3 weeks where he became brave enough to be left alone for a few hours at a time, play nicely with his canine foster friends and pick up wonderful skills, like loose lead walking and a “settle” on your bed que. Our in team trainer, Maddy, also travelled to spend the day with Teddy and his foster family to give them some training games to play with Teddy so that we could build on his basic skills and give him ways to build his confidence before meeting his forever family.
Again, with Teddy’s striking look and adorable nature, he soon found a family that were desperate to meet him and take him home as soon as they laid eyes on his videos and pictures that we had been sending them. It was wonderful to be able to give adopters real time updates on how Teddy was doing day to day, with his training and with all aspects of living in a home – this level of communication and support from our fosters was crucial in helping Teddy shine in the best way possible. Now Teddy is making himself happily at home and building on all the wonderful skills his foster carers gave him. Go Teddy!
A note from Teddy’s foster carers:
“I’ve had rescue dogs all my life and have been fostering for the past six years with a number of different organisations. Recently, we had the privilege of fostering Teddy, an 8-month-old puppy rescued by ROLDA. Teddy was the sweetest boy, but what made this journey especially positive was the level of support we received as foster carers. Maddy was always on hand with thoughtful training guidance, proactive advice, and genuine care for both Teddy and us as a foster family. Fostering is always incredibly rewarding, yet it can feel overwhelming without the right support system. With ROLDA, we felt like we were part of a dedicated care team, which made all the difference and allowed us to focus on giving Teddy the love and stability he needed.”
“I have experienced firsthand how varied fostering experiences can be, but fostering our dog through ROLDA was such a rewarding experience! He was the best foster dog we’ve ever had, and it was clear from the moment he arrived just how loved and well cared for he had been by the shelter team. We can’t thank Maddy, ROLDA’s Foster and Adoptions Manager, enough for guiding us through every step of his transition. Her experience, knowledge, and steady support made what can often feel like an uncertain process feel really manageable. The whole team is incredibly hands-on, and you never feel like you’re in it alone. We’re so grateful we had the opportunity to give a dog a second chance through ROLDA and can’t wait for the next one.”
If Daisy and Teddy’s journey’s have struck a chord within you, please do consider fostering for us in the future. We are a small charity with limited resources but to give our dogs sanctuary within the UK is absolutely paramount to us and you will change a life. As a foster carer, you are given training support and everything the dog needs so you aren’t out of pocket.
All we ask is that you have a secure garden, the time, energy and dedication to help them with their training and a car to help get them to meet and greets or any necessary vet appointments. For some dogs, we ask that it is an adult only, cat free home but we remain flexible, so do not hesitate to ask if you aren’t sure.
To apply, head to the application form on our website and one of our team will give you a call to discuss further; please note a virtual home check is mandatory as part of our application process.
An infection was eating away at her skin… But not her soul.
Chick was found not far from our shelter. She was extremely dehydrated and full of parasites. Fleas were feeding on her skin, which was bloody and cracked due to repeated biting and scratching. She had chewed through most of her fur, leaving her damaged skin exposed to horrible infections which, sadly, had already begun to consume her from the outside in. The truth is, she looked like a monster, a zombie. Passersby avoided looking at her, probably from disgust or pity. Some did acknowledge her by offering pieces of bread, which she refused to eat…surely from feeling sick.
Chick obviously needed immediate medical treatment to restore her appetite. And that’s when our ROLDA Rescue Team stepped in to help this poor soul. It was like she was heading toward our shelter to beg for help because she could no longer withstand the pain. Chick fought to reach us…she fought for aid…and her commendable strength paid off, because, the moment she found us her life began to change. That’s right…we didn’t find Chick. She found us!
After a couple of medicated baths, Chick began to show positive progress. Her appetite returned. She ate everything we gave her, from doggy biscuits to roasted chicken. In fact, she ate two fully roasted chickens in 10 minutes. It was a pleasure watching her enjoy her meals.
However, Chick’s road to full recovery is a long one. Her skin needs lots of treatment, including injections, antibiotics, and many more medical baths. ROLDA exists to help dogs like Chick to restore them back to health so that they may be eligible to become someone’s best friend.
