Rehabilitation Centre for Romanian Street Dogs

In May 2023, we took part in a volunteer trip to Romania organised by Underdog International. During our stay, we were able to witness first hand the extent of the stray animal population and the barriers that those who are trying to address these issues face.

In Romania, there is a culture of indifference towards stray dogs . Some of these dogs may once have had a home but been abandoned and some may have been born on the streets. They all risk capture and life in a public (kill) shelter or a tough life on the streets and injury on roads, train tracks and at the hands of humans. All of these dogs deserve help and a better life.

One of those working tirelessly to make a difference is Emma, who not only works as a vet but also dedicates all her free time to rescuing dogs. Emma runs her own shelter, 'Save Our Paws' and aims to rehabilitate and rehome dogs that would otherwise be put to sleep. We were truly touched by Emma's dedication, determination and resilience, she never gives up hope despite the relentless challenges she faces on a daily basis. We would love the opportunity to support her mission to create a purpose built facility for severely injured and paralysed dogs such as Mira (pictured above) Chalkie, Dupy and Train (pictured below) so that she can provide the space and treatment they need in order to make a full recovery.

We are aiming to raise £5,000 and we are asking for your help to make it happen!

If you'd like to hear more about our Romania trip, please visit Underdog International's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/underdoginternational/ for pictures, videos and more information on this very special mission.

Below are some of the dogs that would benefit from the Rehabilitation Centre.

This is Train, he was hit by a train and lost both legs but thanks to the hard work and dedication of Emma and her team, he has since made an incredible recovery and is able to mobilise using his front legs only. Train is a prime example what dogs are capable of when given a chance.

Dupy (top) and Chalkie (bottom) were found severely injured and unable to walk, they required major spinal surgery to survive. It is a sad fact that most people would've given up on dogs like these and even Emma was advised by others to put them to sleep, but she saw their potential and provided the necessary treatment so that they they were able to thrive, despite their disabilities.