Romanian Rescue Dogs & What You Need to Know

romanian rescue dogs

You may or may not be aware of the dreadful situation that currently exists for the stray dogs on the streets of Romania and the thousands of shelter dogs kept in terrible conditions, so I thought I would share a little information with you here.

I wanted to write this article to explain briefly why the situation is so bad, and why The DOG’s Point of View is helping to promote rescuers alongside the UK Rescue Organisations.  You can also find information here on what the process is and how to go about adopting a ‘Rommie Rescue’ if this is something you are interested in.

Why the Problem in Romania Exists

This article, written by Friends of Homeless Dogs, explains the situation in Romania, and how it came about.

The problems started in the 80’s when dictator Nicolae Ceausescu aimed to industrialize Romania; people were forced to leave the countryside and move into cities. As there was a huge demand for more apartments, Ceausescu decided to demolish all small houses and build vast apartment blocks instead. The number of people in the cities exploded and families had no option but to share an apartment with many other families. At that point animals were abandoned on the streets due to lack of space. The dogs obviously reproduced rapidly and soon the streets were filled with homeless dogs and their puppies.

The mayor of the country’s capital Bucharest stated that the quickest way of getting rid of the strays was mass slaughter, and soon enough other cities followed in suit…. Read the full article here

Other EU Governments Are Getting Involved

This article, published in The Daily Mail in June 2015 portrays just how terrible the situation still is, but that people are now starting to take notice and get involved in changing the laws, and ending the suffering for these dogs.

End your stray dog cull, UK tells Romania:
Diplomats step up pressure after 300,000 animals killed in crackdown

British diplomats have urged the Romanian government to stop the cull of tens of thousands of stray dogs – ordered after a four-year-old boy was mauled to death.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that UK officials have lobbied leaders in Bucharest, calling on them to deal ‘humanely’ with the crisis of the million strays that roam the streets, biting thousands of people each year.

About 300,000 dogs have been rounded up and slaughtered in a crackdown launched after Ionut Anghel was killed while playing near a park. Although initially blamed on strays, his death was later found to have been caused by security dogs owned by a private company. Last month it was ordered to pay £1.7 million compensation to Ionut’s devastated family.

But that hasn’t stopped the Romanian authorities continuing with the massive cull, with reports of dogs being clubbed to death in the streets and caged in horrendous shelters. Government papers obtained by this newspaper reveal Foreign Office fears about widespread animal cruelty in the cash-strapped nation.

Read the full article here (**WARNING:Some images in this article may be upsetting)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3132979/End-stray-dog-cull-UK-tells-Romania-Diplomats-step-pressure-300-000-animals-killed-crackdown.html#ixzz422CYXaaX
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

The DOG's Pov Rescue - Merlin

Merlin. My First Romanian Rescue Foster Dog

Why The DOG’s Point of View Wants to Help the Romanian Rescue Dogs

Romania has very few animal welfare laws. The stray dog problem is beyond crisis point, and the public shelters are full. The shelters in Romania are not like those in the UK.  They are filthy and riddled with disease, the dog’s don’t receive enough food, puppies, old dogs and young adult dogs are all kennelled together. 

This often results in injuries and sometimes death to the puppies and older dogs because of the fights over what little food they do get and that’s if they survive the brutal methods used by dog catchers if they find them on the streets.

Unlike the UK, many of the rescuers in Romania are individuals working alone with little support or financial backing, but they are making a real difference to the lives of the dogs they save.  By helping to promote them and the dogs they have available to rehome, they are able to implement spay and neuter campaigns which is ultimately going to be the best long term solution to this problem.

Please do be careful though, as with anything, there are people who are not always what they seem to be and are portraying themselves as rescuers when they have no proper rescue set up in place, so please do some background checking if you are thinking of adopting from Romania.

Any rescuers promoted by The DOG’s Point of View are legitimate and if you are interested in adopting one of the many beautiful dogs these rescuers have available (all of them gorgeous) but have concerns about the whole adoption process, then read on to find out how it works.  You can also help by fostering, donating or simply sharing the dogs they have available so their beautiful faces may get seen by someone that falls in love with them.

Not all the dogs rehomed from Romania will be street dogs or strays,
many will also be abandoned pets, whose owners simply decided they didn’t want them anymore,
so they just turn them out on the streets to fend for themselves… or be caught by the dog catchers

Whilst it is true, and I have had it pointed out to me multiple times, there are many rescue dogs still waiting in shelters across the UK so why help those from another country? My answer to this is simple, I will and do help any dogs I can, no matter where they come from.

