TG-JIU APRIL 3RD-4TH 2010 – THE TURNING POINT OF MY LIFE?

Well, time will tell.

One thing I know for sure already: something changed deep inside of me during the trip.

The weeks before the trip were filled with pondering. I kept asking numerous questions about the dog shelter we were heading to; at times I poured all those questions on Kiia and Jukka but they bravely coped with “the tide”. 

Often Kiia could answer my questions only to a certain point; according to her I’d understand the realities of the shelter once I’d see and experience them myself. Now afterwards I realize I would definitely understand what Kiia had meant…

On Saturday morning, April the 3rd 2010, I drove with Kiia and Jukka to Helsinki-Vantaa airport where we met the other two travelling companions, Sari and Pirjo. I had never met them before but despite this I felt very at ease, very natural when we first met. At this point I thought something about the similarities of us animal-friendly people…

The flight to Bucharest, Romania, lasted c. 2,5 hours during which I managed to discuss about PAFi with Kiia very profoundly. During our discussion the concept of an animal welfare association that would pass even the strictest tests and truly aimed at showing the way to a sustainable animal protection on a local level strengthened in my mind.

Only after a while we had arrived to Bucharest…

At Bucharest airport we stepped into a van Jukka had booked for us and the journey towards the city of Tg-Jiu could begin.

Already after a while of driving we stopped at a gas station where I met the first ”real” stray dog I had ever seen. I could say that many things went through my mind at that moment since I was the kind of a person who had always considered dogs as the most traditional pets of all.

After c. 6 hours of driving we stopped at some rest stops on several occasions meeting stray dogs in very different conditions. At least one thing these dogs had in common… HUNGER! We tried to satisfy this basic need with the dog food we had brought with us =)

During the trip many controversies I saw around me puzzled my mind; there were spectacular landscapes but on the other hand the sides of roads were like landfills…

I don’t know what the time was, maybe something like 6 pm, when we arrived at Carmena and Patricia’s shelter in Tg-Jiu. Different kinds of thoughts ran through my mind… What would happen now? How would the dogs react to strangers? What about Carmena? Patricia? As I opened the car door, I experienced the overwhelming rumble of 400 dogs barking as a welcome for us.

Inside the shelter we had the honour to meet Carmena and Patricia, the outstanding two wonderwomen of the shelter… Now I began to realize what kinds of personalities could do all those remarkable things Kiia and Jukka had told me about…

The first encounter with Carmena and Patricia was very genuine and natural. Our common languages were English and “love for animals”.

Then it was time to get to know to the residents of the shelter, the dogs. My first time inside the shelter fences was unforgettable. Numerous furry things began to jump all over me, some asking for cuddling, others hoping to get a treat.

Despite the somewhat dismal conditions, most of the dogs simply exuded with friendliness. At this point my head was filled with an enormous rush of empathy; I would’ve wanted to go through every single dog of the shelter and give everyone a piece of sausage, cuddling, everything… It was, however, simply impossible =(

Next we headed to the warehouse/recovery room of the shelter. At the time there were several dogs recovering from spaying and few sick dogs.

I asked Patricia if I could help her with something. And yes, I got to help. Soon I had a rag on my hands and I was requested to clean the used cages that were soaked with urine and feces, the cages were on their way to the warehouse. I gotta admit it wasn’t the best job in the world but it felt great to stick my hands – literally – on shit since I knew that after cleaning the cages the next patients would have nice conditions to lie on.

That’s how we got started.

In addition to cleaning duties the days at the shelter included e.g. organizing at the warehouse and rescuing dogs. Oh, how many emotional rushes I experienced!

And of course, the days also contained getting to know to new friends such as Venus (on the left) and Karma (on the right).

The daily routines were pretty much the same. First breakfast at the hotel, then to the local supermarket to get dog food, cleaning equipment and cardboards for dogs to lie on. Then some chores at the shelter and in the evening some dining with the family of Carmena and Patricia.

One of the hardest experiences was going to the dog shelter maintained by the city of Tg-Jiu. It’s hard to describe the place. Perhaps “a concentration camp for dogs” would be the term best to describe. Imagine an old concrete industrial building packed full of dog fences and dogs. The noise is overwhelming, the dogs have no future since even the healthiest ones get sick in matter of weeks and die. The last days the dogs spend in cages without any activities.

A couple of horses abandoned by some gypsies were held next to the city shelter. The owners of the horses are likely to retrieve the horse back to be mistreated again. Sad, really, really sad.

Eventually it was Tuesday evening.

Saying goodbye to the dogs, last cuddles…

Late in the evening we ate with Carmena, Patricia and their relatives for the last time. After the dinner the last words, hugs and promises to meet again.

I felt very wistful as Patricia began to drive us towards the hotel. Carmena was left standing there and waving… it was tough. I kept thinking how life had offered me the opportunity and honour to meet that unique person who I knew I would meet again in future. If it was up to me.

At the hotel we said goodbye to the other wonderwoman, Patricia. That wasn’t easy either. I felt some relief in the fact that I would meet her again and we’d do this important job together!

Then it was the last night at the hotel and the wake-up call at 04:30 am! A shower, packing up and on our way to the Bucharest airport! On our drive towards Bucharest we met more of hungry stray dogs that we gave leftovers.

During the drive we all were pretty “empty”, physically as well as mentally… I felt very melancholic to leave friends behind.

I already began to think about the next trip to the shelter… All the things I could do then… Learn a few words of the local language, maybe some animal welfare law, too… In the end all I could think was one thing:

WHAT MORE COULD I DO FOR THEM?