Skopelos is not the most famous island of Greece, it is also not so massively visited by tourists in the summer.

But those who come often want to feed the many cats. But in winter, when all hotels and restaurants are closed, only a few old people are left behind.

Some of those ladies (well, most of them are women) try to help the cats with their own meagre allowance. Unfortunately, there are many stray cats and few ladies …

When Natasa Lambrogianni came to the island in 2011, she was completely shocked. So many strays, dogs and cats, big and small but all in need. They were mistreated, half-starved, sick, injured…

Enlarge images when you click on them. (Not on mobile)

According to Greek law, the government is responsible for the care of stray animals, but don't be surprised: they did zero point zero. They still don't, by the way.

In fact, there was not even a vet on the island at the time. If Natasa needed a doctor for treatment or sterilization, she had to travel all the way to Athens.

A lot has changed since we first spoke to Natasa. Especially in the number of animals that Natasa passes by every day.

She takes care of – almost on her own – 500 to 600 cats and 60 dogs. A staggering number.

And no, they are not all in a large shelter, Natasa does not have that. In addition, these cats are simply happier when they are free.

They were born that way, and they want to stay that way. And that is fine if someone drives around daily, provides food and observes the animals with a trained eye.

Her own house now houses 32 very old dogs and many cats. The latter are, without exception, cats with a deficiency or disease that can no longer survive in the wild.

The rest of the huge number walk through the streets and in the wider area. Skopelos also has many mountainous areas where no one ever goes.

Fortunately Natasa does. Every day she drives at least 40 km to feed and monitor all those groups. And especially to water. Without water, no cat would last 3 days in the summer.

She has 60 (!) feeding places on the way. And everywhere it is crawling with cats waiting for her.

It is then not easy to spot an animal that looks worse than a few days ago and now needs help.

Some animals are already familiar with her and also allow her to give some medicine or antibiotics if they are injured by prickly bushes or by mutual fights. But most cats are unapproachable, never used to a human hand.

It is therefore difficult to catch those animals to have them sterilized. Still, it will have to be: there are already too many of them…

On her route, Natasa also stops at the chain dogs. They are always the same dogs that lie helplessly stuck all their lives, often without shelter but with an owner who doesn't look after them and even forgets to give them food and water.

How incredibly important a woman like Natasa is on Skopelos. In the past, 2 volunteers have signed up to take over part of the route from her. But as so often, they quickly gave up…

While you and I think, 'how can you? Can't you see with your own eyes how much the animals need you? Then you can't just abandon them, can you?' But still, apparently not everyone thinks the same ...

There is an urgent need for more sterilization and, one way or another, more food.

And so Natasa hopes – and so do we, of course – that the dear donors of the Dierennood foundation will come to her aid.

https://www.facebook.com/anastasia.lamprogianni

Just a moment: Just before we were about to send this project to the webmaster, we wanted to ask one more question. And we got a crying Natasa on the phone.

She was sad, one of her old dogs had just died. We find that so characteristic of a true animal friend.

She has so many animals, and yet she grieves for one…

You can help these animals directly by transferring an amount to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 for. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Aid Project 169'

And we ensure that your donation will really only be used for this aid project.

With us there is no deduction for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills.

Or donate via the button below:

Working horses and donkeys are the most mistreated and abused animals in the world…

These animals have a very hard existence. There is little compassion in their daily lives. The animals are used at a young age for – much too – heavy work. Loads are placed on their backs that almost make them fall through their legs, or they have to pull carts that are overloaded.

Add to this the high work pressure without moments of rest, the whiplashes and the hours in the blazing sun without enough food or drink and you can imagine that the animals literally drop down on a regular basis. There is little empathy for the hard workers, they are only seen as tools.

Enlarge images when you click on them. (Not on mobile)

When that work is no longer possible, they are left to die on the rubbish dump, in a ditch along the road or simply on the street. And then you can safely speak of stray horses and stray donkeys …

Australian couple Jill and Warren Barton are avid horse lovers and wanted to do something good for horses in need more than 10 years ago. That is how they ended up in Egypt where they started volunteering in a horse shelter there.