ROLDA exists because of your amazing and constant support! Donate to ensure that Chick continues to receive her treatment, as well as to help more dogs like her that are still roaming the streets of Romania.
Help us help them!
As you read these lines, please be as generous as you can for thousands of homeless dogs who are suffering.
Please check our Before/After page to see more special cases of dogs who have been rescued from death and are now safe and happy because you care and believe in our work.
Adopt one of our dogs
Dogs who need a forever home. They’ve all been living on the streets, exposed to unimaginable dangers. Today, they are safe with us in our ROLDA sanctuaries, waiting for their forever home. Do you have one to give?
ROLDA saves Chick’s skin… Help more Chicks in need…
“All of us have experienced that uncomfortable itch on our body that we want to scratch but can’t because it is out of our reach. Now imagine that your entire body itches and you can scratch every inch. You scratch and scratch but there is no relief. You’ve scratched until your skin gets bloody and cannot stop because the pain has become insufferable, getting worse every day. Your mangled skin is now oozing pus because it has become infected, making you lose your appetite. You’re a step away from septicemia, a horrible body infection, bringing you an inch closer to death. That’s how Chick felt as her skin condition progressed while roaming the streets of Romania. Thankfully, we found her just in time, but sadly, there are still hundreds more street dogs suffering skin problems (or other medical problems) that eventually die before we are able to help them.”
– Dana Costin, ROLDA Founder
Choose a certificate that saves lives
The best gift you can give to your special friend is respect.
Surprise your friends with eco-friendly certificates that express your values and commitment to voiceless animals in need.
Join Teaming group for just 1 EUR/month
Shop to save lives. Order a virtual gift!
Hera’s hell: dog found in tar – fighting for her life.
Hera was found on the streets. Her entire body was covered in tar that had matted her fur and even oozed deep to her skin. We can’t imagine the pain she had suffered…well, to be honest, we don’t want to imagine.
From the texture of her fur and skin, we believe Hera had been in this condition for weeks. It’s a miracle that she managed to survive. We had to wash her with oil to remove the tar, dirt, and dead skin before we could begin to treat her with medicated baths and antibiotics. She is in poor health, but our hope is that she will pull through.
Thanks to our veterinarian, Andrei, and our amazing Rescue Team, Hera is making good progress. Her recovery will take some time, but we have faith that she will overcome her tragic past and will be a loving, faithful, and grateful companion to a lucky family one day!
Help us help them!
As you read these lines, please be as generous as you can for thousands of homeless dogs who are suffering.
Please check our Before/After page to see more special cases of dogs who have been rescued from death and are now safe and happy because you care and believe in our work.
Adopt one of our dogs
Dogs who need a forever home. They’ve all been living on the streets, exposed to unimaginable dangers. Today, they are safe with us in our ROLDA sanctuaries, waiting for their forever home. Do you have one to give?
Hera teaches us that her beauty is not only skin deep…
“Hera felt Hell consume her entire body. The flaming hot tar seeped through her fur until it began to burn her flesh. She was extremely scared and in insufferable agony. I can’t describe how much she had to endure. I don’t even want to imagine. But Hera is a tough girl, and the worst is already behind her, and for all of us here at ROLDA. Of course, she needs time to heal both her external and emotional wounds, and our ROLDA team is here to make sure that Hera gets the best medical care and that she will never suffer again. Thank you all for helping us save dogs like Hera.”
– Dana Costin, ROLDA Founder
Choose a certificate that saves lives
The best gift you can give to your special friend is respect.
Surprise your friends with eco-friendly certificates that express your values and commitment to voiceless animals in need.
Join Teaming group for just 1 EUR/month
Shop to save lives. Order a virtual gift!
Buck’s story
BUCK was rescued from the street after being hit by speeding a car. We were contacted by an individual who had witnessed the horrible collision. Moments later, our Rescue Team arrived at the scene to transport Buck to our clinic. Buck was lying on his side, urinating and shaking uncontrollably as he was being helped. Due to lack of equipment in Galati’s veterinarian clinics, Buck had to be driven to another town to have x-rays taken. We were thrilled to learn that Buck’s injuries were not life-threatening and that he would be able to walk again.
