Aid project 165 - Cristina's pack has tripled.

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: