Victory for Romanian Stray Dogs

Back in May of last year I wrote about the Romanian stray dog situation. In a misguided attempt to cull the numbers of strays, dogs were being horrifically killed by clubbing, poisoning and electrocuting to name just a few of the methods. Rightly so, the Romanian population was angered by this and was asking the the courts to put an end to this terrible practice. I am happy to report that after millions of people signed petitions asking the courts to address this issue, the Romanian Constitutional Courts have announced that under Community Law the current practice of euthanizing stray dogs is illegal. What is even better is that this decision is final! This means that groups like Romania Animal Rescue will be able to continue stepping up their community education and spay/neuter programs which will help save countless lives. So far their programs have helped spay/neuter over 16,000 animals including almost 4,500 last year. Let's help them double it this year! Donations can be made online through paypal or you can send a check to one of the following addresses.

From Romania Animal Rescue, Inc.

RAR US
Nancy Janes
c/o Romania Animal Rescue, Inc.
8000 Morgan Territory Road
Livermore, CA   94551

RAR UK
Gill Silversides
c/o Romania Animal Rescue, Inc.
9 Brooklyn Road
Larkhall, England
BA1 6TF

A New Leash on Life

If your family is anything like ours, you probably found more presents under the tree for the four-legged family members than the two! :) We love to give presents to our furry kids and often that includes new leashes and collars. Their old ones are still in great condition but it's just nice to have a little change - something new to start the year with. So what to do with the old ones? Any gently used collars and leashes will eagerly be snatched up by any rescue, but there is one in particular that I am boxing up mine to send to this year.

Save A Sato is an incredible organization in Puerto Rico that rescues satos (street dogs) from their very rough and often cruelty filled lives on the streets and finds homes for them through partner shelters along the east coast of the United States. This is truly a group filled with love, who make a huge difference in their country. Did you know that in 10 years, this no-kill shelter has saved over 16,287 dogs! As I mentioned before, this group is important to me. The reason, you ask? Well, it's 47 lbs of pure love and ears! My little Max!

Check out those ears!

I am so grateful every day for the work they do! So if you are looking for a way to help them out, gather up those gently used collars and leashes and send them to Save A Sato at one of the following addresses.

Save A Sato Foundation
P.O. Box 37694
San Juan, Puerto Rico
00937-0694

Yvette Pina
P.O. Box 0737
Chicago, IL
60690

If you want to help gather even more gently used leashes and collars check with co-workers to see if they have any they were planning on getting rid of, check out thrift/second hand stores, or go to Dollar stores (if you live in Canada like we do, Dollarama is truly mind blowing in the amount of leashes and collars they have).