We cannot let the 419 dogs at the Innocente shelter starve!

1. In Romania, the Innocente shelter is almost out of kibble to feed its 419 dogs. They will starve if no one helps!

“We take care of 419 dogs, while 9 more are currently hospitalised at the vet clinic to be sterilised… The shelter is absolutely crowded and we’re facing many worrying difficulties: the kennels and shelter are in a very bad shape following the terrible winter weather (storms, snow, heavy rains, mud…), our debts are skyrocketing and we’re extremely low on kibble. 

Kibble supply is definitely our most urgent difficulty and we have been forced to ration the dogs’ kibble portions for several months now. We only have 10 bags left and, considering the amount of dogs to feed, it means there’s only enough kibble left for a couple days, at best… We can’t cope with the rising prices anymore and it’s deeply affected our donors too!  

I’m really on edge and I’m not the only one impacted by this whole situation: my husband Ferenc's health is deteriorating due to the constant stress and worry about the shelter's finances and kibble supply… We desperately need this campaign to succeed so that we can recover a little bit and solve one of our most pressing issues - that is, feeding our dogs…”

2. Overcrowded kennels and hunger make the dogs increasingly aggressive: Maria fears a serious escalation if she can't find kibble...

“This is a very stressful period at many levels for us; we do our best to avoid starvation at the shelter, but I know the dogs aren’t eating enough… Besides, they’re so many in such small spaces: we no longer have any free kennels! Therefore, they’re crammed and get easily over-excited, agitated and nervous, which can lead to fights… 

Although we generally pair the dogs well in their kennels, it's still a major concern that some dogs might get severely wounded. So far, when these incidents happen, they’re manageable and the dogs get away without getting hurt or with minor scratches, in the worst cases. Still, our stress levels are peaking and if there’s a kibble shortage, things would escalate for the worst… 

I don’t know how we’ll handle the amount of anxiety if this campaign fails… There is still an increasing number of struggling stray dogs in our area; it’s disheartening to think we may no longer be able to help any more of them! If we can't find any kibble soon, our dogs will only have less and less to eat, which will increase their aggressiveness and put their health at risk.” 

3. Athos was abandoned: underfed and deaf, he urgently needs kibble to gain weight and restore his faith in humans!   

“Athos is only a year and a half old and we took him in a few days ago… We found him on the streets after someone reported a “deaf and extremely scared” stray dog... Upon taking him to the vet, we discovered that he was indeed deaf and severely malnourished. His previous owner was probably a breeder and due to Athos’ impediment, decided to get rid of him… Athos also suffers from swollen lower eyelids, which cover his eyes and make it difficult for him to see. He is currently undergoing treatment for this, but if it doesn't work, he will need surgery...

He’s a very shy and frightened dog, he tends to hide away in his kennel whenever a human approaches… He has definitely been traumatised by his past experiences and his deafness makes him particularly vulnerable… It is urgent that Athos eats more kibble: he can’t build up strength and put on weight without proper nutrition… He’s a very large breed and still not fully grown; he requires a lot of food and his emaciated state is a clear indication of how much he needs it!” 

4. The shelter is drowning in debts and, faced with inflation and the lack of donations, Maria can no longer buy kibble!  

“When we first opened the shelter, donations were our main source of income, with people giving money or food to help us get by. However, as the years went on and the number of dogs in our care increased, so did our expenses. Then, since 2020 and the successive crises, prices went up and donations became few and far between…

Our calls for donations, collections and auctions don’t have much success... Even in-store collections, which we used to rely on, have been unsuccessful in recent years, to the point that it’s become too expensive for us to keep doing those: the amount spent on petrol to get there is way bigger than the amount of kibble we manage to collect! Sadly, it’s no longer worth it… 

We have accumulated huge debts at the vet clinic, kibble supplier and for other necessary shelter expenses that are essential for the well-being and safety of our dogs… We're already in such a budget hole that, if prices keep growing, it will just drag us down further and I don't know how we will get out of it! If this campaign succeeds, we could have a bunch of days to financially breathe and feed our dogs for a while!”

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

“We have two part-time employees to help us at the shelter, but no volunteers... Caring for more than 400 dogs is a lot of work for just a few people, and it’s taken a toll on my husband; I’m very worried about his health and how he's been feeling overwhelmed and particularly tired lately… In times like this, it’s hard for me to stay positive and hopeful! 

But our shelter is the biggest around and, almost systematically, the responsibility falls upon our shoulders when it comes to rescuing abandoned dogs… We have experience taking care of dogs that are severely damaged at both a physical and a mental level… It’s so sad to see what these poor things have to go through because of the irresponsibility of some people! 

Many animals aren’t taken care of properly and end up being abandoned, left to roam in the streets without being microchipped or sterilised… So, we’re here to take them in! Our goal is to guide these dogs back into life, keep them safe and fed, heal them and find them new loving homes… But we can’t continue without more means and more support!”

6. If this campaign succeeds, Innocente will not receive any money but 2400 kg of kibble, delivered from Animal Webaction's logistics centre in Romania.

Animal Webaction has a logistics centre in Romania which enables us to intervene quickly and deliver kibble.

7. Innocente and its supporters have tried everything to get kibble: out of options, only the success of this campaign will allow keeping the dogs fed!

“A French organisation regularly helps us, whether by communicating on adoptions, auctioning or calling for donations to help us pay our unpaid bills… Every quarter or so, they also try to bring us 3 or 4 days’ worth of food and blankets. Their help and support mean the world to us, but it’s unfortunately insufficient to sustain us and our dogs’ needs in the long run… 

We do understand that times are hard and people are struggling, they cannot donate like they used to… Still, we recently had the pleasure to meet someone who generously offered to help us create a new website where we could post about our dogs available for adoption or for sponsoring… It is so humbling to see people go out of their way to support our cause! 

But we still need more help to keep the shelter running… This campaign is really our last option to get the kibble we need to feed our dogs… The amount of kibble that could be collected through this campaign is absolutely priceless and we’ll be incredibly grateful if, once again, people come together to support our dogs, no matter how much they can help us!”   

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 kibble, there are no grants, no foundations. Many abandoned dogs die alone in the streets, in complete indifference...​

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

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

If you want to help Maria and Ferenc at the Innocente shelter or if you want to directly send some kibble or a cheque, contact them via Facebook (note: direct help is done on your own responsibility).

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