If I were to meet an Italian man and fall in love with him, would someone chastise me for marrying a man from another country when there are plenty of single British men looking for a relationship? Of course not! 😉

If an individual is looking for their next rescue dog and the one they happen to fall in love with comes from another country then in my opinion any life saved, is a life saved, no matter what the origin.  These dogs do not ask to be born wherever they are or treated the way they are and I will do all I can to help anyone either acquire the right rescue dog for them, or to solve any problems they may encounter with that rescue dog.

What are Romanian Rescue Dogs Like?

From the experience I’ve had, since I started working with the Romanian Rescuers, and fostering Romanian dogs, is that many of these dogs are pretty well balanced if you have a good understanding of them. They are very loyal and loving, and because they are mostly all mixed breed, they often aren’t the genetic car crash that many of the pedigree dogs in this country are.

This means they don’t tend to suffer with the predominant and recurring health issues that many pedigree dogs do, because of the narrowed gene pool they are bred from.  That’s not to say Romanian dogs don’t have health issues.  Many of them are ill treated, starved and injured from living on the streets, so there can certainly be health issues to contend with and this is something you should ensure you check out with your rescuer before you adopt.

It is important to be aware though, for as many Romanian Rescue dogs that settle in their new homes with very few problems there are an equal amount who can arrive with some deep emotional and behavioural issues.  This is something that needs to be discussed in detail with your rescuer before you adopt your chosen dog.  Most of these dogs, even if they were never actually street dogs  but instead were simply abandoned by their family (sadly a common occurrence) will have experienced life in a Romanian kill shelter.

If they were taken from the streets they could well have been manhandled by the dog catchers which can be a very damaging experience.  As dog catchers and rescue workers are predominantly men, fear of men is something that can be a common problem with newly adopted dogs and something all adopters should be aware of so they can get ahead of the problem before it develops into a deep seated issue.

Of course any rescue dog, or any dog for that matter, has the potential for issues to develop, sadly it’s a consequence of the unsettled life they have endured so far. Whether that be from their past or from something that happens to them in their new home with you.  At the end of the day they are living, breathing, feeling creatures and as such are affected by the environment around them and things that happen to them, just the same as we are.

For the most part one thing can certainly be agreed on is that the vast majority of people I have spoken to through rescuing and working with new adopters (whether they have experienced problems with their Romanian Rescue dogs or not) is that there is something ‘different’ and special about them.  These dogs have amazing characters, deep souls and intuitive natures.  They teach as much as they learn and can be the most rewarding dogs to share life with.

There is a huge variety of dogs to choose from as well, small ones, big ones, fluffy ones, short coated ones, young ones, old ones, whatever you could want, many of them with beautiful markings and unusual coats.  Unfortunately in this country, when a pedigree breed becomes popular it gets seriously over produced by breeders wanting to cash in on this popularity, and the result of this is our shelters very quickly become full of predominantly one breed.

 

romanian rescue dog kyser

What’s Involved in Rescuing a Dog from Romania

To give a very brief overview, all dogs from legitimate rescuers in Romania are transported and rehomed according to DEFRA’s regulations, they receive routine blood tests, are fully vaccinated (including rabies) microchipped, neutered (if above 6 months of age) receive flea, tick and worming treatments, and have full passports.  

You can either adopt direct from Romania, in which case you are obviously going to take on a dog you will not have met prior to adoption.  It is becoming more common now that these dogs will already be in the UK in a foster  home or rescue kennels, making it easier for potential adopters to meet their new dogs in person first. 

Personally I would recommend adopting a dog that is already in a UK foster home as this generally makes their transition to life with a family  a little smoother and less traumatic.  The foster family are usually more experienced at settling the dogs when they first arrive and are somewhat traumatised from their journey.  They are also able to do a more detailed assessment of the dog in  a home environment and therefore make a better judgement on the best type of adoptive home for that particular dog. 

When you see a dog you like, you can reserve that dog if it is still in Romania and the rescuer will prepare it for travelling, arranging vaccinations, microchips, passports etc.  The timescale for this to take place will depend on the age of the dog or puppy you have chosen, and whether or not it needs to be spayed or neutered before travelling.

All legitimate rescuers will require you to complete a pre-adoption form and undergo a homecheck to ensure you are suitable for the rescue dog you have chosen.  If your rescuer does not do this, then I would walk away at this point and continue your search with another more reputable rescuer.