For days Buck lay on his side while we treated his wounds and administered injections. After the pain subsided, Buck began therapy. Our staff moved his hind legs manually and helped him perform special exercises every day to help his recovery. Not long after we published Buck’s story on social media, he was wanted for adoption by a lady in Germany named Sabine.
Unfortunately, Buck’s Snap Test revealed that he had heartworm disease and had to be treated before he could be adopted.
Buck was treated for heartworm from the proceeds of our international heartworm fundraiser; however, we were all terrified that we had diagnosed the fatal disease too late. It was a great relief to learn that Buck was no longer infected with heartworm disease, and was adopted immediately by Sabine from Germany on October 12, 2017.
ROLDA saves BUCK after being hit by a car. Now happily adopted. Help us save more.
“I fell for Buck the moment I saw his pictures. I just knew in my heart that he had to be part of my life. Adopting Buck (my cuddly bear) is one of the best decisions I’ve made. He is such a gentle and calm soul, and we’re getting along so well, and he is loving being part of my pack! He’s such a clever guy. I wish and hope to have a lot of amazing years together with Buck.” – Sabine
Help us help them!
As you read these lines, please be as generous as you can for thousands of homeless dogs who are suffering.
Please check our Before/After page to see more special cases of dogs who have been rescued from death and are now safe and happy because you care and believe in our work.
Adopt one of our dogs
Dogs who need a forever home. They’ve all been living on the streets, exposed to unimaginable dangers. Today, they are safe with us in our ROLDA sanctuaries, waiting for their forever home. Do you have one to give?
Choose a certificate that saves lives
The best gift you can give to your special friend is respect.
Surprise your friends with eco-friendly certificates that express your values and commitment to voiceless animals in need.
.
Join Teaming group for just 1 EUR/month
Shop to save lives. Order a virtual gift!
From waiting to die to willing to live: A stray’s story of revival.
BAR was discovered behind a bush whimpering softly and breathing erratically as if he no longer had the strength or the will to communicate his agony to the world…as if he literally chose this spot to spend his dying days…alone, as if not to disturb the world around him.
Perhaps it was a relief for Bar to be leaving this world. A world that welcomed him, like every stray, with cruelty, loneliness, and injustice. A world that forced him to starve… endure sickness…to suffer unjustified ignorance and torture…basically, a world that treated him unfairly without any reason whatsoever.
Yes, for Bar it was a great relief to be departing such a world. He could no longer walk to find garbage to eat on the streets. He could no longer crawl to look for a drinking water source. He could no longer even search for a reason to keep trying. So, lay behind a bush…waiting for the pain to end.
Help us help them!
As you read these lines, please be as generous as you can for thousands of homeless dogs who are suffering.
Please check our Before/After page to see more special cases of dogs who have been rescued from death and are now safe and happy because you care and believe in our work.
Adopt one of our dogs
Dogs who need a forever home. They’ve all been living on the streets, exposed to unimaginable dangers. Today, they are safe with us in our ROLDA sanctuaries, waiting for their forever home. Do you have one to give?
ROLDA restores life to strays. Bar’s story shows how
“ROLDA has a very strict no-kill policy and a responsible evaluation procedure that examines each rescue dog individually, thoroughly, and humanely to formulate the best rehabilitation program vital to their recovery. At one point, Bar’s leg and overall health were so poor that we thought he could not be saved. But we regained our hope quickly…we regained our belief inBar’s chances…and we will remain by his side through his entire healing process.”
– Dana Costin, ROLDA Founder
Choose a certificate that saves lives
The best gift you can give to your special friend is respect.
Surprise your friends with eco-friendly certificates that express your values and commitment to voiceless animals in need.
Join Teaming group for just 1 EUR/month
Shop to save lives. Order a virtual gift!
Every time we rescue a new dog, we try to figure out where he/she comes from so we can try to understand him/her better. When Delu brought Ellie to the shelter, these are the facts as we knew them: A local animal lover called Delu went to pick up Ellie. Ellie and a mixed chow named Bunga were sharing a transport crate when they arrived. The person who called Delu said she found both Ellie and Bunga wandering the streets. She mentioned briefly that Ellie was limping.
