WORK

ROLDA is a charity with a mission: to humanely and responsibly reduce the number of stray dogs in Romania and to provide the very best possible care for those already here.

We are ambitious but realistic. We are faced with daunting figures with approximately 2.5 million stray dogs, nationally. Every journey starts with the first step and we are making a difference in every small way we can. We are growing, and so do the numbers of animals we reach and help.

We hope to see one day that every dog has a happy and healthy home, though until that day and beyond, ROLDA will be there for every dog that needs us: providing rescue, rehabilitation, shelter, sterilisation, community programmes and education. We take a holistic approach to the vast problem we face and believe that by improving the whole community the result will be a happier and healthier population, canine and human alike.

ROLDA’s chief long-term objective is to reduce the overall net stray dog population in Romania, which is currently over 2.5 million, nationally. To keep more dogs being born into the streets and a life of hardship and suffering, ROLDA operates a comprehensive sterilisation programme. All dogs are sterilised humanely and under anaesthetic in the appropriate clinical conditions.

Sterilisation is a great way of affecting change beyond our shelters and operational scope. ROLDA’s ultimate mission is to see every dog in Romania in a happy home. This goal can only be achieved by reducing the numbers of dogs born into the wild.

To put this into context, this is the impact of leaving one single dog unsterilised over a 5 year period:

1 st YEAR          2 nd  YEAR          3 rd  YEAR          4 th  YEAR          5 th  YEAR

ROLDA don’t just serve as a shelter, we are an active force within the region responding to callouts from the public whereby an animal may be injured or in distress; we never ignore an animal in need.

All animals we take into our care receive whatever medical treatment they require, a broad-spectrum vaccine and unless it endangers the health of the animal, sterilized. All animals are kept in care to recuperate and are either released back into the wild or go on to stay with us in our shelters.

At ROLDA we pride ourselves on our strict no-kill and pro-intervention policies. Whatever the medical needs of an animal brought to us and however slim the chance of survival, we always chose to intervene where a hope of a reasonable quality of life exists. ROLDA only ever euthanises or elects not to treat an animal when it would be cruel to do so, when survival would mean a life in constant pain or with no quality of life.

All medical decisions are taken, and procedures performed, by our expert and highly experienced vet in a sterile clinical setting supported by a team of veterinary nurses and trained volunteers. ROLDA has treated thousands of sick and injured and animals who go on to live long and happy lives.

ROLDA also comprehensively vaccinates all dogs we encounter, helping to preserve the good health of the both the animal and the broader canine and human populations.

Both are shelters are clean safe and comfortable places for all the dogs we house, though many dogs which take up residence with us may have highly specialised needs – medical or psychological – or may be puppies, pregnant mothers, elderly or disabled, meaning they are less suited to a large, mixed population and require a more sedate and intimate environment in which in to live or convalesce.

Once in residence with us, no dog is ever turned out or euthanised for as long as their natural life and quality of life continues. They grow old with us and we’ll never let them down.

Our largest shelter can be found in the outskirts of Galati, Romania’s fifth largest city, it’s outskirts home to sprawling industrial complexes in stark contrast to unforgiving wilderness beyond. Our 15,000msq site was paid for in the summer of 2006, with the money donated to us by one of our most generous British donors. The shelter consists of two rows of kennels in parallel formation. In total, 12 paddocks (120 kennel boxes). Every box is 18 square meters (3 x 6m) and can accommodate up to 6 dogs (dependant on size). The sanctuary was authorized by the National Veterinary Authority (ANSVSA) in 2012.

The first paddock welcomed dogs in the fall, 2007. In 2012, our veterinary clinic was completed and in the same year, we completed multiple running and play spaces for our dogs to exercise and socialise. More such spaces are in our construction pipeline and will be erected when funding becomes available.

The change in many of our dogs is heart-warming to witness. From fearful and defensive to happy and enjoying socialising and play with us and their new furry family. It is one of the most challenging parts of our work, but one of the most rewarding.

ROLDA operates an international adoption program, whereby dogs in robust mental and physical health are rehomed from our shelter to a happy home in Europe. ROLDA only rehomes we and our vet are certain are psychologically and physically capable of travel and adapting well to a new environment.

So far, we have found happy homes for over 1700 dogs and these are the success stories which inspire and motivate us to never give up and continue in our mission.

We would like to share with you the wonderful photos many of our supporters who’ve adopted have shared with us.

We want to continue creating stories like these and want you to be part of them. If you are capable, please consider adopting a ROLDA dog and creating a friendship that will live with you forever.

Likewise, for dogs belonging to loving but poor families, ROLDA provides financial assistance with veterinary bills and donates food and play items whenever possible.

ROLDA offers hope to both families and abandoned dogs by offering a home to homeless dog and by offering sterilisation and microchipping free of charge to try and keep dogs in loving homes.

We believe it is our mission to improve the lives of those in the community we belong to in whatever way we can and ROLDA is perfectly equipped to bring joy into lives of those who would otherwise live in isolation. The happiness a dog can bring someone is unique. The unconditional love, affection and their childlike and infectious lust for life is enough to brighten anyone’s world.

ROLDA takes a selection of our more sociable dogs to local retirement homes and supervise them whilst they interact and play with the residents. The mutual joy it brings all involved is wonderful to witness and we make the trip as often as we can.

ROLDA has begun a campaign to provide dog houses to both families and to villages as communal places for local dogs to shelter during the harsh winter. Precious few dogs living in the wild have a safe and dry place to shelter, with many turning to the unsafe abandoned industrial complexes that flank our nearest city.

ROLDA hopes to one day have the resources to fund a central medical and education hub to provide care and training to local volunteers to expand our network of rescue and improve local standards of welfare.