A non refundable adoption fee will then be payable, which goes toward paying for all the preparation treatments, passport and transport to the UK.  This fee will vary from rescuer to rescuer depending on each individual dog.

Bonafide Rescuers will offer RESCUE BACK UP for the life of your Romanian Rescue,  and support during those early days settling your new dog in.

YOU CAN WATCH THE DOG’S POINT OF VIEW ‘SET YOURSELF UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION’ FREE WEBINAR HERE

Tramp & Tasha. My Two Foster Puppies from Bianca Filip. Brasov, Romania

12963400_10153547997885920_3318457720953675712_n😀 Tasha has now found and left for her forever home 😀

Romanian Rescue - Tramp

Tramp… Well I fell in love with him… He’s staying with me 😉 

For Those of You That Would Like More Detailed Information or Help with Romanian Dogs 

If you have just adopted a Romanian Rescue or are about to, then I highly recommend you watch the New Adopters WEBINAR HERE. I have literally had 100’s of people tell me they wished they’d had this information when they FIRST got their dogs.

If you’ve had your dog for a while, and maybe would like some support or guidance on challenges you may be experiencing, there are lots of courses, programs and workshops on THE DOG’S POINT OF VIEW RESOURCE WEBSITE, some are free some are available to purchase as standalone enrolments, or you can find everything available on the website, inside THE ADOPTERS COACHING GROUP as part of your membership as standard.  The coaching group is a fantastic community created and run by qualified professionals specifically for adopters of Romanian and overseas rescue dogs.

You can find all the info about THE ADOPTERS COACHING GROUP HERE

 

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Comments (63)

  1. pauline duthie

    My step mum at Christmas has a lovely rescue rommie dog she’s so sweet the only thing is she doesn’t like to be separated from her she really doesn’t like being on her own everything else she’s superb but we would love some tips on how to deal with this thx

  2. Harry ritchie

    Today I picked up my adopted Romanian rescue puppy he’s only 4 months old very timid and shy however I have the time and patience to give this beautiful boy the life and love he deserves

  3. Lorraine whyte

    Hi am so interested in little Mora but can’t find the link or form to do so, I have two dog already but would love to help one ❤️

    • Hi Lorraine, I’m not sure which dog you are referring to, I am not a rescue, you must have seen Mora on a rescuers website? You need to contact them 🙂

  4. Lynn

    Hi, we’ve had our Rommie rescue dog Monty since December 2017 and he is a delight to behold. Such a gentle loving dog. He has settled in with us(a retired couple) wonderfully getting over many issues but a couple of remaining problems. He has major problems with traffic on walks he get really stressed and males( loves the ladies) and children. It’s taken my husband 9 months solid affection to bring him round. Visiting males haven’t the time. Also the TV he hides under the table when it’s on. Any advice on any of these issues I would welcome. Thank you in atisipation.

  5. Pl

    We rescued two pups from Romania via the highly commended Sadie’s… brilliant loving dogs with us now in UK in forever home…

  6. Amy

    We have recently rescued a little Romanian boy. He is the cheekiest little boy I have ever met but we love him. I am so happy to have been able to help one of these poor dogs

  7. Lynn Smith

    We have adopted a beautiful rommie rescue dog 6 weeks ago and she has slotted into our family as if she has always been here. Reading some of the other comments I think we have been lucky as we haven’t had any issues with her. I have just enrolled the help of a personal dog trainer to help me with some basic training. She has never shown any aggression but she does cower from me sometimes and it breaks my heart to think what she must have been through in her former life. We have completely fallen for her and my granddaughter adores her. She will never suffer again and there are so many more dogs waiting for loving families to rescue them. I’ve have had British rescue dogs all my life but there is something very rewarding about a Romanian rescue. If anyone is considering rescuing one of these beautiful dogs please do it.
    You will get so much from it .