Everything they thought they knew about animal suffering was completely nullified by seeing the indescribable suffering with their own eyes.

Back in Australia, they couldn't get the horrific conditions out of their minds. And so they exchanged their, then luxurious, existence to devote themselves entirely to helping horses and donkeys.

From scratch, they have set up an independently operating animal clinic and shelter in Giza that focuses on the local working animals in Cairo and the surrounding area. They work with volunteers and are actually volunteers themselves.

They take care of sick and injured, abused and severely neglected horses and donkeys. They treat them and educate the owners so that the animals will hopefully have a better future.

After all, the population is poor, and they desperately need the animals themselves to guarantee some income. It is in their own interest to spare the animals more and to keep them healthy for longer.

Egypt Equine Aid (EEA) works together with veterinarians from more developed countries who also have the task of training and retraining Egyptian veterinarians, the knowledge of Egyptian veterinarians is usually not that good. For example, they often work with dirty needles, which causes the animals to contract tetanus.

In Egypt alone there are an estimated 3 million (!) horses and donkeys that are used for transport, (agricultural) construction and tourism. Yes, even in the tourism sector, there is still a lot to improve. As long as tourists continue to use horses and donkey rides in and around the pyramids, the work of EEA will continue to be much needed. Under the colourful saddle, the back is often completely raw and under that cheerful nose band, the skin is often deeply carved.

Most people in Egypt believe that animals do not suffer pain. Unimaginable right? As long as the animal can still stand and walk somewhat, they must continue. If necessary with beatings and beatings.

Yet another and equally persistent problem that the team often faces is the superstitions and cultural traditions in society. For example, to ward off evil, a rusty nail is stuck in the skin or pieces of rope are pulled through the skin. Wounds, deliberately inflicted by branding or cuts in the skin are supposed to cure disease… You would say they have learned over time that the wounds only get infected and no animal has ever benefited from it… but no, it doesn't seem to be learned from it.

Education and information about their working animals is therefore desperately needed to improve the bond between humans and animals. EEA's tireless volunteers are doing everything possible to bring about some improvement.

In all those years they have been able to help thousands of horses and donkeys.

On average, about 75 (!) animals per day. The local population is getting better at finding them and sometimes after days of walking with an injured animal, often standing or lying on a cart, they come to the clinic. The most common problems that the doctors and volunteers encounter are: malnutrition, dehydration, gastrointestinal problems due to poor nutrition, exhaustion, tetanus infections, open wounds, skin disorders, hoof disorders and broken limbs. A long list… We struggled to find photos with the project that wouldn't be too shocking. Animals must be put to sleep every day that arrive in such a bad condition that they can no longer be saved, euthanasia is then the only option after they have, if possible, been able to enjoy a nice meal and rest and love.

There is also a shelter next to the clinic. For some horses and donkeys, that means a nice, quiet old age. She is so gifted!

Furthermore, the EEA distributes grooming supplies such as well-fitting halters, soft nose bands, fly masks, horse blankets and saddle blankets to prevent the risk of injury. And they provide additional training to Egyptian veterinarians and veterinary students and caregivers.

Is it necessary to mention that the clinic is short of money and only thrives on donations?

It is appalling what is going on there, but they are doing fantastic work under very difficult circumstances, and they have been able to achieve so much in recent years.

Very clever in a country like Egypt.

The couple is therefore described as very skilled, very loving and very motivated.

But it is a long way to better living conditions for the animals and help is desperately needed every day.

Only a limited number of animals can be helped, but so many more workhorses and donkeys need help. From U.S.!

Egypt Equine Aid daily involves donors and followers in their work and developments through social media. So you can see their amazing work for yourself via their Facebook and Website

You can help these animals directly by transferring an amount to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 for. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Aid project 168'

And we ensure that your donation will really only be used for this aid project.

With us there is no deduction for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills.

Or donate via the button below:

Another rescuer in dire need in Romania.

Animal helpers in the Eastern Bloc countries regularly let us know that they are ashamed of the mentality in their country. On the one hand it is bitter when people talk about their homeland like that, but on the other hand we know all too well how difficult it is made for people who do have a heart for animals.

