In early October, our SPCA International team traveled to Romania, a country that has seen an inspiring transformation in animal welfare. Just over a decade ago, Romania faced a tragic crisis with its stray dog population. In 2013, the government enacted a law that led to the mass culling of stray dogs, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of animals. Today, however, Romania is on a compassionate journey of change, thanks to the hard work of dedicated citizens, advocates, and animal welfare organizations.
Our journey began in the small village of Branistea at Sava’s Safe Haven, an SPCA International partner since 2016. Alongside the local animal police, we held an animal welfare workshop at a nearby school. Watching the eager students learn about animal rights and kindness was incredibly heartwarming and left us hopeful for a future where all animals are treated with compassion.
Sava’s Safe Haven cares for over 200 dogs, each with a touchingl story. We were especially moved by Balto and Nanouk, two puppies rescued from the war in Ukraine. These sweet pups have endured so much yet are still full of love. We’re excited to help bring them to North America, where they’ll find the forever homes they deserve.
Throughout our visit, we were involved in several rescues, including treating two frail puppies with parvo and helping a dog injured in a car accident. We’re thrilled to share that all three are doing well now!
We also spent time with Dog Rescue Romania, our partner of ten years, pulling dogs from municipal shelters to give them a second chance. These dogs who would not have survived if they stayed at the local shelter, are now being cared for by our dedicated partners and we are hopeful that we will soon be able to find them loving, forever homes.
During our trip, we also met with Romania Animal Rescue, a new Shelter Support partner for 2024, who hosted a large spay/neuter clinic to help humanely manage the dog population. We also visited the Sache Foundation, where SPCA International has supported a recovery room in their veterinary hospital for animals of low-income families, providing much-needed care for the community.
Today, Romania’s animal welfare laws require pet owners to spay and neuter their animals, a huge step toward reducing stray populations. The compassion we witnessed throughout Romania gives us hope that this positive change will continue, and we’re honored to support these remarkable rescue partners leading the way to a better future for Romania’s animals.