  8. Sorcha Hegarty

    Hi,

    I’m getting a 5 month old Romanian puppy next month. I know the mum is a Carpathian (Romanian) sheepdog, but the dad could be anything. I’d like to do a DNA but aware that sometimes DNA tests can’t pick up breeds. Do you think it’s worth me doing ? Will it pick up the sheep dog in him? And which is the best one to go to for Romanian dogs. Thank you

    • Hi Sorcha, I’m afraid I don’t have any recommendations regarding DNA tests, I haven’t bothered with them myself but I know quite a few people have. If you are on Facebook, it may be worth asking around in some of the Romanian Rescue groups for people that have had them done, to see which might be best. It is unlikely to be truly accurate, because mostly these dogs are descended from street dogs, so Mum and/or Dad could also be a large mixture of breeds, and their parents before them and so forth, so many of the Romanian dogs truly are Heinz 57 mixtures, but beautiful nonetheless, and I do feel this is what gives many of them such unique and unusual looks, but also contributes to a variety of characteristics. Good luck with your puppy, Carpathians are not an easy breed so I hope your rescuer has made you aware of this and all the possible difficulties that may arise. Thank you for taking time to comment.

  9. Russell Beveridge

    My wife and I are currently visiting Romania with some Romanian friends from work. As a devout dog lover they had warned us of the issue with street dogs but nothing could prepare me personally for the reality. Over the last 48 hrs I have been moved to tears by the sights of these poor animals wandering the streets and highways. Once we return to the UK I will be looking into what we can do to help even if it’s just donations. We already have two of our own dogs and are fostering two more for a friend so as much as I would love to be able to adopt one we’re just not able to. Please keep up the good work.

  10. Gill

    We have had our Rommie rescue, Millie, for 8 weeks. She is definitely the most affectionate dog ever, and has been easy to train. She never messed in the house and is devoted to both of us. BUT she has lunged/barked/attempted to bite 2 of our (grown up) sons on 4 occasions even though she has spent time with them previously. We have consulted a behaviourist who has helped to some extent, but we are always living on tenterhooks when visitors are in the house. Will we EVER be able to relax?

    • Hi Gill, thank you for your comment, 8 weeks is no time at all for a rescue to settle in, having said that it is really important that you handle these early interactions correctly to prevent the problem continuing or getting worse. Have you read the other article on my website? Recommended Do’s and Don’ts for settling in your Romanian Rescue Dog? There is a lot of helpful tips and advice in there of what to do/not do during the first few weeks etc. I have a Training Advice & Support Group that you could join that could help make sure you are helping Millie in the right way to make sure she is able to learn to feel more comfortable in these situations. Not all Trainers/behaviourists have experience of Romanian dogs and they are a bit different to British Dogs in the way they need to be handled/worked with, especially in the first few weeks.

  11. Lindsey Ashpole

    I have adopted a beautiful little boy he is eight months old we have a few problems he growls at everyone I have had him for four weeks so hopefully he will be OK soon lynn

    • Hi Lindsey, thank you for your comment on the article, yes 4 weeks is still very early days for him, and it is really important that you handle these early interactions correctly to prevent the problem continuing or getting worse. Have you read the other article on my website? Recommended Do’s and Don’ts for settling in your Romanian Rescue Dog? There is a lot of helpful tips and advice in there of what to do/not do during the first few weeks etc. I have a Training Advice & Support Group that you could join that could help make sure you are helping your boy in the right way to make sure he is able to learn to feel more comfortable and relaxed. Not all Trainers/behaviourists have experience of Romanian dogs and they are a bit different to British Dogs in the way they need to be handled/worked with, especially in the first few weeks.

  12. Paul Warner

    It’s interesting to read everyone’s comments regarding Rommys, especially about bringing them over here when we have strays of our own, whilst I get the argument, generally Rommys are treated so appalling and it’s not their fault, they really do deserve rescuing .
    As for comments about various behaviors, it’s a dog, probably traumatised, so you may issues. We had a rescue Collie for eight years, full of issues and foibles, but you get on with it. After we lost her we got another Collie, from a reputable rescue centre, unfortunately she started to get aggressive towards my wife, so sadly we had to return her, so its not just Rommys that be problem.
    Anyway we now have Lottie, a Rommy, we have had her for three and a half years, she is absolutely gorgeous, everyone, and I mean everyone, loves her, she doesn’t have a bad bone in her body, she loves running around with doggy pals, loves small children, in fact her temperament is so good she has been accepted as a Therapy Dog, so never judge a book by its cover

  13. Pamela Vannan

    Thank you, the information on your website is really interesting and useful.
    I have adopted a Romanian Rescue dog who is arriving on Sunday. This will be the first time we have met which is making me a bit nervous but I am so excited to be able to give her a forever home.
    I am keen that I make our start together as good as possible, so expect to check back with some of the information you have shared once we have had some time to settle together.
    Thanks again, great work!

