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?

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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:

Er was een tijd dat Cristina Barsateanu, uit een klein stadje in Teleorman Country, Roemenië, op onze ‘kleine-projecten-lijst’ stond.

Maar het gaat vaker zo: tijdens de lange wachttijd is Cristina’s roedel gegroeid van 51 honden en 39 katten naar – schrik niet – 176 honden en 64 katten …

Meer dieren betekent een grotere verantwoordelijkheid, meer werk, meer stress en véél meer problemen.

“En eigenlijk”, bekent Cristina, “zijn de zorgen zo hoog opgelopen dat ik het haast niet aankan. Er is nog zoveel te doen, nog zoveel nodig. De winter is nu op z’n hevigst voor de dieren en ik kan ze niet voldoende warmte geven en niet voldoende voer om weerstand te bieden tegen de ijzige kou.”

Hoog tijd voor een project dus, een gróót project.

Haar verhaal begint als zoveel andere. 8 jaar geleden verhuisde ze van de stad naar het platteland en de schok was enorm.

Het was (en is nog) schrikbarend om te zien hoe de mensen hier met dieren omgaan en hoe de overheid steeds de andere kant opkijkt.

Alle dieren die er rondliepen waren zonder uitzondering uitgemergeld en stuk voor stuk als de dood voor mensen.

Daar begon het mee, Cristina keek als enige niet een andere kant op en hielp de één na de ander. En ja hoor, al snel werd het een gewoonte voor iedereen om hun ongewenste dieren maar naar Cristina te brengen. Plus natuurlijk al die pups en kittens waar, maar geen eind aan leek te komen.

In eerste instantie was ze allang blij dat de dieren bij haar werden afgeleverd en niet ergens ‘in the middle of nowhere’ werden gedumpt.

Maar het aantal groeide wel èrg hard. Daarom begon ze de mensen te vertellen over gratis sterilisaties in andere stadjes. Een aantal mensen wilden hun dier wel laten helpen maar om daar nou zelf moeite voor te doen? En omdat Cristina zelf geen auto had, moest ze iemand betalen om haar te rijden. Ze had natuurlijk ook geen benches of kooien, maar stapelde de dieren in simpele kratjes op elkaar in de auto. 15 stuks in 1 keer. Thuis werden alle geholpen dieren nog enkele dagen bij haar verzorgd tot ze veilig naar hun eigenaar konden of genoeg waren aangesterkt om weer de straat op te gaan.

Let wel: Cristina heeft geen personeel en sowieso weinig medestanders … Haar enige medestander is haar eigen moeder.

Cristina’s inspanningen om méér dieren te kunnen steriliseren werden uiteindelijk beloond. Regelmatig komt er tegenwoordig een veterinaire rijdende kliniek op bezoek, betaald door een Duitse stichting. Over de kosten hoeft ze zich dus geen zorgen te maken, maar al het voorwerk en alle nazorg zijn en blijven voor Cristina.

Ook nu is er geen hulp van de autoriteiten of zelfs maar vrijwilligers om haar te helpen. Ze heeft er een dagtaak aan om de mensen op de hoogte te brengen van de binnenkort te houden gratis sterilisatiemogelijkheid, alle dieren in te plannen en vooral te zorgen dat de dieren ook daadwerkelijk op het goede moment aanwezig zijn.

Wat vaak betekent dat ze de dieren zelf op moet halen. Steeds een stresssituatie. En natuurlijk houdt ze de dieren een paar dagen lang bij zich na de operatie. Ook dieren met een eigenaar kan ze vaak niet vertrouwen dat ze hun hond of kat goede nazorg gaan geven. Sommigen zouden de honden dezelfde dag weer aan de ketting leggen …

Een keurig aangelegd asiel heeft ze ook niet. Alle dieren zitten in haar huis en tuin, die nu letterlijk óverbevolkt is. Het ontbreekt haar – en dus de dieren – aan alles.

We hebben gevraagd wat het meest belangrijk was. En dat was niet één ding maar drie.

Allereerst zijn er in het oude huis 2 kamers die gerenoveerd zouden kunnen worden met onze donaties. Daar zouden de pups, de oude en kwetsbare honden en de dieren die extra verpleging nodig hebben, droog en warm(er) kunnen verblijven.

Ten tweede alsjeblieft nieuwe degelijke wind- en waterdichte hondenhokken. Er zijn er veel te weinig en de hokken die er zijn bieden weinig tot geen bescherming.

En ten derde zou ze graag een groot buitenverblijf voor de katten bouwen. Al haar katten zitten alleen maar binnen. Dat is niet leuk en niet gezond voor ze. Buiten los rondlopen kunnen ze niet, dan worden ze doodgereden of vallen ze ten prooi aan de kwaadwillenden.