Take Elena Surubariu for example. In Barbosi, Vaslui. She has a monthly salary of 600 euros and 270 dogs, 170 of which are puppies!!! Which now also all get bigger, have to be vaccinated and dewormed three times, then all have to be sterilised… and in the end there is little chance that they will be adopted because 'they have already become too old…'

And then we read the cry for help on her Facebook : Help us with food for the puppies with Parvo, there will be nothing left in 2 days, no detergents, no food for the sick, the elderly, please help us, it's cold and snowing, they need fire and food, please… It cuts you to the soul… right?

How we would love to be able to write a cheerful project for a change. One that gives you and us a happy feeling.

But no, a large proportion of pet owners do not see the benefit of sterilisation or prefer to spend their money on something else. And so the population of stray animals continues to grow, especially in the spring.

Elena is all alone. Her only happiness is the help of a veterinarian friend, Dr. Catalin Gramada. Who often treats her animals for a small price.
She only helped her when a lot of puppies with the dangerous disease Parvo came to her. A total of almost 100 sick animals! A bizarre number! A large part of the little ones could be saved thanks to Dr. Catalin, but the bill of 870 euros is still open.

Incidentally, there is no vet in her own small village. Elena has to travel a long way again and again.

And just imagine, Parvo is a contagious disease. All those sick puppies have camped in her house to prevent more animals from becoming infected.

In addition, she also has those who will never be eligible for adoption in and around her house all year round. Those with a chronic disease, e.g. liver or kidney failure. Adopters are shocked by the price of the required diet food. Even though it is known that a dog with adapted food can still grow old 'healthily'. And Elena will also have to purchase that more expensive food. She has no choice. Then there are the blind or deaf dogs, the disabled … And of course the larger dogs and the so-called 'less beautiful'. Come on people, every animal has something nice if you look closely. Nice ears, sweet eyes, a funny walk... Look further than your nose is long!

Still, it would be a party for Elena if some of the cute - now perfectly healthy - puppies found a home. There are several on her Facebook with the caption, 'I need love and a home. Please adopt me'.

https://www.facebook.com/elena.surubariu

Elena does her very best, we also hear that from the people who know her well. She never complains (how is she supposed to find time for that?) and is happiest when the enclosures have had a major overhaul and the animals have been provided with food and medicine.

Then she tries to forget for a moment that it is still uncertain whether she will still have food next week. Donations are scarce and rarely enough. She had to handwash all the dog blankets and blankets for a while. On her knees with cold water. Only recently did she buy a small washing machine with borrowed(!) money.

Elena really lives under primitive circumstances and her own body unfortunately regularly fails. We are really worried about her…

The quality of the photos is not optimal. Elena's house is old and dark, and so is her cell phone…

She herself says that she simply cannot do otherwise; the animals often cannot take care of themselves, nor can they ask us anything. “I love them very much for their faithfulness, loyalty, purity and integrity. That is also what I get back from them. All those animals that have been thrown over the fence in sacks that I have found bloodied, run over or sick, the old blind and deaf dog that was put on the street at the end of its life, the little puppy that was tortured with a fork and who needed 8 stitches at the vet…all those animals…to my last gasp I will love them.”

How we would like to put a heart to such a beautiful person. One time, we know. But a one-time donation from us with love may give her enough strength to be able to continue for a while...
For the benefit of all those animals that we from the Netherlands can only help in one way. By giving them a donation.

You can help these animals directly by transferring an amount to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 in the name of Stichting Dierennood stating 'Auxiliary project 167'

And we ensure that your donation will really only be used for this aid project.

With us there is no deduction for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills.

Or donate via the button below:

Opnieuw een rescuer in grote nood in Roemenië.

Met enige regelmaat laten dierenhelpers in de Oostbloklanden ons weten dat ze zich schamen voor de mentaliteit in hun land. Aan de ene kant is het wrang als mensen zo over hun vaderland praten maar aan de andere kant weten wij maar al te goed hoe moeilijk het de mensen wordt gemaakt die wel een hart voor dieren hebben.

