We can't let this pound's 256 dogs starve!

Note from the Animal Webaction team: We disapprove of the target of this campaign, which was set by the beneficiary despite our counter-arguments, it is too high and we fear a failure.

Animal Webaction cannot be held responsible for the deaths of dogs due to the absence of kibble.

1. In Romania, Nicoleta is running out of kibble to feed the 256 dogs at the Valcea pound. They will starve if no one intervenes!

"There are 256 dogs at the public shelter at the moment. Their number is usually pretty constant, as we give dogs up for adoption, others are brought in. They come with all kind of problems that need to be solved in a society that doesn't care... a society that lets its dogs down when they need help the most, sick or old, and lets its poor female dogs breed endlessly.

The city hall cannot cover all the food needed for such a huge amount of dogs, we therefore have to provide the main quantity of food, so that dogs can survive. We make do with the resources we have to feed them daily, as their lives depend on it. But getting food is a constant difficulty, we only have 100 kg left right now which is enough for one day. I feel scared and uncertain because of the lack of food.

The food and care we provide for these dogs is crucial, the impact is enormous, if it weren't for us I don't see how this shelter could stay open and how the dogs could survive. I genuinely hope this campaign will succeed, I can’t imagine being unable to feed them at least enough to survive. We don’t want to starve these dogs!"

2. The dogs have already been eating the bare minimum for weeks: fights and illnesses are breaking out, and will quickly degenerate if Nicoleta doesn't find some kibble.

"We've already had to reduce the amount we give them for some time. Their general health is impacted, and they're already starting to be a bit more aggressive, sometimes they fight over food. A few weeks ago a poor dog that we've known since she was a baby got caught and bitten by the other dogs, she suffered big injuries and had to undergo surgery. Her whole tail had to be amputated, and other injuries stitched.

Trying to help these dogs captured in the public shelter, is terribly heartbreaking and exhausting. Maybe this is the reason for which people usually avoid coming into the public shelter. There is so much need of help... I feel good as long as we can help them, and I would be devastated if we couldn't take proper care of them anymore."

3. Abandoned at the pound with her eight puppies, Mioara was starving, dehydrated and exhausted. Several puppies passed away and Mioara is still very weak, she needs food to recover.

"Mioara has been at the public shelter for about 3 months, she was brought in with her pups by her owner, who said he couldn’t care for her anymore... She was very weak, dehydrated, starved, she clearly wasn't being taken care of well. She came in with 8 pups,  who all had a very bad immunity and got sick, including with Parvo, 5 of them died since then.

Mioara is more stable now, but she is still recovering. We’re concerned as she doesn’t seem like she has any energy, she just sits around all day, seems sad and completely drained. She still has a long way to go, and she needs food for that."

4. Everything leans on the shoulders of Nicoleta and Florentina, the only two volunteers on site. Overwhelmed with difficulties and with more debts than ever, they can no longer buy kibble.

"It’s a pretty bad period, here we have many dogs with special problems to care for, and adoptions go slow because of holidays, while debts increase at a level we had never had in 12 years of rescuing.... There aren’t as many donations as there used to be before the pandemic, as people are probably more concerned about their wellbeing nowadays than before.

The resources needed and the work to do all these things are enormous, we simply don’t have the means and support, that’s why we’re already in so much debt. I’m sad and concerned, we're doing our best, we make a lot of sacrifices, we sacrifice our time, money, and personal lives so we can do all we can for these dogs, still sometimes it seems like it isn't enough. 

5. Nicoleta doesn't want to receive any money, only kibble to prevent the dogs from starving.

"Ideally, I want every dog to be rescued, brought into the shelter, and adopted. Unfortunately, I don’t think that will ever be the case, not even close. Dogs arrive there because of irresponsable people, and sometimes die there because of indifferent people.

Luckily, cooperation with the public shelter is good, they allow us to offer any kind of help we can offer for the dogs like food, care, dog houses etc... But even if they are willing to cooperate, they don't have the means to feed all these dogs if we can't do it ourselves.

All I want is to see these beautiful animals thrive and be healthy and happy. Useless to say again any help is welcome and so needed"

6. If this campaign is successful, Nicoleta will not receive any money but 5400 kg of kibble, delivered from the Animal Webaction logistic platform in Romania.

Animal Webaction has a logistic platform in Romania, which allows us to intervene quickly and deliver kibbles.

7. Calls for donations are not bearing much fruit, and partner associations have already done their utmost to support the dogs at the pound. Nicoleta is counting on this campaign to provide kibble.

"We usually ask for food on Facebook and we sometimes get donations, but we haven't received as many since the pandemic. We also have a sponsorship with a German association that helps us give dogs for adoption, and we've reached out to another association, Smeura  in Romania to get food, but we can only get some when they have a surplus, which rarely happens.

I fear we won’t have enough resources to take care of the dogs, and I really hope we’ll be able get more food. We really need it, we just don’t know what else to do.""

8. Campaigns launched on Animal Webaction often fail.

When a campaign fails, Animal Webaction cannot deliver the products. The beneficiary doesn't receive anything and the buyers are refunded. 

9. In Romania, it is difficult to find funds for kibbles, there are no aid, no grants, no foundation... Many abandoned dogs die alone in the streets, in complete indifference...

If you know of a foundation or NGO that could help Nicoleta, please invite them to contact us so that we can put them in touch.

If you represent a Foundation or an NGO for animal protection, please help the dogs of the Valcea Pound, contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you would like to come to the Valcea pound and help Nicoleta or if you would like to send her directly some food or a cheque, please contact Nicoleta via Facebook (note: direct help is your own responsibility).

10. If you make a purchase on Animal Webaction, it will be protected by our guarantees.