    • Hi Pamela, thank you! I hope your new arrival is settling in well? It is nerve wracking but exciting at the same time, I do hope she has adjusted well and is starting to relax and enjoy her wonderful new life with you! What a lucky girl. Please do let me know if you need any assistance.

  14. Sue

    I’ve had Tilly for just over a week, She’s a small 3 year old and is just the most adorable, sweetest dog I have ever met! In just one week she has come on such a long way and is so happy to have her own home. She is perfect in every way and I’m so lucky to have her.
    She is still shy of new people and other dogs but comes around quickly once she knows them.
    She follows me everywhere. We go out for walks but she always runs when she knows we’re on our way back home, her homing instincts are just amazing!!
    She came from Wonderland dog rescue and the people that organised everything there and here in the UK were fantastic! I shall always be grateful and will continue to donate whenever I can 🙂

  15. LORRAINE COLOMBI

    I’ve had Mabel (now named) since Wednesday 7.2.18. She came over the previous Friday after travelling back in a van with many other dogs rescued from the shelter out there. The organisation I got her through do fabulous work out there as do so many others. It is endless tiring and emotinally draining work that these people do to save these dogs and get them out of that Country. This little girl has settled in so well in such a short space of time and loves us and our choc lab (who I can only imagine what she has gone through as even after 8 monhs is still very shy and scared of people she doesn’t know – so many scars on her physically it beggars belief) who was rescued from a puppy farm in Ireland. I don’t know how these peope do this relentless rescue work.

    • Hi Lorraine, thank you for your comment, and thank you for opening your home and you heart to this girl. It will take her time to settle and learn to trust, but once she does she will find the world a much happier place hopefully. What a lucky girl she is to have found you x

  16. Deborah Phillips

    Hi we have adopted a a little girl dog called mocha from romainia last june, when we first got her she was very scared so tiny but must say she settled with in a few hrs soon found her comfy spot on settee with my older dog billy , we have had isues with her barking we have managed to control now she barks only if anyone comes to our door or up thre drivewhich our billy does thats normal,and finding ways to get out of garden running away a few times which did stress me my family, its not been easy takes time , she loves going out for walks and copys billy with his ball so now she has one even though cant let her off lead we have extending one she runs and runs round with her ball bringing it back to me slowly training her and shes doing great , we love her so much very rewarding , we woudnt be without her so glad we did this

  17. Diana

    My wonderful Rommie girl or should I say lady as she is about 9 or 10. She has adapted perfectly and fits in with every routine in my life. At first very apprehensive of other dogs but now has absolutely no issues and is off lead for the majority of the time. Has a high prey drive when she goes deaf but happily lives with the cat from day one. I adore her and couldn’t have wished for a better companion.

  18. Angela Travis

    We’ve had our little Suzie for two months now. She is very affectionate and, surprisingly, loves to play! Sleeps on the bed (naughty I know, but who could resist that little face?) We wondered how she would get on with our elderly ckicken. She was very intetested! – but Hetty pecked her on the nose and she’s given her a very wide berth since then!
    Good on her lead and is learning recall in a safe area. As her confidence grows her typical terrier personality is emerging! I’ve only just learned about the horrific conditions endured by these gentle creatures – and as she is asleep on my lap at the moment, I wonder what she has been through in her short life. She is not very intetested in food and has to be encouraged to eat, little and often. We adopted her through Lea Valley Dog Rescue and are very grateful to have her living with our family

    • Hi Angela, little Suzie is clearly very lucky to have found you! What a wonderful life she can look forward to now. Thank you x

  19. Christine Chadwick

    I adopted a Romanian rescue on July 22nd this year. He was terrified of everything and shut down for 2 weeks and very passive.. He was too scared to go to the toilet outside when when we took him out and he held on to it for 3 days and 2 days until he burst. He was too scared to eat and drink. I had to put food in his mouth and water in his mouth with a syringe. After 2 weeks he started to make eye contact and that was a break through. He started to go outside voluntary with my other dog to do his toilets. After five weeks he wagged his tail for the first time. He would not leave his bed at all but I made him have to get out of his bed to eat. He refused to go anywhere else in the house. After about three months I started carrying him into the sitting room and he just wanted to go back to his bed but I made him stay for half an hour and then for 3/4 hr and then 1 hr. Now we have a job to get him out of it! After 4 months he initiated a new kind of interaction with me,; he put his paw in my hand, and then he took my hand in his mouth and rolled over for me to tickle his tummy. It was very touching. He will do that now in the evening for me to stroke him. He is still wary of my husband. If we accidentally drop anything he will still run and hide. He is coming on very well. But he doesnt bark, he just makes puppy noises (he is about 3 yrs old), and he is still extremely agoraphobic, and not sure what to do about that one.

