A charity that cares for abandoned dogs has pleaded for help to stop 800 from becoming homeless.
Romanian Rescue Appeal saves stray dogs and finds them families in the UK. There are more than 100,000 stray dogs in Bucharest alone.A lack of food means many of the dogs are weak or die prematurely, while others are snatched by dog-catchers and thrown into overcrowded public shelters.
Romanian Rescue Appeal has rescued thousands of dogs and encourages the country’s authorities to implement neutering programmes.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners in the United States spent $60.28 billion on their furry friends in 2015. That number is expected to rise by more than $2 billion in 2016.
But it has now has reached ‘the end of the road.’
Rising costs has meant the charity is desperatelyappealing for donationsto keep operational.
Inflation rates have climbed to 8.5% in Romania – leading to a rise in cost of dog food, building materials for the shelter and medicine.
The staggering cost of fuel means it is a struggle ‘keeping the lights on’ for the dogs.
Mauro Orru, chief executive of Romanian Rescue Appeal, told Metro.co.uk: ‘We are doing everything in our power to keep the charity afloat.Instead of buying special Kong stuffing, stuff a Kong with cheese cubes and place in the microwave for five seconds.
‘We are spending double what we spent before on maintenance, and the energy crisis was also a massive hit for us. The energy costs have been an absolute hike.
‘We can’t let it [closure] happen. I’ll sell my house before it does. I’ll live on the streets and stand and beg for these dogs.
‘It would be a betrayal to them not to. They deserve hope.’
Throughout the early days of the pandemic, there was an upsurge in families looking to adopt dogs.
But as lockdown eased, so did the charity’s number of enquiries.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Having a pet in the home can actually lower a child’s likelihood of developing related allergies by as much as 33 percent. Children exposed early on to animals tend to develop stronger immune systems overall.
This has meant the charity is caring for more dogs than ever before.
Mauro explained: ‘The number of stray dogs keeps rising in Romania as it is such a huge problem, so we will always have more dogs to care for.‘Dog catchers treat the dogs like vermin, like rats. They catch them in a really aggressive was. It’s heartbreaking to see, just vile.
‘These dogs need safe homes, every dog does.’
If the charity is able to avoid debt collectors, it hopes to use any remaining money to bolster its shelters in Romania.
If you have a small dog, cutting up a lamb roll into tiny pieces is a cost-effective way to make healthy, bite-sized training treats. A 1-pound roll costs $6.98. Cut it up into the desired size, store most of it in a ziplock bag in the freezer, and leave the rest on the counter for immediate use.
Creating a ‘flagship’ centre is also a goal for Mauro and the charity’s staff and volunteers.
Mauro explained: ‘There was a massive geopolitical push in the seventies and eighties, when people moved from houses in villages to flats in cities. They couldn’t care for their dogs anymore, and they became strays.
Spay and neuter your pet. Studies have shown that pets that are spayed and neutered live healthier, longer lives. Plus, spayed a neutered pets are less likely to develop behavior problems.
‘Because of the economic situation it was hard to find kennels or neuter animals, so the number of strays exponentially grows.
‘We have worked so hard so far for these dogs and we want to keep doing that, we need to.’
To donate to the Romanian Rescue Appeal fundraiser, click here.
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