2.12.07

A lot of different help is needed at Tg-Jiu dog shelter. Especially there is a lack of decent dog-houses, appropriate storage facilities, as well as suitable facilities for treatment of sick dogs and puppies, just a few to mention.

Since our trip to Tg-Jiu in November I have been thinking about the concrete coldness and bleakness of the forthcoming winter there. In summertime when sun is shining even the depressing circumstance and harsh environment seem satisfactory. But in the frost and frigid wind of winter the truth is different.

A couple of months ago I read from newspaper about Kalle Augustsson who has been delivering charity donations for decades. He has delivered hundreds of donated truck loads of goods all around the world; Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina , Estonia, Iraq (Kurdistan), Kosovo, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Romania and Indonesia. The total sum of donations is around 7,5 million €. You can read more about Kalle's and his family's charity organization from here: http://lazarushumanaid.net

I read from a newspaper article that Kalle Augustsson is going to do a charity trip to Romania in near future. I decided to contact him and inquire if it was possible for him to help us with delivering goods to Tg-Jiu dog shelter. Kalle told that he is going to do one more charity trip to Romania before retiring (he is already 66 years old). He also found to be an animal friendly person and promised to take e.g. dog-house elements to Tg-Jiu within the next truck load. The next charity load is planned to leave for Romania in January.

At the moment situation is that we have bought the materials for dog-house elements and they will be manufactured in Ylivieska, Finland. There will be elements for twenty dog-houses with insulation in the floor. One dog-house is big enough for two or three dogs. The cost per one dog-house is ~ 100 euros. Thus, the costs for all 20 dog-houses will be around 2 000 euros. Carmena and Patricia have tried to find carpenters in Tg-Jiu for producing dog-houses but nobody has shown interest towards the project. Furthermore, lumber is expensive also in Romania.

In addition to dog-house elements we are planning to send elements for a small (10 square meters) storage building. This far the food storage has located in the same premises as do sick dogs and puppies. These premises are very poky and they serve also as storage for cleaning equipments, dog blankets, medicine, and as a kitchen…

The first idea for solving this space problem was to send a movable barracks to Tg-Jiu. We abandoned this solution because the lifting of barracks on and off the truck would have been too hard to arrange. Thus we decided to send elements for the building. They will be assembled in Tg-Jiu.

A "special delivery" from Germany has arrived to Tg-Jiu shelter. It is 8 meter long, old trailer. The trailer will serve as a restroom for the workers of a shelter as well as storage for small equipments. Patricia's husband Mihai brought the trailer from Germany (they are quite cheap there).
The trailer is so big that it is possible to make a small operation room there for a veterinarian.

The existing storage building, trailer and new small storage building together will be a great help in daily routines of the shelter. Especially keeping sick dogs & puppies apart from food and other equipment is important in order to avoid/minimize spreading of infectious diseases. Also a restroom for workers is much needed. This far they have changed clothes and ate their lunch outside.

We have now decided to start a campaign to finance above mentioned purchases. The total sum is not huge but now there is an excellent occasion for everybody to give very concrete help to the shelter.

The costs are:
Dog-house elements 2000 euros
Trailer 1300 euros (temporarily financed with a loan from Mihai's parents)
Storage building elements 1100 euros

We are also planning to buy a portable power generator (cost is around 400 euros) to electrify the trailer and new storage building. The electric system of existing storage building cannot take any more load. Also some tools, food and disinfectant will be needed.

Usually Kalle has paid the transport costs of charity trips by himself. Naturally, we are taking part in covering the costs this time.

All purchases will be financed with revenues from product sales (PAFi shopping), lottery, fund-raising campaign, and direct donations. You can also give a dog-house or an element of it or a piece of storage building as a Christmas present.

Now we just wish that all of you are taking part into this campaign to help the dogs of Tg-Jiu shelter and also the people taking care of them.

Let’s make the dream come true!
Regards,
Kiia