The winter has arrived to most of the part in Finland and Christmas is soon here, too. Tg-Jiu is also waiting for the Christmas time though they are afraid whether the winter will be record-breaking cold in the past 100 years. For the time being the temperature has not been that much under -0 degrees.

We have updated our website a bit. Some of you may already have noticed some changes. When speaking of the shelter maintained by Carmena and Patricia, we now use the term PAR (Pro Animals Romania)-shelter, not Tg-Jiu shelter. This is because people in different forums have mixed up the city shelter and Pro Animals Romania’s shelter and we wish to avoid this by any chance. These two shelters should absolutely be kept separate though Carmena and Patricia try to help the dogs at the city shelter too.

Discussions with Carmena

In October newsletter I told you about the dog house-project at PAR shelter. They have built even ten more dog house since the last newsletter! Donations for the materials of dog houses are now 346 euros (as November 22), big thanks to all of you! We will continue the project. 30 dog houses cost about 950 euros including materials and work. In October volunteers built the twenty dog houses without any labour costs but after that we have paid for the work, too.

Last Saturday I talked to Carmena on the phone and she told me that they had gotten two new workers at the shelter in addition to Vasile. Of course they hope that these workers would stay for a longer period of time and are dependable. The man who worked with Vasile, Georghe, suddenly left the shelter in mid-October and never came back.

Carmena has also gotten help to her home where at the moment she keeps 60 dogs and 6 cats and of course, horses Dona and Daria. Most of the Carmena’s “dogs” live in the fenced yard across her home where Carmena’s father builds a new, modern house for her daughter. Carmena has brought several dogs from the city shelter and also brought home some recovering patients from her own shelter. People still also abandon dogs, especially puppies, in front of Carmena’s home.

Carmena kept asking me when they could expect their Finnish friends for a visit to Tg-Jiu. When I told them that on my own behalf I’m able to promise to come in April, she thought that would take forever and she couldn’t wait that long! I’m sure the spring will be here sooner than we realize and who knows if some of Carmena’s several friends in Finland could go to greet them before the spring.

About Patricia

In addition to her studies, chores at the shelter and other obligations, Patricia participated in a conference of veterinarians on November 11-13 in Sinaia. There were several professionals giving lectures and participants from all over the world. Patricia surely got some excellent information and contacts to support her studies. Patricia told that she had been the only representative from her school and only a few vet students from Bucharest had participated in the conference. Patricia had also met a nationally acclaimed vet from Timisoara and asked if she could come to his practice to learn on the side of her studies.

Patricia had also confronted the dog catchers of her town once again. She received a call from a person who had told that these catchers were roaming a certain area and collected dogs in an inhumane way to their truck. When Patricia went to check, the catchers were still on the spot. When Patricia had asked them to open the back of the truck to see the dogs, she almost got into a fight. Dogs are still caught by strangling them with “tongs”. Dogs are often taken to a destination unknown.

Patricia told about a touching case when a family with five children had come to the shelter to look for a dog that had lived in front of their home. The dog had probably been caught and taken away. The family had searched for the dog at city shelter and when they hadn’t found it, they had come to PAR shelter. The children had cried for their missing friend and the miserable dogs at city shelter. The family had concluded that even though PAR shelter is very primitive and simple, the dogs there are in a good shape and seem happy unlike the dogs at the city shelter. Patricia had discussed with the family about adopting a small dog from the shelter. They could keep it as a housepet and not let the dog wander alone on the streets. The children were immediately joyous of the chance of adopting a real pet. Patricia wants to discuss with the parents and children about the adoption to be sure that the family understands the responsibility that comes with an adopted dog.

Tips for Christmas

Please, remember our friends in Tg-Jiu by giving your close ones immaterial gifts or even a goddog of their own, by sending PAFi e-cards or by shopping at PAFi shop or Zazzle-store .

Waiting for Christmas,

Kiia