    • Hi Christine, thank you for taking time to share your story, your boy is very lucky to have you. The biggest thing to remember with fearful dogs is that everything needs to be at their pace, it sounds like you have made wonderful progress with him, I would recommend taking it very slow with regard to his agoraphobia, very much baby steps, with lots of reinforcement, or reassurance if he won’t accept treats, very short exposure sessions, literally just a minute or two at a time, depending on what he can handle. I’m sure you will get there with him, it sounds like you know what you’re doing 🙂 xx

  20. Carol Verrier

    I have adopted a Romanian rescue dog brought to the UK by a Charity called Give a dog a Home. He is wonderful. A little worried sometimes by new experiences or sudden events but the most loving and affectionate dog I have ever had. Love him so much. I would definitely take another Romanian rescue dog in the future.

    • Hi Carol, thank you for taking the time to share your rescue story. Give a dog a home are a wonderful rescue organisation, I’m so glad your boy is coming along well, and thank you for opening your home and you heart to him, he is a very lucky boy 🙂 xx

  21. This is my dear Romanian boy Rudi–I have had him 2 and a half years, he is a sweet dog and very handsome also–you can see him here https://www.facebook.com/groups/383751901833311/

    I have had a few problems with him which developed after 6 months, the on-going problem being his reactivity and also recall–he is however, doing well with professional training. I was upset however, by some people representing his Rescue–not the Rescue itself–being highly critical and unhelpful when I asked about these problems. I wondered if anyone else had had this kind of problem—it means I have to keep him on the lead most of the time, though he has free running under certain safe conditions—a trainer said it was because he became more confident once he ahd settled in, but I recently heard of another RR developing 2the call of the wild” after 3 years. Love and wuffs to all DEAR–AND FORTUNATE rescued dogsxxx

    • Hi Barbara, thank you for taking the time to share your experience, depending on the history of the dog, it can be the case that sometimes these Rommie Rescue’s can never be off lead, but it sounds as though you have professional help, so that’s great, but something to bear in mind. Just because we would love them to be off lead running free, doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best thing for all of them, especially those that can be reactive. Your trainer is correct, it can often be the case that as these dogs settle, they develop confidence and behaviours change. I have worked with quite a few Rommies now struggling with reactivity, and fear based issues seem to be quite a common thread with these dogs, but that’s not to say they can’t be overcome with the right approach, handling and training. Your boy is very lucky to have you xx

  22. Mrs Angela Reekie

    We adopted our beautiful Rommie girl Holly from Many Tears rescue in Wales in April this year, what can I say she is the most sweetest, gentlest and loving girl ever, she came to us a timid, scared girl and her tail was so far between her legs it looked like she didnt have one!!!! But with the help of our pocket rocket Buddy who we also adopted from Many Tears rescue last November and lots of patience love and care she is now the confident, happy, loving girl that we are so very lucky to have in our lives, she has learnt from Buddy how to play and also how to be his partner in crime and getting up to mischief . We are blessed to have two beautiful souls in our lives, Angela, Mick, Buddy and Holly xxxx

    • Awww that’s beautiful Angela, it can take a lot of time and patience with some of the Rommie dogs, they do tend to have a higher level of fear/anxiety based behaviours, but with love and understanding, many of them learn to grow into happy, relaxed and very loving dogs 🙂 Well done all of you! xx

  23. Judi

    I have an older rescue dog from Romania and she was terrified of everything. It has taken 2 years and she likes to be left alone but she is very sweet.

  24. Jean stone

    I adopted a lovely Romania little lady 7 weeks ago. She is so good and all she wants is love and cuddles. She settled in immediately and soon adopted our routine. I would not be without her and she is so grateful to everyone she meets. Everyone we meet on our walks are so amazed when they hear of her history and see how good she is. She loves all the fuss they give her.Having just lost my elderly dog my new Romania lady has certainly filled my life.

    Jean

  25. Alison Hambling

    Our Romanian German Shepherd has just arrived this morning! Felt very apprehensive, friends thought we were mad, just agreed from a photo and description. The German Shepherd Rescue found her for us, she is very thin and has had an injury to her mouth which causes her to eat slowly. We don’t know what traumas she has been through in her 2 year life, but she has just arrived showing our family love and affection already. No food aggression, lovely kind dog. Can’t wait to spoil her rotten with good food, plenty of walks, a warm bed and lots of cuddles.

  26. Russell Jacklin

    We have a Ronnie rescue, she’s 5 now we adopted her 18months ago, she has issues, mainly socialising with dog or human but slowly we are working on these worries and she is getting better, when we first adopted her she had many problems but slowly they have improved just just need to love them more and they love you more back.

  27. Louise

    We are awaiting the arrival of a Rommie next month! Bella will be 4 months old when she gets here. We are so excited to meet her…we’re sure our 2 year old rescue dog Bailey will have lots of fun with his new playmate!

  28. Kay pendlebury

    We have adopted from Romania. It was all very organised and we are overjoyed with our beautiful girl Lara. She is so full of love and her needs are very simple. Just to be with us and share everything we do . No behaviour issues no food aggression. An absolute joy in our lives. Would adopt from Romania again.

    • Awww that’s lovely Kay 🙂 I’m so pleased your girl has settled in well and is enjoying a wonderful life with you. Thank you for saving her beautiful soul.

  29. Theresa Killin

    I have just received 2 puppies from Romania both approx 4 months of age. Settling in very well with our 2 year old Doberman. Very quick and easy to house train. Love them to bits. Would defiently go with Romanian rescues in future too xx

    • Wow Theresa 2 puppies! That’s awesome, so glad they are settling in well and getting on with your resident Doberman. Thank you for saving these 2 beautiful souls and giving them the chance of an amazing life with you xx

  30. JANE

    HI
    I would love to adopt a Romanian dog from Romania from a shelter. But not sure which adoption rescue to choose?

    • Hi Jane, thanks for getting in touch, there are quite a few very good rescues to choose from if you would like to message me via the contact page with your location I can try and put you in touch with someone who is reputable and offers full rescue back up and support

  31. Joseph W Moore

    Solomon…..where did that come from…..soooon

  32. Joseph W Moore

    Hi
    We will be visiting not one but mother and daughter from romanian dog pound on Friday, awaiting home visit this week, we’ve had dogs before lost due to old age, but still have a rescue dog at home, hopefully she will get two sisters Solomon. Keep up the good work guys as these animals need us.
    Joe

    • Great news Joseph, thank you for helping to save not one but two beautiful souls and giving them the chance of a wonderful life 🙂

  33. Andrea Philbin

    My boyfriend and I recently adopted a Rommie pup – somewhat by accident (the first foster home could not keep her). It’s genuinely the best thing that I’ve done in a long, long time. We are both so in love with her and the fun, laughs, joy and happiness she has brought with her is just the best medicine. She’s acclimatised so well to life in the UK and is now truly the top dog. We love her dearly and we wouldn’t change her for the world. It’s true that when you rescue one dog, you are also rescuing another….I just need to own a farm and take lots of them!

    • Ahhh what a lovely story Andrea 🙂 I’m so pleased your new addition is bringing you lots of fun and laughter! They are very entertaining these Rommies!

  34. Vanda Kizmaz

    Thank you for highlighting the plight of the Romanian dogs. İ run Noah’s Ark Romanian Rescue with my colleague Lorraine and we have just returned from a trip to Romania to see the dogs under our care in safe shelters. There are some dogs that have been terribly traumatised by their experience at the hands of the infamous dog catchers and will take a long time in rehabilitation to learn to trust humans again but the majority of dogs are loving, friendly and affectionate and make wonderful companions.
    Given a little time and reassurance to settle into a home environment, they are wonderful dogs to have in your family.
    We wouldn’t be without our Rommie rescue dogs now and are dndeavouring to get as many of the Noah’s Ark dogs adopted as possible. Every dog that is adopted or fostered in the UK is actually saving two dogs: the one travelling to its new home and the one that can take its place from a kill shelter into a safe shelter.

  35. Katie

    My mum has three Romanian dogs coming over in the next couple of weeks, my nan is going to choose which one she wants, we are going to keep the boy and hopefully foster then rehome the third. Really looking forward to meeting them!