O ja… dan is er nog een vierde wens maar Cristina durft echt niet zó ver te dromen. Een strookje land dat aan haar tuin grenst en te koop is. Wat zou het fantastisch zijn als de honden daar op gezette tijden zouden kunnen rennen en spelen in plaats van hun leven te slijten in kennels. Er worden wel dieren geadopteerd, maar vele zullen hun hele leven daar blijven zitten.

En toch zijn de honden haar al zo dankbaar, vertelt ze. Zo is het hartverwarmend om te zien hoe ze opleven en veranderen van bang naar vriendelijk kwispelend als ze me zien. Van alleen een lijf van huid en botten naar een gezond lijf met vlees op de botten, van een kale huid vol zweren naar een glanzende vacht.

Een moment van echte liefde en aandacht en de dieren zijn ‘happy’. Wie zou ze dat misgunnen?

Wie helpt er mee om de dieren ‘happy’ te kunnen maken?

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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 165’

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:

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:

 

Vorige winter hadden we al een project voor Andreea willen maken, maar het kwam er niet van. Zoveel aanvragen, zo weinig maanden in een jaar.

We konden alleen maar een bericht plaatsen op onze Facebook om te laten zien hoe de honden in sneeuw en ijs moesten zien te overleven.

Daar zijn toen heel wat reacties op gekomen van mensen die – misschien voor het eerst – geconfronteerd werden met de omstandigheden in een Roemeens asiel.

Die het met eigen ogen konden zien en begrijpen waarom een deel van de dieren het eind van de winter niet haalt …

En dat terwijl Andreea al zoveel vooruitgang heeft geboekt.

Jaren geleden kon ze -eindelijk- de gemeente overtuigen van het belang om de zwervers van de straten van de stad te halen. En de gemeente stemde -eindelijk- toe, gaf een stuk land, hek eromheen en er werd beton gestort. In ‘the middle of nowhere’ een open vlakte waar noordenwind, oosterstorm en striemende hagelbuien vrij spel hebben.

Geen water, geen elektra en ook geen dak! Binnen 2 dagen waren er al zeventig honden binnengebracht die op het steenkoude, natte beton moesten liggen. Afschuwelijk toch?

Andreea sleepte met grote flessen drinkwater, maar als de sneeuw te hoog lag en ze met de auto het asiel niet kon bereiken, zat er niets anders op dan de laatste 500 meter te voet af te leggen. Sjouwend met eten en drinken.

Onvoorstelbaar wat Andreea zelf en de honden voor ontberingen moesten doorstaan. Ze bedelde om pallets opdat de dieren in ieder geval niet vastvroren aan het beton.

Dat laatste is letterlijk! Een natte vacht vriest vast en als een dier opstaat … trekt-ie de haren uit zijn lijf ☹

Er werd zeildoek gedoneerd vanuit het buitenland, maar na al het moeilijke werk om de zeilen als dak en aan de zijkanten aan te brengen, vlogen ze bij de eerste sneeuwstorm de lucht in …

Ondertussen brachten de hondenvangers de één na de andere hond binnen met als gevolg dat de dieren begonnen te vechten. Er was te weinig ruimte èn te weinig eten.

Zo kreeg Andreea er nog grotere problemen bij: de zorg voor gewonde honden. Er was zelfs geen dierenarts die haar ergens mee helpen kon. De binnengebrachte honden waren niet gesteriliseerd en ook zwangere teefjes werden bij haar gedropt. Die bevielen in de open lucht op het koude beton... Ze overleefden bijna geen van alle.

Onbekend maakt onbemind. Niemand had oog voor een eenzame vrouw en haar worsteling om de honden in leven te houden.

 

Uiteindelijk adopteerde de Nederlandse Irene een klein straathondje en ‘ontdekte’ zo het asiel van Targu Frumos. Zij heeft, samen met de Nederlandse stichting Newlife4Straydogs, langzamerhand voor wat verbetering gezorgd.

Er kwamen in de loop der tijd kennels met plastic platen aan de zijkant om de gure wind wat tegen te houden en enkele binnenhokken gingen al zorgen voor meer veiligheid en beschutting. In 2018 kwam er zowaar een DAK!

De situatie bij Andreea nu is dat het asiel bomvol zit. Haar ergste zorg is nu: waar haal ik eten vandaan? De gemeente zorgt voor 3 zakken voer per dag. 20 kilo per zak. Adult-voer, voor volwassen honden. 3 héle zakken voor 200 honden?

