We warmly welcome any visitors to our shelters, whether you wish to visit and choose a dog for adoption, have a closer look at our operation or get stuck in and help with the numerous daily activities that go hand in hand with hundreds of dogs!
Why to support ROLDA UK
Why Romania?
Romania still has a major problem of homeless dogs and cats. Although legislation improved over the years, it’s not unusual to see animals abandoned, injured, sick on the streets of Romania. Dogs continue to be caught inhumanely by the public authorities, thrown into vans, transported to what they call “shelters”, where they are imprisoned with other unfortunate strays. No assessment is made as to which dogs are contained together.
Timid dogs are often attacked and killed by large, aggressive dogs. If they escape this fate but no one claims them, they are often mercilessly killed by the shelter employees in brutal ways. In Romania, stray dogs were and still are seen as a pest, something to be disposed of like a trash bag.
In reality, the stray overpopulation is a social problem which involves us all. It should be treated responsibly (it doesn’t go anywhere if we pretend it doesn’t exist) and humanely, because that’s how we like ourselves to be considered.
In the past decades, sterilization campaigns and natural course of life reduced the number of street dogs in Romania. The correct path to go combines sterilization & education, including changing the mentality to consider pets as family members and treat them accordingly.
The problems:
A large numbers of homeless dogs in Romania (latest estimation indicates approx. 600,000 strays). Limited knowledge about animal care or welfare in the community. Extremely limited financial resources for many people, especially in rural communities. Lack of qualified personnel to work within animal welfare (social clinics, private shelters, etc).Our solutions:
To build & run shelters that meet modern standards. To run free sterilisation campaigns for pets owner by poor community. To campaign to close illegal pounds. To help the people who care and respect animals. To ensure we are a shining example of how an animal rescue charity should be managed.Done so far
We have built two modern shelters for dogs and one for senior cats.
We run sterilization campaigns all year round.
We provide veterinary support and education to our community.
We help senior people to look after their pets and never be forced to abandon them.
We distribute a coloring book for free in schools in rural areas.
We save as often as we can dogs from the local public pound.
We take action against animal abuses.
We create Speak Toto language campaign to help the kids understand the stray dogs’ body language.
We ensure a high level of transparency and excellent management within the charity.
We release emergency funding for animals affected by disasters (e.g. the Ukraine, Palestine, floods in Bulgaria, etc).
We are dedicated to providing appropriate education and training of all shelter and rescue staff who work or volunteer for us.
We always aim to be an example for the local community and for the country as a whole. We are tirelessly working to drive forward a change in way the public and the authorities treat stray animals in Romania.
Some exciting visitors have been welcomed to our shelters in Galati including:
In 2014, His Excellency, the Ambassador of Holland visited our shelters.
In 2015, the family of the Ambassador of Switzerland visited our shelters and actually helped with a sterilisation campaign we ran at this time.
In 2013 Lolita Morena, the Swiss animal activisit celebrity and ex-Miss Universe, visited the ROLDA shelters and ever since, she is one of our top supporters and continues to visit us regularly.
In May 2005, Loretta Swit, the famous Hot Lips from M.A.S.H. TV series visited ROLDA.
How British supporters help us:
Enable rescued dogs to receive medical assistance, sheltering and to be adopted in the UK;
Support fundraising efforts in the UK to benefit street dogs and cats in Romania as well as to campaign against illegal public shelter, against animal cruelty and abuses;
Encourage responsible adoptions where it’s the duty of the Romanian shelter to deliver to British families healthy, sociable dogs and request for adopters to be serious and committed in their duties for the adopted dogs;
Create a network of foster homes.
How British supporters can help us reach
more animals in need
Donate online
Donate by PayPal at rolda@rolda.org.uk
Donate securely online, directly on our website here
Legacy for animals
Your love for animals can last forever when you make a gift to ROLDA in your will.
Donate by SMS
Text ROLDA 10 to 70085 to donate £10.
Text costs £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.