Neem nou Elena Surubariu. In Barbosi, Vaslui. Ze heeft een maandsalaris van 600 euro en 270 honden, waarvan 170 pups!!! Die dus nu óók allemaal groter worden, drie keer moeten worden gevaccineerd en ontwormd, dan allemaal moeten worden gesteriliseerd… en uiteindelijk is er weinig kans dat ze worden geadopteerd omdat ‘ze al te oud zijn geworden …’

En dan lezen we op haar Facebook de noodkreet: Help ons met eten voor de pups met Parvo, er is over 2 dagen niets meer, geen wasmiddelen, geen voedsel voor zieken, ouderen, help ons, alsjeblieft, het is koud en het sneeuwt, ze hebben vuur en voedsel nodig, alsjeblieft … Het snijdt je door de ziel … toch?

Wat zouden wij graag ter afwisseling eens een vrolijk project kunnen schrijven. Zo één die jullie en ons een blij gevoel geeft.

Maar nee, een groot deel van de huisdiereigenaren ziet het nut van sterilisatie niet in of men geeft hun geld liever aan iets anders uit. En dus groeit de populatie zwerfdieren almaar verder, vooral in het voorjaar.

Elena staat er helemaal alleen voor. Haar enige geluk is de hulp van een bevriende dierenarts, Dr. Catalin Gramada. Die vaak voor een klein prijsje haar dieren behandelt.
Die heeft haar pas nog geholpen toen er heel veel pups met de gevaarlijke ziekte Parvo bij haar binnenkwamen. In totaal bijna 100 zieke diertjes! Een bizar aantal! Een groot deel van de kleintjes kon worden gered dankzij die dr. Catalin maar de rekening van 870 euro staat nog open.

Overigens, er zit geen dierenarts in haar eigen kleine dorp. Steeds weer moet Elena een heel eind reizen.

En stel je eens voor, Parvo is een besmettelijke ziekte. Al die zieke pups hebben in haar huis gebivakkeerd om te voorkomen dat er nog meer dieren besmet zouden raken.

Daarnaast heeft ze het hele jaar door ook diegene die nooit voor adoptie in aanmerking zullen komen in en rond haar huis. Degene met een chronische ziekte, bv. lever- of nierfalen. Adoptanten schrikken van de prijs van het benodigde dieetvoer. Ook al weet men dat een hond met aangepast voer toch ‘gezond’ oud kan worden. En dat duurdere voer zal Elena óók moeten aanschaffen. Ze heeft geen keus. Dan zijn er nog de blinde of juist dove honden, de gehandicapte … En natuurlijk de grotere honden en de zogenaamde ‘minder mooie’. Kom nou mensen, elk dier heeft iets leuks als je maar goed kijkt. Leuke oortjes, lieve ogen, een grappig loopje … Kijk eens verder dan je neus lang is!

Maar toch, het zou al een feestje voor Elena zijn als er een paar van de schattige – inmiddels kerngezonde – pupjes een thuis zouden vinden. Er staan er een aantal op haar Facebook met het bijschrift: ‘I need love and a home. Please adopt me’.

Elena doet ontzettend haar best, dat horen wij evengoed van de mensen die haar goed kennen. Ze klaagt nooit (hoe zou ze daar tijd voor moeten vinden?) en is het gelukkigst als de verblijven een grote beurt hebben gehad en de dieren van eten en hun medicijnen zijn voorzien.

Dan probeert ze voor heel even te vergeten dat het nog onzeker is of ze vólgende week nog wel voer heeft. Donaties zijn schaars en zelden genoeg. Ze heeft een tijdlang alle hondendekjes en dekens op de hand moeten wassen. Op haar knieën met koud water. Pas onlangs heeft ze met geleend(!) geld een kleine wasmachine gekocht.

Elena leeft echt onder primitieve omstandigheden en haar eigen lichaam laat het helaas regelmatig afweten. We maken ons werkelijk zorgen om haar …

De kwaliteit van de foto’s is niet optimaal. Elena’s huisje is oud en donker en zo is het ook gesteld met haar mobieltje …

Zelf vertelt ze dat ze gewoon niet anders kan; de dieren kunnen vaak niet voor zichzelf zorgen, ze kunnen ons ook niets vragen. “Ik hou ontzettend van ze om hun trouw, loyaliteit, zuiverheid en integriteit. Dat is ook wat ik van hen terug ontvang. Al die dieren die in zakken over het hek zijn gesmeten, die ik bebloed, overreden of ziek gevonden heb, de oude blinde en dove hond die aan het eind van zijn leven op straat werd gezet, de kleine pup die met een vork gemarteld werd en die 8 hechtingen bij de dierenarts nodig had … al die dieren … tot mijn laatste snik zal ik van ze houden.”

Wat zouden wij graag zo’n mooi mens een hart onder de riem steken. Eénmalig, we weten het. Maar éénmalig een met liefde gegeven donatie van ons zal haar misschien voldoende kracht geven om weer een tijdlang voort te kunnen…
Ten bate van al die dieren die wij vanuit Nederland maar op één manier kunnen helpen. Door hen een donatie te gunnen.

Je kunt deze dieren direct helpen door een bedrag over te maken naar:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 t.n.v. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Hulpproject 167’

En wij zorgen dat je donatie echt alleen voor dit hulpproject besteed zal worden.

Bij ons is er geen aftrek voor salarissen, huisvesting of overbodige franje.

Of doneer via onderstaande knoppen:

Loyal readers know that an asylum in a country like Macedonia cannot be compared with the asylums we know in the Netherlands or even in Spain.

Nothing, no structure, no fixed times, no lunch breaks or done at 5 o'clock. It is literally buffalo, 24/7.

There are no volunteers who continue cleaning if you are on the way to a vet with an animal for a long time.

Everything then remains and you are constantly behind the facts. And then when you want to go home tired, dirty and cold late at night, you get an urgent phone call:

“There is a dog or cat injured by the side of the road.” And then you go again…

It happens more often than you think that we hear that loyal helpers indicate that they really can't handle it anymore. “I am so tired of all the worries, financial problems, the hard work and the endless stream of new animals in need.

I hardly sleep, don't know how to go on, I can't take it anymore. But what should I do? I can't just leave the animals to fend for themselves?"

And sometimes… a well-known and previously reliable rescuer has already gone over the edge… For 10 years she has fought for the animals in a lousy country like Macedonia and really gave everything. Then she got burnt out and just couldn't take care of her 100 dogs properly anymore. In the end, it broke her mentally.

The Dutch foundation Happy Together for Dogs has been shocked and has found help. Kemal Neziri's shelter near Skopje was willing to take over the care of the dogs. Tribute to this man!

At the end of January, Kemal visited Daniela's shelter together with a vet. What they found there was too sad for words. Obviously, the animals hadn't been properly fed or cared for in a long time. Neighbors said they sometimes didn't see Daniela for days.

20 dogs had passed away… And at least 30 to 40 dogs looked terrible with very serious skin problems, all animals were clearly malnourished and in urgent need of medical care.

The first images we saw brought tears to our eyes. The animals turned out to have lived on bread alone for some time. As a result, there was no resistance to all kinds of diseases. Many animals were almost bald and some had not survived the winter cold. Sheer horror.

Kemal and his volunteer team now face the biggest challenge of their lives. He already took care of 130 dogs himself and now 70 will be added… And unfortunately no healthy animals that he can easily place in his own pack. To properly examine all dogs, they must be tested 1 by 1 for diseases and / or problems.

Some of them are already known to require surgery, a large proportion require medication and all dogs must gain strength through other, good nutrition. And many dogs immediately had to put on a jacket to prevent them from succumbing to the cold.

Due to a lack of space, not all dogs can go to their new home at once. They are gradually quarantined, go through all the investigations and only then can they be carefully introduced to their new pack.

Some animals are sweet and fairly social. They were the first to go. A handful of kibble in the back of the van and the hungry dogs will jump right in. Of course, those left behind are now fed and cared for as best as possible.

