Rags to Riches Romanian Dog Rescue is a UK-registered charity dedicated to rescuing, fostering, and rehoming abandoned and mistreated dogs from Romania. We also assist and support rescuers in Romania with funds to help with vets bills, food and spay and neuters campaigns for street dogs. We have seven hard working volunteer and many other wonderful volunteers and supporters, who help to raise funds so we can continue our work.
For more information www.rags-2-riches.co.uk or email r2rrr@outlook.com
Why Romania
It may be hard for many to realise that there is no equivalent charity to our RSPCA, PDSA, Dogs Trust etc in Romania. The limited care the dogs receive is mainly voluntary and unpaid. Often the work of the volunteers is restricted by lack of funds, lack of time and limited access due to the hostile and negative attitude of the local authorities. It is a constant battle.
The streets and countryside is littered with stray dogs and puppies mostly starving. Many are sick and injured. Due to the apathy and lack of animal welfare rights these desparate animals are often treated like vermin. Volunteers feed these dogs when they can.
The public shelters hold huge numbers of stray, sick, injured and abandoned dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes. The injured and sick will not receive veterinary care unless the 'volunteers' are allowed access to help them. Many desperately ill or paralysed dogs are left to suffer or die.
Once in these shelters dogs stand little chance of survival and their condition soon deteriorates. Disease is rife and many dogs are riddled with parasites and suffering dreadful skin conditions. Fights amongst themselves are frequent as they battle for food and space. Sadly small and weak dogs will often not survive these fights. These dogs are in a desperate situation and they are fighting literally for their lives which is often very difficult for us here in the UK to understand.
Saddest of all are the pregnant bitches who give birth and do their very best to rear their litters in impossible conditions. Filthy and crowded, many puppies do not survive the first few hours. Even if they do, their mothers are so undernourished that they succumb to disease and parasites. Many are born in the countryside but fare no better past weaning. Of the hundreds of puppies to be born, many do not survive the first few weeks of life.
Due to the reluctance of the Romanians who do not believe in neutering or euthanasia ( but there are 'kill shelters' ( I cannot right how the dogs die in them) this situation is not going to improve in the near future. We are well aware of that fact. But what we are determined to do is make a difference for a few of these dogs in the short term. In the long term we will continue to raise funds to support the spay and neuter programmes that are so essential to prevent the continued cycle of suffering.
ONLY WITH YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT CAN WE CONTINUE TO HELP THE DOGS