  36. Debbie

    I have a Romanian rescue called Eddie . He’s adorable and settling in nicely after 5 months . He is obviously mixed breed , I’m told with Dom chihuahua . My question is , how can I find his true mix ? As most DNA test sites don’t cover Romania ? In looks and behaviour he seems like a patterdale but I don’t think that breed is in Romania ? Thanks Debbie

    • Hi Debbie, I know several Romanian rescue owners who have had DNA tests done to find out the mix of their dogs. To my knowledge, they don’t have any kind of special test done, and although there are a few breeds that are specific to Romania, many of the breed DNA will most likely be relevant within the UK also. I will ask around and find out if anyone knows of a specific test that covers Romanian breeds and will let you know if I find anything out for you. Thanks for your comment, so glad your boy has found his forever home 🙂

  37. Audrey

    We have had our Rommie for only 3 weeks and she is already a true family member. We adore her, she is such an affectionate dog. Adopting a Rommie is such a worthwhile act and I urge anyone to think about it.
    True, we may have been lucky with ours, but reading about the way they are treated in their country makes me very sad and these animals deserve better.

    • Thank you for your comment Audrey, I’m so pleased your girl has settled well with you, it’s true that some do have ‘issues’ so to speak, but then that is true of any rescue dog. For the main, many Rommie Rescue owners say the same as you, how loving and forgiving these dogs are considering what they have endured. Thank you for opening your heart and your home to your Rommie girl. She is very lucky to have found you 🙂

  38. Pat

    Happy to find someone who agrees to the point that “pure breed” dogs are in fact genetically “poorer” than mixed breed ones (and my two “Bucuresti strays pure breed ” do confirm) 😉

  39. Mattie Parsons

    I have a Romanian dog who I fostered, the people who brought him over couldn’t cope with him so asked the rescue to take him back, he was so traumatised when he arrived that I knew I couldn’t let him go so he is still here and is a good family member.

    What I have found is that many people who adopt one of these dogs let their children climb all over the dog and hug them when they first arrive instead of letting them settle first. They have been told before they got the dog not to do this but of course, being humans they know better. If the dog growls or snaps, they want him gone yesterday, they have given the dog a bad name and it is their fault.

    There are a few articles on http://thedogrescuebasket.proboards.com/, if you feel you can use them feel free to do so.

    • Hi Mattie,
      Thank you for your comment, what a wonderful ending for this poor boy, you truly have ‘saved’ him 🙂
      Sadly it is true, that all too often parents don’t appreciate the correct way for dogs and children to interact and the dog usually ends up getting the blame for this lack of education on the owners part. Hopefully if we keep sharing relevant articles as much as possible, more owners will get the message. Keep up the great work!

  40. STEFANIA

    Hi . I am also a animal lover and I stand up for the animal rights. I am from Romania. And I came back fro the local Shelter Sibiu… poor dogs…PLEASE from the bottom of my heart…. ALSO SOME OF THEM GOES IN GERMANY BUT SOME OF THE NOT…And here.. nobody gives a damn about a dog lif.e..please PLEASE PLEASEEEE! i ALSO LIVE IN A FLAT AND I CAN TAKE ONE…!!!!HEARTBREAKING 50 KG DOG CRIENG WHEN HE SAW ME…. ANOTHER ONE TALL ALSO WAS TRAPTED IN A CAGE IN HIS MIND… PSIHICALLY ABUSED… THEY ARE HIDING SHAKING… STAY NUMB….. DON T HAV EREACTIONS ANYMORE…… PLESE ONCE AGAIN…iF i HAD space large enought I would take all in a day…. but I do what I can… plus… we are almost all day away from home….

  41. Karen

    Very interesting article I have just come back from helping in a Romanian shelter and going back soon

    • Thank you Karen, I’m glad you enjoyed it. That’s fantastic! Always great to meet fellow crazy dog lovers 🙂

    • Sue. Northrup

      Hi Karen,
      I live in Canada and would love to be able to (a) adopt a Romanian rescue and (b) help out in a meaningful way, aside from simply donating money. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
      Sue

      • Hi Sue,
        Thank you for your comment, I know it is difficult for the Romanian Rescuer’s to adopt dogs to America/Canada as they have to have a network in place in the country they are adopting to in order to be able to provide support and back up to their adopters. Please don’t underestimate the importance of donations, without this help the rescuer’s would struggle to continue. You could try doing some fundraising, if you have a particular rescue you follow, and also sharing their posts/websites etc on social media to help spread the word about the dogs and their situation. Basically the more people know about it and get involved, the better it will be in the long run 🙂 Thank you for caring & helping

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