It’s clear to us that Ellie belonged to someone. She was abandoned but we don’t know why. Some time ago, Ellie must have been hit by or with something, because she had an old, untreated femur fracture for which she got no treatment. It is heartbreaking, but this is the reality: many homeless animals live in pain, with a fracture or break, and the bone sets naturally – sometimes, in the wrong position, which generates the limping. Plus, probably, pain and more damage/health problems accumulated as time passed.
Ellie is a small, adorable girl who has learned, unfortunately, what it means to be a homeless dog.
After seeing how she limps, we decided it was something serious and rushed Ellie to the vet. There, after a medical exam and XRAY, the vet decided it was the old femur fracture that needs surgery to be corrected and set into the right position.
Being an old problem, there were no guarantees that her leg will recover. But after surgery and a very long recovery period, Ellie‘s pain will stop. In the worst-case scenario, she will lose the leg – but we are hopeful that the vet will do his utmost to save her leg, stop her pain and help her walk normally.
It is sad to think that in a moment, the life of a dog can change so dramatically: from the time when she had a home, until the moment she ended up on the streets, being hit, injured – staying in pain and ending up limping, since who knows when! Thanks to ROLDA friends and supporters, Ellie‘s nightmare will slowly be over.
Making a small gift – Help Ellie’s leg to heal by contributing to medical costs.
More supporters mean more help and during critical times, when your finances are limited, our needs (emergency veterinary costs, food costs, etc) are easier to cover when there are more contributors.
Nothing comes easy in life. Not for Ellie and not for us. Our mission is to work hard, to face difficulties but to make miracles happen for these dogs. And you, dear ROLDA supporter, are part of every step we take to transform each dog’s future.
There is a saying, when someone needs a friend, God sends them a dog. Regardless of your religious beliefs, we can all agree dogs are man’s best friend. ROLDA dogs need a friend, a friend like you, and no dog needs a friend more than Piciu.
After everything I have seen since ROLDA began, I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking I have seen everything, then a story like Piciu’s comes along and reminds me just how wrong I am. You receive weekly – if not daily – heart-breaking stories about our dogs and I wish more than anything Piciu had no such story to tell; I do not know where to begin.
Piciu was the adored pet of a man living with his wife in the village of Smardan. One tragic evening, Piciu became trapped in sharp, metal fencing whilst exploring. In the desperate attempt to free himself, Piciu suffered deep wounds to all four legs and lost a dangerous amount of blood and no, there are no blood banks for dogs here. Piciu was not discovered until the morning, barely clinging to life.
Many would have discarded him like trash, though Piciu had loving owners who wasted no time in rushing him to a vet. It is a uniquely heart-breaking sight – a grown man, weeping and sobbing like a child, inconsolable with grief – cradling his beloved, dying pet in his arms, begging for help whatever the cost.
Piciu is a beautiful, affectionate dog. He needs every prayer to see him through his intensive care and rehabilitation. All four of his legs were grievously wounded, three of which were maimed including one of his front legs that were so irreparably damaged, it required amputating. Furthermore, Piciu is not vaccinated and it would be too risky to vaccinate him in his current state of extremely poor health and weakened immune system.
We have to take extra special care of Piciu, who is exceptionally vulnerable to diseases like distemper, though with our love and expert care, Piciuwill recover and his remaining legs will gradually improve. The most important thing now is to do everything possible to help Piciu fight back to health and reunite him with his family.
Can we, with your help, get Piciu back on his feet?
“My pain is easier to bear when I see you.” that’s what Oscar seems to say when he is around people. Unfortunately, there is no end to the pain that animals feel. It was a regular Saturday. I took a break from writing a report, and logged in to Facebook when the image of a tiny fur ball filled the screen… he was trying to reach a person in a parking lot.
He was too young to understand how dangerously close he was to the busy road. He was focused on reaching the person that stopped the car in the parking lot before she went away, like all the other people who abandoned him behind… hungry and scared… alone in the bitter cold.
He wished to go faster or run as normal puppies did, but he couldn’t… he could only use three legs to move. With one paw suspended in the air, the pain was easier to manage. And so he hopped on, in the night, waiting for someone that would notice him before it was too late.
