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!

"Street dogs are systematically caught and taken to the pound where they live in atrocious conditions: concrete on the floor, no kennels or hay to keep them warm, hardly anything to eat or drink... I can't leave them there and wait for a disease to take them away in pain, or for them to be euthanised because no one wants to adopt them!

I currently welcome 350 dogs from the streets or rescued from the pound into my shelter, I look after them and feed them while waiting to find them a loving family. Until now, I managed to finance their medication, their kibble needs and the upkeep of the shelter thanks to donations and my savings, but times have changed: the number of dogs in need is increasing, the pandemic has clearly turned our society upside down, and donors are becoming rarer... On top of that, the bakery that used to supply us with leftovers has closed down and can't help us anymore either.

For the past two weeks, I've had to ration the dogs who don't eat enough, and I only have four days' worth of kibble left in stock... After that, I'll cook them rice, but unfortunately, it's an unsuitable diet for them! It's the only solution I've found so that they don't go hungry and die of cold... I'm heartbroken, I just want to give these dogs a second chance, but without this campaign for kibble, I can't do it..."

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.

"The winter has been harsh, we have had sub-zero temperatures, snow, rain... The dogs are restless because of the weather and have to spend a lot of energy to keep their body temperature at normal. As the shelter has reached its maximum capacity, there are several dogs living in one box and they have to live together. Unfortunately, when they don't get enough to eat, they tend to get even more irritated: that's when fights break out!

A fight broke out again today over a bowl of kibble: if I hadn't separated the dogs it could have turned into a drama... These fights over food are dangerous for the dogs, especially if no one is there to stop them. They can seriously injure or even kill each other. I am very worried, the cold season is always the hardest, they need more kibble than usual to cope!"

3. Lucy's illness has weakened her so much that she has already lost weight: she will not survive without kibble.

"I found Lucy in the street with a chain around her neck, no microchip and no one claiming her... She had probably escaped as the chain around her neck looked broken. She is missing a lot of fur because of a skin disease, so I put a little coat on her to prevent the cold from weakening her further.

It will take about 2 months of treatment for her fur and skin to recover. As she is also very thin, I am careful to give her the necessary amount of kibble so that she will gain weight and her treatment will work properly. If the dogs in the shelter start fighting over the kibble, she won't be able to defend herself, and a rice diet won't save her..."

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

"As there are no volunteers who come to help me at the shelter, I am forced to employ an employee who is responsible for looking after the dogs in my absence. I am the sole manager of the shelter: I am the legal manager, I look after the Facebook page and any online activity, I organise rescues and vet appointments, I am in charge of the finances and I have to make sure the dogs are always fed... When I'm not at work, I'm either here at the shelter cleaning and looking after the dogs, or running errands for the shelter. There is so much to do that I really need help... 

Since the pandemic started, donations have plummeted! Despite the fact that the people in my town think I'm doing a good job, they don't feel the need to get more involved in animal protection and don't give me any human or financial support. The problem is that my debts are still mounting and my savings are running dry... A few people still give me kibble, but in small quantities compared to the needs of 350 dogs. Today, even the collections I organise in supermarkets no longer work: this campaign is my last hope!"

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

"I started the organisation 7 years ago, saving the lives of dogs is not only my passion but also my duty. Whenever I have free time, I spend it at the shelter or promoting it for help. I can't count the sleepless nights I spend worrying about them...

I see the horrors of the pound every time I go there to rescue dogs, I promised myself I would spend my life trying to help these animals. I can't remember the last time my husband and I took a holiday, all our money has gone to the shelter since we opened it!

Now I feel helpless and worried. I don't understand why the abandonment rate has increased and I realise that if things don't start to change in this country, it will be more and more difficult... I'm afraid I won't be able to help more animals if the donations don't pick up. I hope people will open their hearts and realise the extra emotional value a dog brings!"

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

"The members of the German association 'Napfsucher' help us when they can, but unfortunately they do not have the means to help us further. They have already paid some of my veterinary debts but cannot get enough kibble for so many dogs, because despite their best efforts, they too have seen the donations to their association drop...

I am using Facebook as much as possible to try to gain visibility, but I can't get any more donations... The situation is really critical: more and more dogs to save from misery, fundraising that is not successful, my savings are dry and my few supporters have already done their best... My dogs need food to survive, they need this campaign to succeed!"

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.