BARKING MAD DOG RESCUE SHELTERS
BARKING MAD SHELTER and THE VILLAGE HOUSE SHELTER, NISIPARI, CONSTANTA, ROMANIA
The village of Nisipari in Romania is home to our own shelters. Nisipari is just over 30 kms from Constanta town itself, which is on the Black Sea coast. Here at our main shelter, we rent the ground from a local man, although we really hope that soon we will be buying our own land and building a more permanent rescue center, also on the periphery of the village.
Here we care for more than 400 dogs. Our shelter is not the most luxurious compared to western European standards but our dogs are happy and healthy living in social groups, with room to play and interact.
Since 2018 we also have rented a small, slightly dilapidated house in the village where the more vulnerable dogs are housed. Pups, oldies and little dogs live here.
We pay all costs - food, vets, wages, maintenance, electricity and rent. Currently, more than 500 dogs and 50+ puppies live here across these two shelters.
THE MAIN SHELTER
THE VILLAGE HOUSE MINI SHELTER
TEAM ROMANIA
The dogs at our main and biggest shelter are cared for by a remarkable family, Gea Caineanu, her father Ion and mother Aura. These three selfless individuals have given up nearly every aspect of 'normal' life to look after every aspect of our work in Constanta.
The pandemic has been particularly hard on this dedicated family. There have been no volunteer visits for two years. it has been even harder to retain workers in Romania where no one wants to work with dogs. Brexit too has has had a significant impact, where the regular aid runs have been halted from the UK. Thank goodness we have the Aura, Gea and Ion
CLAUDIA AND COSMIN, DOROHOI, NORTH EASTERN ROMANIA
Claudia and Cosmin are a hardworking couple who live way up in the northern reaches of Romania, not too far from both Ukraine and Moldova. Cosim is a secondary teacher of modern languages. Claudia is at home caring for theirmany rescued dogs. Cosmin works hard with his pupils to encourage empathy towards dogs and other animals. He teaches them how to care for their pets. There seems hardly a day go by without news from Claudia of another poor soul taken in.
Claudia first reached out to BMDR in 2019 to help her with her dogs. Dorohoi seems to be lagging behind the positive changes that othersome parts of Romania have made. Dog abandonment is at very high levels and attitudes local to Claudia and Cosmin are very negative towards dogs - even people's own dogs.
With the great support from our German friends, there has been a steady stream of dogs adopted from ths dedicated pair. Moreover, there has been generous sponsorship too.
Where does this leave BMDR's role? Well, we are there to pay for operations and veterinary care for for those dogs who need it. BMDR covers costs that mean dogs can be made ready to be adopted, whether they need stitched back together again or treated for diseases.
SUPPORT FOR AURELIA'S DOGS, CRAIOVA, ROMANIA
Most months, we send some money to Aurelia's shelter in Craiova. This can be used for food or vet bills. Aurelia has been running a registered charity in Romania, Viata Animalelor, for many years. She currently has a few older Barking Mad dogs and all together, looks after around 150 dogs, including lots of puppies.