There is no end to the pain that animals feel, so there is no end to the ROLDA Rescue Team’s mission. Even if it was his day off, Vasile rushed to his van and drove 90 kilometers to Tulcea to meet a lovely girl called Ema.
It was she who spotted Oscar in the parking lot and rang the alarm. Vasile took the small, injured pup back to Galati to the same clinic that once saved Maia’s legs. For this particular case, ROLDA Rescue Team had to cross the Danube River twice and drove for a total of 3 hours and now, veterinary bills are ahead.
We hope that together, we can transform Oscar’s life. Please make a gift to help Oscar heal!
I don’t know if everyone can get an Oscar … but on Saturday, thanks to Ema from Tulcea and thanks to Vasile, ROLDA got one.
Please make a gift to help Oscar and also, help ROLDA reach more dogs like Oscar, dogs that have no one else to turn to – dogs that without you, would die all alone, hungry, injured and scared.
If you turn your head away, she will die. If your eyes can’t bear looking, imagine the pain she feels! “This is one of the worst I’ve seen” exclaimed our vet, gingerly removing a plastic shopping bag stuck to Bela’s deep and infected facial wound. Bela’s story begins in the village of Cismele, South-East Romania, one of the country’s poorest rural communities.
She shares with her owners an improvised home fashioned from scrap material with only the furniture they could salvage. Food is scarce. Bela’s owners cannot often afford to feed themselves, leaving Bela to rely on meager leftovers and whatever she could find. After almost a week without food, Bela, desperate and starving, strayed into a neighbor’s land in search of scraps. Assuming Bela sought to poach his livestock, the landowner cowardly lured Bela and attacked her with a farm tool and left her badly injured and permanently disfigured.
Bela’s owners, uneducated but with good intentions and aware they cannot afford the medical bills, but desperate to help, attempted to bandage Bela’s wound with adhesive tape. This only compounded Bela’s suffering, allowing infection to spread untreated throughout an uncleaned wound.
“Every time a tragic case like Bela is brought to us, I fall into the trap of thinking I’ve seen the worst a human can do to such wonderful creatures, though there’s always another Bela to remind me how wrong I am. However, it never fails to amaze me what strength and dignity dogs show in unimaginable pain.
Thankfully, very few people will ever experience that kind of pain; only those that have can comprehend that degree of suffering. I just cannot understand what complete absence of empathy, kindness or basic human decency it requires to be able to do something like this to any living creature, let alone a dog.
I feel sometimes I understand this world less and less, although the joy of rescuing dogs like Bela and seeing them through treatment, rehabilitation and finding a happy home makes the heartache worthwhile. Bela’s beauty shines through her facial scars and her adoring and sociable personality undimmed by the awful events which have brought her to us. Dogs usually forget and live “in present” and Bela will don’t care about her face scars but every time I will look at her, I will remember. “Because if you love them the way I do, you simply can’t forget”, said Dana Costin, founder of ROLDA when meeting Bela for the first time.
Bela is an affectionate, gregarious dog and once her treatment and rehabilitation is complete, she’ll be transferred to our shelter to live in safety and comfort with plenty of human and canine company. Eventually, once fully recuperated, Bela will make a perfect candidate for rehoming, where she’ll find a loving family and happy home abroad.
ROLDA is wholly reliant on the generosity and compassion of animal lovers to continue being the only guardian these suffering animals have to turn to, in a world all too eager to turn its back on problems in the hope they’ll disappear; they don’t, and we need your help to save lives.
1. Why do we help the local community’s pets in rural areas?
Obviously, because there is where our help is needed the most, in poor communities where people can’t afford to pay vets bills, where people are uneducated, and their pets are at risk of accidental harm, abuse, malnutrition and abandonment. We never leave an animal in need or in danger, regardless of their or their owner’s circumstances.
2. Why not immediately euthanize dogs like Bela?
After suffering a whole life, Bela’s luck changed the day we were able to save her. ROLDA’s duty is to try to help any dog in need and give them the best possible chance of a happy and comfortable, not to choose the cheapest and easiest way to solve these problems. It’s an expert decision taken by our vet to put a dog to sleep and only ever when it would be cruel to prolong life and suffering. We strive to provide whatever help and funds to try to save each dog in need. Bela, and dogs like her, deserve a chance to heal and have their futures changed for the better.
3. Why does ROLDA prefers international adoptions?
We rehome the vast majority of our dogs within the European Union, whereby their health and fitness to travel are tightly regulated by EU law, ensuring the dog’s health is paramount to all parties. Likewise, levels of public awareness and pet education are much more advanced in the countries where we choose to send our dogs, to loving, permanent homes. We also choose only to send our dogs to nations with comprehensive animal welfare legislation and infrastructure and of course, an appropriate and loving family. After so much suffering, Bela deserves a safe place to call home.
Help Nick beat his tick infestation and help him live! My name is Nick. I was given this name yesterday when I was rescued. Before that, I was a nameless puppy born in a garden in rural Romania like thousands of others. My mother, Greta, gave birth to five pups on a bitterly cold January morning. My brothers and sisters died within the next two months from parvovirus disease, but I survived.
I also managed to outlive starvation. I am skinny, and my bones hurt each time I lay on the concrete. In April, the garden where we lived filled with ticks and fleas which infested my mom and me—we have ticked all over our fur, even around our eyes and in our ears. It’s hard to be born a homeless puppy in Romania! With hundreds of ticks on me, I always feel weak.
The garden’s owners got scared that they might get a disease from our ticks, so they wrapped us in a plastic bag and abandoned us, way outside the village, with no food and no water. We were scared of cars, strange noises, and packs of aggressive dogs defending their territory. My mom and I thought we were going to die out there. We got more and more ticks on our bodies.
One morning I couldn’t open my eyes all the way, but I managed to see my mom shaking from all the fleas and ticks and parasites that were eating us alive. Without a doubt, the first eight months of my life were a nightmare. I didn’t want to bear another day, but somehow, I kept hope alive.
This is how I imagine Nick telling his story. He is eight months old and together with his mother, Greta, who is about eight years old, was found by our ROLDA rescue team. They had been abandoned in the bushes and almost paralyzed by ticks. It was a shocking experience for us because their bodies were completely covered with ticks—even around their eyes and a lot inside their ears.
They were severely dehydrated and emaciated, like walking skeletons.
A monthly donation of €16 toward both Nick and Greta would keep them safe against ticks and fleas. That’s all! Just €16 a month would help end their misery. Make your monthly gift to protect Nick and his mom (and many other dogs) who silently suffer and who desperately need your help.
“Nick can’t speak, but I can. Yet, I am speechless. I need to learn, find or invent new words to define the plight of Romanian stray dogs. My imagination can’t describe how these dogs feel—malnourished, skinny, full of parasites, starving, always hungry, eaten alive by thousands of ticks, day and night, day after day. I try and can’t imagine how much they have to endure…hoping to be rescued, protected and loved by someone. Or maybe they don’t know what to hope for? Carrying the burden of loneliness, homelessness, neglect, and abandonment, disposed of like old shoes and mistreated. I was so overwhelmed to see Nick’s little ears covered by ticks but also his dirty, little paws full of these parasites. Poor little soul! And I can’t help but wonder how many puppies has Greta lost over the years to famine, disease, or accidents. In my opinion, Greta and Nick are brave souls fighting for their life. Is their suffering enough to wake us up and force us to see the tragedy around us? The incredibly painful life of these animals?!” —Dana Costin, ROLDA Founder
Help us start Nick’s and Greta’s journey to find a family. Greta is a senior dog, but we are confident someone will want to give her a home. Nick must pass the quarantine after his vaccines, which is not easy, especially if he is carrying any diseases. We have no guarantees that either of them will survive, but our doing our best to save them—as we always do, for each dog in need of our help.
We need you to join Nick’s and Greta’s journey and transform their future. Please, help them.
Prevention treatment is the cheapest and safest solution to protect our voiceless friends and protect ourselves. Help us win the battle against ticks!
Let’s do it for every brave stray dog who suffers every day…even as you read these lines.