Gradually it becomes more and more difficult to catch even the most frightened and aggressive animals. The terrain is large and panicked animals are lightning fast. Often Maca, Kemal's wife, lures a dog to approach for an hour, but the very last animals were still there until mid-March. Only a few days before the appearance of this project, the last dog was also transferred and the site is empty.

The Dutch Mark van Zuiden from Happy Together for Dogs went to help and he keeps us informed of the progress.

Of course Kemal is not going to manage this financially alone! That's why we decided to give him and the pitiful creatures priority. They urgently need you and us.

The pictures speak for themselves... Please help these poor people forget their traumatic experiences.

Give them a chance for a healthy body and a new - hopeful - beginning.

You can help these animals directly by transferring an amount to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 Attn. Stichting Dierennood and quote: 'Aid project 166'

And we ensure that your donation will really only be used for this aid project.

With us there is no deduction for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills.

Or donate via the button below:

There was a time when Cristina Barsateanu, from a small town in Teleorman Country, Romania, was on our 'small projects list'.

But it often goes like this: during the long wait, Cristina's pack has grown from 51 dogs and 39 cats to - don't be alarmed - 176 dogs and 64 cats ...

More animals means more responsibility, more work, more stress and many more problems.

“In fact,” admits Cristina, “the worries are so high that I can hardly cope. There is still so much to do, so much still needed. Winter is now at its worst for the animals and I can't give them enough warmth and enough food to withstand the freezing cold.”

High time for a project, a big project.

Her story begins like so many others. 8 years ago she moved from the city to the countryside and the shock was enormous.

It was (and still is) shocking to see how people here treat animals and how the government keeps looking the other way.

All the animals that walked around were, without exception, emaciated and every one terrified of humans.

It started with that, Cristina was the only one who didn't look the other way and helped one after the other. Sure enough, it soon became a habit for everyone to bring their unwanted animals to Cristina. Plus, of course, all those puppies and kittens that seemed to never end.

At first she was happy that the animals were delivered to her and not dumped somewhere 'in the middle of nowhere'.

But the number grew very fast. So she started telling people about free sterilisations in other towns. A number of people wanted to have their animal helped, but to make the effort yourself? And since Cristina didn't have a car of her own, she had to pay someone to drive her. Of course, she had no benches or cages either, but stacked the animals in simple crates on top of each other in the car. Fifteen of them in one go. At home, all helped animals were cared for a few more days until they could safely go to their owner or were strengthened enough to go out on the street again.

Please note: Cristina has no staff and few supporters anyway… Her only supporter is her mother.

Cristina's efforts to sterilise more animals finally paid off. Nowadays, a veterinary mobile clinic pays a visit, paid for by a German foundation. So she doesn't have to worry about the costs, but all the preparatory work and aftercare are and will remain for Cristina.

Even now there is no help from the authorities or even volunteers to help her. She has a full day's work to inform people about the free sterilisation option that will soon be held, to schedule all the animals and, above all, to ensure that the animals are actually present at the right time.

Which often means she has to pick up the animals herself. Always a stressful situation. And of course she keeps the animals with her for a few days after the operation. Even animals with an owner can typically not be trusted to give their dog or cat proper aftercare. Some would re-chain the dogs the same day…

She also does not have a neatly laid out shelter. All the animals are in her house and garden, which is now literally overcrowded. She – and therefore the animals – lack everything.

We asked what was most important. And that was not one thing, but three.

Firstly, in the old house, there are two rooms that could be renovated with our donations. The puppies, the old and vulnerable dogs and the animals that need extra care could stay dry and warm there.

Secondly, please new decent wind and waterproof dog houses. There are far too few of them, and the pens that do exist offer little or no protection.

And thirdly, she would like to build a large outdoor enclosure for the cats. All her cats are indoors only. That is not fun and not healthy for them. They cannot just walk around outside, then they will be killed by a car or fall prey to the malicious.

Oh, yes… then there is a fourth wish, but Cristina really does not dare to dream that far. A strip of land that borders her garden and is for sale. How wonderful it would be if the dogs could run and play there at regular intervals instead of spending their lives in kennels. The animals are adopted, but many will remain there for their entire lives.

Yet the dogs are already so grateful to her, she says. So it's heartwarming to see how they perk up and change from scared to friendly, wagging their tails when they see me. From just a body of skin and bones to a healthy body with flesh on the bones, from a bare skin full of sores to a shiny coat.

A moment of real love and attention, and the animals are happy. Who would she begrudge that?

Will you help to make the animals happy?

You can help these animals directly by transferring money to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 for. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Aid project 165'

And we ensure that your entire donation will really only be used for this aid project.

We don't have deductions for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills.

Or donate through the button below:

Daniela Popovici lives with all her animals in Desa, Romania.

Already in her childhood she was daily surrounded by the numerous animals in the household of her, also animal-loving, parents. Little did she then imagine that in the future she herself would become the savior and hope of many hundreds of abandoned, wandering, abused and sick souls.

The summer of 2015 was the start of Daniela's childhood dream: to save as many animals as possible. It started small, very small. In a graveyard she was struck in her heart by the pleading eyes of a helpless little creature. It was only a few weeks old at most. When Daniela approached, she saw why the girl looked at her with such expectation: her back legs were paralyzed, she could do nothing more than lie and shuffle on the tombstone.

Of course Daniela didn't let her lie there, she picked up the puppy, hugged her and gave her the beautiful name Mariuta. Veterinary visits, food and unconditional love, all this has made it possible for little Mariuța Popovici to live a happy life now.

Unfortunately, she lost her hind legs, but she has now become the shelter's mascot.

And then it went smoothly, very smoothly. At the moment there are no less than 700 dogs, 160 (!) horses, of course a lot of cats and a few cows, goats, donkeys, sheep and poultry. And the number is only increasing.

It is the middle of winter and running such a huge shelter in the winter requires even more energy from people and animals than in the warmer months. All animals need extra feed. We have explained this many times before.

All bodies, including ours, need more calories every day to stay warm at low temperatures. And they are low. 15 degrees frost is quite normal.

But oh dear, the dogs within the fences of her shelter already have to be rationed. That means they get thinner, lose their immunity and become more susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia and kennel cough. Expensive medicines are the result. Money that could have been better spent buying good food.

Daniela begs us on her knees: “please, help. Otherwise they all end up where they are found …”

“Please help or they will all end up where they were once found…”

There are already so many strays desperately roaming the streets looking for 'something', anything. All too often they eat waste that is absolutely inedible, sometimes even pebbles to feel full. But of course those stones or that rotten waste give them even more stomach ache ☹ We regularly hear from people who think that the animals in freedom have a better life than those in a kennel.

That would certainly be the case if there were more animal lovers and less danger from animal haters. More animal lovers who would feed the animals and less animal haters who do everything they can to make their lives miserable. Give extra gas to hit the animal, even if it is still walking on the roadside, sprinkle poison, point an air rifle at them ...

The Mariuta shelter is the only shelter in a wide area. 80% of the animals living here would have died a nasty and painful death long ago.

The same applies to all other animals that are now safe there. 160 horses, go ahead. Horses are also found along the side of the road. They too had been hit by a car, neglected, badly abused, dumped. Refurbishing such large animals entails enormous costs, you can guess that.

And right now the meadows where they stay in the summer are either frozen solid or there is a thick layer of snow.

Hay, straw, silage maize, biks, nutritious pellets, they can't be dragged along. And the winter lasts so long, in Romania at least until April.

Daniela has about a thousand mouths and pelvis to feed, every day the question is whether she will succeed.

Impressive… that's the word that comes to mind at the Mariuta shelter.

Tip from her and from us:

Every day that you sit at a set table ... think about the many animals of Mariuta.

Save. Love. Respect.

That is Mariuta's creed.
Especially admire the beautiful website https://mariuta.ro/

And follow them on their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asociatia.mariuta/

You can help these animals directly by transferring an amount to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 for. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Aid project 164'

And we ensure that your donation will really only be used for this aid project.

With us there is no deduction for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills.

Or donate via the button below:

Last winter, we would have loved to make a project for Andreaa, but it didn't happen. So many applications, so few months in a year.

All we could do was post on our Facebook page how the dogs tried to survive in snow and ice.

There were a lot of reactions to that from people who were confronted – perhaps for the first time – with the conditions in a Romanian animal shelter.

Now they could see it with their own eyes and understand why some animals don't make it to the end of winter…

And that while Andreaa has already made so much progress.

Years ago, she was finally able to convince the local government of the importance of getting the vagrants off the streets of the city. And they -finally- agreed, made a piece of land available, fenced it and concrete was poured. In 'the middle of nowhere' an open plain where northern winds, eastern storm and lashing hailstorms have free rein.

No water, no electricity and no roof! Within 2 days, seventy dogs had already been brought in and were forced to lie on the stone-cold, wet concrete. A horrible situation!

Andreea had to drag large bottles of drinking water for the dogs, but if the snow was too high, and she couldn't reach the shelter by car, there was no choice but to cover the last 500 meters on foot. Carrying food and drink.

Unbelievable what Andreea herself and the dogs had to go through for hardships. She begged the local government for timber pallets, so that the animals at least did not freeze to the concrete.

That last one is literally! The wet fur freezes solid, and when an animal stands up… it pulls the hair out of its body.

Tarpaulin was donated from abroad, but after all the hard work of fitting the tarpaulins as a roof and on the sides, they were picked up by the wind at the first blizzard…

Meanwhile, the dog catchers brought in one dog after another and the animals started to fight. There was not enough space and too little food.

Andreea then had even bigger problems: caring for injured dogs. There wasn't even a vet who could help her with anything. The dogs brought in were not sterilized and pregnant bitches were also dropped off with her. They gave birth in the open air on the cold concrete... Almost none of them survived.

Unknown makes unloved. No one noticed a lonely woman and her struggle to keep the dogs alive.

Eventually, the Dutch Irene adopted a small street dog and thus 'discovered' the shelter of Targu Frumos. Together with the Dutch foundation Newlife4Straydogs, she has gradually ensured some improvement.

In the course of time, kennels with plastic plates on the side were introduced to stop the harsh wind and some indoor pens already provided more safety and shelter. In 2018 there was actually a ROOF!

Today, Andreaa's situation is that the shelter is packed. Her worst concern now is: where do I get food? The Council provides 3 bags of food per day. 20 kilos per bag. Adult food, for adult dogs. 3 whole bags for 200 dogs?

Then there are also 40 young dogs and about 60 puppies. These animals have not yet had time to grow a thick coat and are very vulnerable. They should actually get special food for that, which is slightly more expensive. But Andreaa cannot afford this.

A few months ago, Andreea was hoping for puppy food coming in from Animal Webaction. If you click on their website, you can click for free to help provide food to an animal helper. In this case, for no less than 81 puppies. Unfortunately, not enough was clicked and the puppies from Andreea didn't get a kick. (Incidentally, we would like to recommend that site wholeheartedly. We at Dierennood also click on it daily. We always share it on our FB page.)

That wasn't the first and only time Andreea cried. She has a hard time filling all the stomachs.

More nutritious food is also needed quickly for weaker and older dogs. Death is imminent.

And there is certainly an urgent need for more warm and sturdy lofts. Not all dogs are lucky enough to be able to sleep in such a leak-proof and draught-free kennel.

Look at the leaking, collapsing hovels. It hurts to know that some dogs have to live through winter in these, too. Think of them when you walk out tucked into your collar tomorrow… these animals can't even hide somewhere in the lee.

Andrea herself says:

In my town, they call me the crazy lady with the dogs! I have absolutely no support from anyone, but I keep going, I am used to it by now. Sometimes I feel sad, sometimes hopeless, sometimes I truly believe that what I am doing is making a change, it varies. It's definitely a lot of ups and downs!

That's why this winter is absolutely a project for Andreaa with her 200 dogs!

Will you help again?

Facebook page.

You can help these animals directly by transferring an amount to:

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 Attn. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Aid project 163'

And we ensure that your donation will really only be used for this aid project.

We do not have deduction for salaries, housing or unnecessary frills. All donations go to the animals.

Or donate via the button below: