Let's save the 350 dogs at Ildiko's shelter!

1. In Romania, Ildiko is running out of kibble to feed the 350 dogs at her shelter. They will starve if no one intervenes!

"The number of dogs in our care has increased lately, we’ve had very few adoptions and have rescued a lot of dogs that needed our help. On the other hand, donations have sharply decreased since the beginning of the pandemic and as restaurants keep closing due to new restrictions, we have less and less food sources.

Right now we have 2 days worth of food; that is, some kibble mixed with bread and rice for lack of anything better. Winter is always the hardest season for us and the dogs : financially, logistically, temperature wise...I need this campaign to succeed so I can make sure that the dogs have food for a while. 

It’s really cold outside, it is wet, muddy... The dogs have been very agitated lately, some have lost weight... Even though I try to warm the kennels with hay and blankets, food is ultimately what will keep the dogs warm and healthy. We need to be able to increase their portions or the consequences will be devastating."

2. Tensions among the dogs are heightened by the lack of food, fights have already broken out. Ildiko fears the situation will escalate if she doesn't find kibble soon.

"Dogs at the shelter aren't eating enough, which makes them very agitated. We’ve had a few fights last week, dogs bit each other, ended up with open wounds. They needed medical care so we took them to the vet, which in turn leads to more expenses for us...

It's a vicious circle and it all starts with the lack of food. If we don't find a way to procure kibble soon, we'll end up with even more situations like these. The shelter is overcrowded, we do not have any free kennels to separate the dogs...Our only hope at this stage is this food collection.

I made a vow to myself that I will always provide for the dogs when opening this shelter and it's honestly heartbreaking to struggle this much to fulfill this goal. I just want to help them get through the winter..."

3. Hit by a car and left for dead, Skyla needs kibble to recover from her surgery and regain her strength.

"Skyla is a 5-year-old female, we rescued her from the side of the road, she had most probably been hit by a car, she was unable to move. She had an open fracture, the bone was sticking out of the leg, half of the skin was ripped off and her wound was full of worms. The vet performed surgery on her leg a month and a half ago.

Today, Skyla is still recovering. It takes a very long time for the surgery wound to heal and properly close because she lost a big part of skin from that leg. She needs good nutrition such as kibble for her body to fully recover from what it went through and for the leg to recover and close."

4. Donations are plummeting as the country sinks into crisis. Ildiko's resources are too low to make up for the shortfall, she can no longer buy kibble.

"I am facing the same problem that I’ve had since the beginning of the pandemic. We lost many regular donors due to business closings and people losing their jobs. Our donations have radically dropped as a result and have pretty much stayed the same until now... 

We receive some help from a German association, but besides the salary they pay for one of our employees, it is not regular and not something the shelter can depend on monthly. I use my own income to cover the shelter's expenses and my husband also chips in. But even combined, both our incomes are still not enough to pay for everything and our debts get bigger everyday.

We are struggling financially and had to learn to ask for help... I am very worried, we must find a way to get food for the dogs, it's our number 1 priority."

5. Ildiko isn't asking for money, only kibble to prevent the dogs from starving

"I always had dogs in my home, ever since I was a child. After my sons grew up and I managed to have some more free time, I started bringing dogs in. I soon realized I didn’t have enough space in my house, so I eventually opened a shelter 7 years ago. Right there and then, I knew it was the right decision.

Our actions make a difference in these dogs lives and it makes a diffeence for the community. Whenever we take a dog from the streets and neuter/sterilize him, we make sure that dog will not in turn produce more stray dogs. And at the end of the day, nothing compares to the joy of seeing a dog you saved find his forever home and a family that loves and cherishes him! 

I hope I will be able to continue saving abandoned dogs for a long time. I also hope people will realise a dog is a responsability and not something you can just throw out when it becomes to much work..."

6. If this campaign is successful, Ildiko will not receive any money but 3000 kg of kibble will be 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. Ildiko's last calls for help have remain unanswered... She needs this campaign to be able to feed her dogs

"COVID is the main reason why our donations have dropped and why we barely have any volunteers. But I also think that more generally speaking, people praise us on Facebook, they are happy someone is taking care of abandoned dogs but they don't really feel like getting involved or donate.

It also doesn't help that all the shelters in our part of the country are struggling and asking for help, so when we are all competing for attention, it gets even harder. I hope that the global situation will calm down and we will be able to return to more normal times, so we can regain some support. 

Until then, we need to ask for your help again because it's our only option, your campaigns are always a life saver. I am sure that if the dogs could talk, they would all say the same and they would shower you in hugs and kisses". 

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 Ildiko, please invite them to contact us so that we can put them in touch.

If you represent an animal protection foundation or NGO, please help Ildiko's dogs, contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you want to come to Ildiko's shelter to help them or if you want to send them some kibbles or a check directly, contact her via Facebook (note: direct help is under your own responsibility).

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