 

Dan zitten er ook nog 40 jonge honden en zo’n 60 pups. Deze dieren hebben nog geen tijd gehad om een dikke vacht te kweken en zijn erg kwetsbaar. Daarvoor zouden ze eigenlijk speciaal voer moeten krijgen wat iets duurder is. Maar wat Andreea niet kan bekostigen.

Een paar maanden geleden hoopte Andreea op puppyvoer via Animal Webaction. Als je op hun website klikt kun je een dierenhelper gratis voer schenken. In dit geval voor maar liefst 81 pupjes. Helaas werd er niet genoeg geklikt en de pupjes van Andreea kregen geen sikkepit.  (Overigens willen wij die site van harte aanbevelen. Ook wij van Dierennood klikken er dagelijks op. We delen het altijd op onze FB-pagina.)

Dat was niet de eerste en enige keer dat Andreea heeft gehuild. Ze heeft het zwaar om alle buikjes te kunnen vullen.

Ook voor de zwakkere en oudere honden moet er snel meer voedzaam voer komen. De dood staat op de loer.

En er is zéker dringend behoefte aan meer warme en stevige hokken. Niet alle honden hebben het geluk om in zo’n lekvrij en tochtvrij exemplaar te kunnen slapen.

Kijk wat er nog voor lekkende, in elkaar zakkende krotjes staan. Het doet toch pijn om te weten dat ook hierin sommige honden de winter moeten doorkomen. Denk aan hen als je morgen diep weggedoken in je kraag buiten loopt … deze dieren kunnen zelfs niet in de luwte schuilen ☹

Andreea zelf zegt:

In my town, I am seen like 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!

In mijn stad kent men me als de gekke hondenvrouw. Ik krijg geen enkele steun, maar ik ben het zo langzamerhand gewend. Ik ga dóór. Soms voel ik me verdrietig, soms hulpeloos en hopeloos, soms geloof ik echt dat ik verschil maak. Het is een leven van ups en downs.

Daarom deze winter ab-so-luut een project voor Andreea met haar inmiddels 200 honden!

Help je weer mee?

Facebook page.

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 163’

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:

True heroes are not thinkers, but doers. They jump in where they are needed, without first considering whether it is convenient, sensible or even safe.

Just days after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Tom, founder of Breaking the Chains, and his friend Steve decided to travel to Ukraine with a bus full of pet food. And they never stopped doing that.

Breaking the Chains … a name that was heard a lot at the beginning of the war. Almost certainly you have heard about them, admired them and followed their adventures.

At that point Tom had already served 17 years in the British Army and with his friend Steve, also an ex-serviceman, he didn't hesitate for a second and left…

They were not the only ones to leave for Ukraine at the time, but their military skills and knowledge enabled them to venture to regions that were inaccessible to many other aid workers at the time.

You may have read the report of 'our' shelter 'Shelter Friend' In the city of Dnepropetrovsk, in the media simply called 'Dnipro'. Tom and Steve were the ones who even went deep enough into the war zone to bring a supply of feed to Marina as well.

Then they found a place in central Ukraine that they could use as a base and storage facility, a reasonably safe place where volunteers could bring food and medical supplies and from where Tom and Steve could transport the supplies to more distant and unsafe areas. Many thousands of kilometres and many long days followed.

 

Soon they became known and received one report after another. They came across shelters that had been abandoned by the owners and where no one cared for the animals anymore. They encountered appalling conditions of animals that had just been left chained by the people who fled.

Not only that, but they encountered animals on the street that were seriously were injured by the bombings and if they were not physically injured they were seriously traumatised by all the noise of the rockets. The chaos in the ruins of the towns and villages, the panic everywhere.

Perhaps also nice to mention that Marina, from the shelter 'Shelter Friend', despite all the threat of war and the fact that she herself takes in hundreds of dogs and cats in her shelter, went one step further to also empty a killing station in Ukraine … Well, a killing station … staffed by people who don't give a damn about animals … they just let them starve …

Marina, and later Tom, saved some of them. And we, from Dierennood, must now admit that we have never seen anything like it. We were completely stunned to see how those poor, poor animals were mistreated. Every animal in the killing station appeared to have received a large, hideous, degrading tattoo on the sensitive abdomen. I have to say, it took our breath away…

Anyway, the injured and traumatised animals were taken by Tom and Steve to the 'safe place' and further helped by vets and volunteers.

The number of followers on Social Media kept growing and requests for help from all over Ukraine kept coming in, sometimes hundreds a day! Every day, we had to weigh up who could be offered help that day and who could not… Having to make that choice every day is terrible, and soon the team agreed that they had to expand.

A new safe place was created in Romania to house both the animals and the volunteers. We do not disclose the exact location of 'the compound' and the shelter for security reasons. These people risk their lives day in and day out and sometimes operate only a few hundred meters from the front. Each mission is carefully planned and Tom puts the safety of his team first.

For the same reason, there is no separate Facebook page for the shelter. They – and we – ask for understanding for this.

 

Among all the rescued dogs and cats, there were even more special animals that needed help. For example, 9 lions from a zoo in Odessa or the special story of Bolik, the grizzly bear and Elsa, the wolf. Both were in captivity somewhere in the east of the country. Threatened by the war and both in a much too small enclosure, supposedly for entertainment. Armed with a grinder, the animals were freed from their horrible pen and after a long drive with a lot of attention on the way (after all, who drives around with a bear and a wolf in wartime?) Bolik and Elsa were taken to a reserve in Romania. TJ, the driver on duty, experienced at that moment, in his own words, one of the most beautiful moments of his life!

The above all sounds great, and it is, but it really took blood, sweat and tears and above all a lot of perseverance from everyone involved. The teams in the field have travelled tens of thousands of kilometres and have almost continuously pushed themselves both physically and mentally. Their vehicles break down almost weekly due to the bad roads in Ukraine.

The volunteers on site also work from early in the morning until late at night. The animals in their care are often animals that need immediate help because, for example, they have become paralysed by shelling or their house collapses, are severely malnourished, injured or seriously ill. Amputations are regularly needed and bullets are removed, so a lot of care is needed.

Good hygiene, but also quarantine of the animals that come in, is necessary. The volunteers, including a number of local Ukrainians, are doing a fantastic job. Most animals come in traumatised, but because of the unconditional love they receive from the volunteers. And because they live day and night with the dogs and cats, almost all of them turn into the most loving and affectionate animals after a few weeks. It is truly phenomenal to see what the team, vets, and volunteers achieve together. Regularly, everyone is crying because of the amazing results of all this hard work.

Oh, there is so much more to tell. About the chimpanzee Johnny who, despite his own hunger, gave Tom half his banana…

From another Johnny, the bullet-paralysed Stafford, who managed to reach the Ukrainian soldiers while crawling through no man's land. It took the team 9 hours to pick up Johnny, but he also showed his bravest side. He was fitted for a wheelchair and immediately accelerated. He now runs his rounds every day like crazy.

And let's not forget Phoenix. A limping husky-like dog with 3 bloodied legs, its coat full of mud, at the front of the city of Mykolaiv. The shelling continued day and night as images of Phoenix circulated on Facebook. Nevertheless, the team decided to get Phoenix and a number of other animals. Unfortunately, due to his injuries, Phoenix is ​​missing both back legs and three-quarters of his front leg. But look at him now: with a wheelchair and a prosthesis. He was dirty, neglected, seriously injured, abandoned, traumatised… And now Phoenix is ​​our hero!

This is what they do it for. In addition to the terrible things they unfortunately experience too often, they see that so many animals that were left without a chance, wandered traumatised or seriously injured and left for dead, flourish again by receiving the care, love and respect they deserve.

There are still daily challenges for the team. Now that the coverage of the war in Ukraine has decreased, the number of donations is also declining. With winter just around the corner, the biggest challenge is to deliver as much animal feed as possible to places in Ukraine where it is most needed.

Food is becoming more expensive every day in Ukraine and is scarce in many places. As much food as possible will therefore have to be collected from Europe. In order to distribute it before the harsh winter sets in and to provide as many animals as possible with a supply that will get them through the winter.

For example, when snow comes to lie on the often shot-up roads, it is dangerous to go on the road. And no matter how beautiful a winter landscape can be, when the whole world is white, movements of a transport are much easier to perceive, which reduces safety.

Landmines are also not visible, and there is a chance that large parts of the country will be cut off from the outside world. Feed and its transport are therefore very important at the moment and have priority. In addition, all costs for vehicles, transport, medication, veterinary costs and the care of the animals will continue.

There is no doubt that without the tremendous financial support of donors from all over the world, the team would never have been able to achieve the above. Every day, they are grateful for the support and support they receive. Without that help, many hundreds of animals would probably no longer be with us due to hunger or injury.

Unfortunately, the war is still going on, the end is not yet in sight. But interest in Ukraine is slowly ebbing away. The newspapers and the news report different news.

For Breaking the Chains, quitting is not an option. There are still countless animals in dire need and more are added every day of war.

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Please continue to support these great heroes for as long as it takes.

Every donation, even a small one, helps.

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

NL16 INGB 0004 7841 60 for. Stichting Dierennood o.v.v. 'Auxiliary project 162'

and we will make sure that your donation will 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: