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.

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