Visit to Tg-Jiu in August 2006 during the neutering campaign

We were planning this second visit in Tg-Jiu soon after we visited there first time in last November. Mentally we were quite well repaired and without that the visit with various and sometimes with very difficult and delicate occurrences could not have been succeed as it did now. This report is based on my, Kiia’s, observations and experiences but I am sure that everyone of us who was involved to this campaign has his/her own opinions and experiences which stick in a minds. Even me can’t put every minute and mode to this report but I would like to make it so that everyone can get a very illustrated idea of our trip to Tg-Jiu during the neutering campaign.

On Thursday 3rd of August Jukka & Jukka and me flew via Vienna to Bucharest and arrived to the airport in the afternoon 13.30 pm. Sini was already waiting for us at the airport and after renting a car we started our journey to Tg-Jiu. Landscape was this time very different than last time when everything was so grey and gloomy. Now sun was shining and outlook was even beautiful time to time. We could not avoid seeing plenty of corpses of dead dogs on the road but we were prepared for that somehow. We arrived to Tg-Jiu in the evening about 8 pm and arranged with Patricia that we will meet her after checked in to the hotel.

We met soon also the Finnish vet Serban and his wife Päivi. They had worked already two days in the shelter neutering dogs and cats. The atmosphere was little bit confusing when Serban told that the local vet Popescu was equipped very poorly and was using the medicines which Serban and Päivi were brought to the campaign. Serban was very worried that especially the anaesthetic substance was going to run out if Popescu will continue using Serban’s medicines. In Romania vets use usually different kind of substances for anaesthesia than in Finland. It is not so effective and sometimes animals can wake up in the middle of the operation and of course they feel pain then. We decided that we ask the local vet to order more the proper anaesthetic substance next morning. We also heard that the light in the store room is very poor and it is difficult to work there. The store room was the operation centre and luckily we had an electrician with us who could improve the light in the very next morning.

And then came Patricia to the hotel and after very warm hugs Sini and me decided that we go with Patricia to the shelter where two workers were waiting for the evening meal. Those two workers were staying at the tent over nights and watching the dogs whom were recovering after neutering. The evening was already dark and when we arrived to the shelter we could only see the light on the window of the store room. We went after Patricia to the tent but could not see much, just dim figures and assumed that they were those two workers. We also heard the sound of several recovering dogs in the tent. We left the boys enjoying their meal and went to the store room where was also about ten female dog recovering from neutering. In the room was also three little puppies and one of them seemed to be very weak and I was sure that he does not live until the next morning and I was right.

I do not know about else but I did not sleep very much the next night because I was so exited what the next day will bring.

First thing on Friday morning was that we went to buy several meters of electric cable for improving the light in the store room. We arrived to the shelter about nine o’clock. Every morning start very early in the shelter and now – during the neutering campaign – there was so much more cleaning to be done with the cages of recovering dogs. It took hours to clean the store room and the cages and you can imagine how difficult it was when you had to take dogs out from cages while cleaning. And it was preferable that the cleaning was done before the vets started their work between half past nine and ten o’clock. And there was only Carmena, Patricia, Mircea and two workers doing this all. On the first morning we could not help much, we only were watching very closely how things has to be done that we would be able to help the next day also with cleaning.

There was scheduled some meetings for Friday, e.g. visiting the vice mayor of Tg-Jiu. I went there with Carmena and Patricia and discussed also about the stray dog problem and how important it is to start the Neuter & Release program. The vice mayor promised to co-operate closely with Carmena and Patricia with this project. The current shelter needs plenty of improvements before it can be used as operating centre and hopefully city hall will make those improvements needed. When neutering females we have to bare in our minds that they need at least five days for recovering and that kind of facilities are not available at this moment at the current shelter.

After meeting the vice mayor we drove Carmena back to the shelter and soon after that Carmena was already interviewed by the local newspaper. We returned with Patricia to the city and wanted to go to bank for saving the donations of 3.500 euros we had with us. As assumed, it was not so easy and after a half an hour discussions and waiting the officer told us that they have to prepare so many papers for this kind of transaction and we have to come back the next day.

Then we went to visit handicap children’s home in Tg-Jiu. There were 58 children with different kind of handicap and behaviour disorders. We had also a little puppy Scoopy with us and he got the attention deserved during our visit. We were surprised how well organized the home was and how many nurses, doctors, teachers, physical therapists and other staff there were taking care of the children. The place was clean and light and very colourful and even inspiring. The children were going to take a afternoon naps and we could go to their rooms and say quick hello to all of them. We were not allowed to take photos of the children. We had plenty of gifts with us and left them there hoping that they will give some extra joy to the children also. This visit was organized because we are planning to start the therapy dog program in Tg-Jiu and wanted to talk about if there is any possibility to start it also with handicap children. This is not the easiest target group and we will go forward very carefully with them.

Visiting the handicap childrens' home

Soon after we left the children and went to eat snacks a heavy rain overtook us and we had to escape to the hotel. Soon there was water everywhere on the streets and also on the parking place of the hotel. After the rain we headed again to the shelter and met in front of the hotel Serban and Päivi. They had done the work of that day and we talked a little bit about how things have gone that day in shelter. That day had been quite busy and stressed for all of us. We could not have time to help enough vets in the shelter and they were not so pleased about that. We asked them to understand the situation and promised to help them the best we can during next days.

So we returned to the shelter and tried to figure out what we can do next. Soon we realized that there is just not enough recovering cages for dogs. And soon we were again driving back to the city with Patricia and bought some board. The sellers did maybe their best deal for ever selling as board which was much expensive than in Finland. But we did not have time to argue because we were so busy and headed to the next stop which was trying to find the place where we can buy strong net but those places were already closed for the day. After that we tried to find cartoons because they are very handy in the basements of the cages. But you can’t imagine how difficult it can be to get cartoon in Tg-Jiu. Shops and markets collect cartoons in the evenings and sell them for people who sell them forward to other people. After a long discussion in the back yard of one market we could get some.

We brought board to the shelter and went to say hello to recovering dogs and there were already plenty of them everywhere, about 30. Also the store room was full of neutered dogs and it was difficult to sort out where to put them during night. There were also vets’ medical instruments and substances at the long tables and it was very important to place dogs so that they can’t jump to tables and destroy everything. After a hard work every dog found their places and you can imagine how exhausted Carmena and Patricia and we others also were after that. But the work of the day did not end for Carmena and Patricia yet. We had to give up and return to the hotel for rest. But first we arranged with Patricia that on the next morning we go to buy net and other things needed for building extra recovering cages.

Saturday morning broke and was quite grey. It was promising rain again. Patricia came to the hotel to pick us before nine and we rushed to buy net and saw that Jukka & Jukka could start to build extra cages. Luckily we found quick right place and were soon driving to the shelter for cleaning. Gogu, one of the guardian dogs of shelter came to us for greetings. We all were so fond of Gogu, who has so great personality. Jukka & Jukka disappeared right away with building material and Sini and I went to store room and tried to help with cleaning the cages. Sini and I were so pleased when we noticed that the two little puppies in the store room were better now and had energy for playing and waving their tails. When we took females out of recovering cages and checked their cuts it was noticed that some stitches were opened. Those dogs were brought back to the vets for repairing operations.

On the left: Every morning started with checking neutered females. On the middle and right: Vets Popescu and Serban consentrating.

Romanians had Lenten days and it was holy weekend. We thought that there is not going to be so many owners with their pets coming for shelter and Serban started to spay male dogs of the shelter. The local vet was not so familiar with spaying males and he tried to follow how Serban operated. One owner brought his cat and told that cat has some urinary problems and the local vet Popescu tried to figure out what was wrong. Soon he asked an assistant from Serban and they found out that the cat have uroliths and they have to be taken out. That was not so easy for Popescu and finally Serban took the cat for operation and could give him the treatment.

Jukka & Jukka were busy all day long with building new recovering cages. Sini and I commuted from store room to tent and back helping the best we could. There were a huge amount of neutered females and some of them were quite anxious after operation. We tried to nurse them and keep them away from the operating area of vets. Suddenly Patricia came to the store room with a poisoned female. She was thoroughly wet and foam came out of her mouth. She was also trembling and we were quite sure that she does not survive. But Serban and Päivi did know exactly what to do and they started to revive the female. It took quite long but little by little the poor female became to look better and better and the worse was behind. Everyone wanted to nurse this poor female who had been a target for human cruelty. Even the little cat in the store room, named Suzi, wanted to nurse the female and laid down to her neck.

Poisoned female and nurses, notice especially the little cat Suzi.

Sometimes we had to calm down some dogs who were waking up from anaesthesia after operation. One female was in panic so much that we had to take her to our arms and hushed like a baby. After a while Päivi gave her more calming substance and soon the female was sleeping again and we hoped that when she will woke up again she feels better. We had also make sure that there is all the time new dogs coming in for operations when operated dogs where ready to be taken for recovering. It took a lot of resources to organize this and you can believe that those resources were not so much available there at that moment. Later on in the afternoon when vets were already leaving the shelter one owner came with his paralysed cat. The cat was already operated once after he had jumped from window and fallen down. And now he had done it again. There was not much choices left. We stroked the cat one after one and said goodbye to him when Serban let him go to rainbow bridge. If I had been worried about that I miss all the time my own dogs in Finland there was not time for that. It was only a good thing because the dogs in the shelter deserved all our attention.

After vets had gone on Saturday I suddenly realized that I have had no time at all to visit the dogs inside the shelter. Now I was in hurry. Sun was shining again and was very warm. Dogs preferred to laid on shadow in or near their cages but some of them did come to greet me when I stepped in. I could walk in peace inside and go to cage by cage to say hello my old and some new friends. Of course I took plenty of photos at the same time and hoped that I could get a photo of every dog. The shelter’s dogs have about 100 Finnish sponsors and they were eagerly waiting for photos of their godchildren. You can just imagine that I had a little bit pressure.

Photos of the sherter and dogs. In the middle one of the two workers of the shelter.

Later on that day we were invited to have a supper at Carmena’s and Patricia’s home and before that we had to went to the hotel to take a shower and change clothes. Patricia and Carmena stayed to the shelter and continued working, as usual. But before 10 pm Patricia came to collect us from the hotel and we drove to their home. Already after parking we heard an extremely strong welcome barking from the yard of the house. I wanted so much to see again my old friends, the dogs Marc, Bursu, Betty, Kiki, Bubu, Patric, Mickey, Cara, Ghita, Marin, Pitty, Picy, Mica, Fulca, Capri, Urata, Alma, Dolly, Max, Bella, Lassie and the cats Julie, Pisa, Mitza, Dixie and Patty andalso the new arrivals Otty, Ana, Gibonica, Vevita, Sonya, Nasuc, Fiorel, Sandel and Vicu. Only our dear friend “grand lady” Tuta was not there anymore.

Carmena’s days in the shelter are always too long and Patricia has to do also so much work inside and outside the shelter that sometimes the evening supper of the pets of home is a little bit late. And now they were eagerly waiting for food. First we went with Patricia across the street where is a little plant where Patricia and Carmena are taking care of over 10 dogs, adults and puppies. It was very dark already and I could not see much but I found soon something soft in my fingers. There was Latila asking me to scratch her head. After giving food to those dogs we returned to the house and followed how Patricia feed tents of dogs of their own outside on the yard.. We tried to take photos but I think that only thing what is seen on them is several furry tails and wet noses all in one heap.

When dogs had got food we were invited inside to the living room and got there also with us Marc, Bursu, Kiki and Bubu. Many of you might remember Bursu who was partly paralysed during our last visit in November and could not move. Now he was running with others without any problems and seem to be so happy and healthy. Many vets had given a statement about Bursu’s condition and did say the he will never walk again. Sometimes even them have to humble before miracles of nature. We met also lovely Nasuc who has no nose but did not even noticed that something is missing. Nasuc could eat and breath normally so we were sure that she can live as perfect life as the others. And charming Marc was again everywhere begging to be noticed. If you do not already know the story of Marc, please read it. All pets of Carmena and Patricia are big personalities.

Feeding the dogs of the house of Carmena and Patricia.

At Carmena's and Patricia's home.

Julie, Bursu and Bubu with fruits.

Soon after supper we realized that it is over midnight and we all have to wake up very soon on the next morning. We rushed back to the hotel and went to beds. Saturday was a very good day and I had the feeling that the following days will be also. I fell a sleep immediately.

Early on Sunday morning again we were in the shelter cleaning cages and helping where we could. Obviously we got better in cleaning the cages from day to day. Popescu the vet had Sunday off, but Serban and Päivi spent the day castrating shelter’s male dogs. We took shelter’s bitches, which were neutered on Tuesday back to the shelter area, hoping they wouldn’t suffer from any complications.

On the left Serban spaying a male of the shelter. On the right females before and after neutering. Little black white puppy is an assistant.

After Serban and Päivi had finished they work on Sunday, Jukka the electrician started his work. The electrical installations of store room have been in a very poor and dangerous condition for a long time. Last winter the installations could hardly support one radiator. This was not enough to keep the puppies and sick dogs warm. Jukka was able to improve and secure the electrical installations remarkably. Now the system can hold much bigger load i.e. 3-4 radiators. Also the indoor and outdoor lightning was improved and extra wall sockets were installed.

On the left Finnish electrician improving poor and dangerous electric supply in the store room of the shelter. On the right photo after installations.

Sini and I went to see the shelter’s dogs always we had a chance. Every time I step in from the shelter gate, I feel this warm feeling inside. It’s hard to explain – I guess everyone experiences this in they own way. In the shelter I always feel very much at home, being surrounded by friends. Easily I could have spent all day with the shelter’s dogs and remember nothing from the outside world. Unfortunately this was not possible, so I just tried to enjoy these brief moments with the dogs. As a lasting memory from my time with the dogs, I got marked on my trouser legs and t-shirt. Carmena found the whole scene hilarious and and she was laughing hysterically as she saw dogs doing their little number on my trousers as I was petting them.

Sini in the shelter with dogs.

On the left Gogu, one of the guardian dogs who consentrated always to keep company for us. On the right maybe the warmest kiss of the trip.

Late in the evening we got back to the hotel. We had arranged with Serban and Päivi to have dinner at the hotel. Serban was most valuable help in translating the menu to Finnish. The dinner was very good and we had a chance to catch up with everything. During the dinner we discovered that the hotel owner had a farm. Serban and Päivi were even invited to visit the farm. Apparently the hotel owner has a pet lion in his farm and the animal has literally no living space at all. It was clear that we were dealing yet with another animal abuse case. In Romania it’s legal to have wild animals as pets, so we didn't have that many options to help the lion. However we will contact Romanian Animal Welfare Organizations on this matter. After the dinner we retired to our rooms to get some rest.

On Monday morning we were back cleaning the cages. By the time Sini and I had gained so much experience in cleaning that we were solely responsible for the job. In the recovery tent were also little puppies. Needless to say I couldn’t keep myself away from these little darlings. These little puppies and old dogs are so vulnerable in this hostile environment. They always make me quite emotional. One of the hardest things in Romania is seeing everywhere so many abandoned little puppies and handicapped and old dogs.

All Monday was very busy as the owners were bringing their pets to be neutered. Sini was already semiprofessional and she was helping the doctors by shaving and washing the dogs. At some point I realized that I hadn’t had time to take any photos yet. In the afternoon we managed to go to bank and deposit Finnish donations. After that we visited an old-age home. The manager was very welcoming and he was keen on starting the therapy dog cooperation in the old-age home. We all enjoyed our visit. We brought some Finnish music as gift and as we left we could hear the famous Finnish tango singer Olavi Virta from the loudspeakers.

On the left mother and daughters and their cat going to be neutered. On the right Finnish vet assistant Päivi helping Popescu.

On the left neutered female and Päivi. On the middle assistants helping and owner watching.
On the right the ear clip which every neutered and spayed dogs got.

The horses of gipsies were wandering on the street near shelter. It was suprising how cars did not hit them. The traffic is very heavy and speed high.

Back at the shelter I wanted to greet the dogs and hopefully take some photos. This was our last day at the shelter after all. I tried to stay as long as I could, but eventually I had to say goodbye to hundreds of my friends. All I could do was to promise to come back. Next I went to the warehouse and to the tent as I also wanted to say goodbye to everyone there. To my surprise I found in the tent 3 new puppies. Carmena explained that she had found the puppies in a sack next to the shelter. One of the puppies was very badly injured and he couldn’t support his head. The doctors had already left and all I could do was to take the crying little one on my arms and try to calm him down. Finally the little one fell a sleep on my arms and I carefully put him in a bed. I stayed next to the puppy, stroking him and prying his heart would stop beating in his sleep. If until that moment I had somehow managed to control my emotions, but not anymore – I was sobbing. I could hardly tear myself from the puppy, as we had to leave. We drove back to the hotel in extremely low spirits.

Serban and Päivi were leaving from hotel to have a supper with Popescu when we arrived to the hotel. We had a little bit time to talk about the current day news and because of we were leaving Tg-Jiu on next morning at 6 am. we had to also say good bye.

Later on Monday evening we had a change to meet Carmena and Patricia at the restaurant and have a wonderful supper together talking about almost everything between the earth and sky. We tried to be in a cheerful mood even we knew that soon we have to say good bye. I have felt deep friendship with Carmena and Patricia from the beginning and this visit made it again stronger.

Our gang with Carmena and Patricia.

Early on Tuesday morning we started our journey back to home. We drove first to Bucharest about midday and in the evening we were at home with our own dogs. Already I was missing back to the shelter.

Without this visit we could never have realized how much different kind of recourses are needed for the campaign like this. It was so much easier in our thoughts. Because of Carmena and Patricia had to make the hardest part, next time we will take care of that there is enough help for Carmena and Patricia and hope that also volunteers will join us.

We would like to thank all those persons who made this campaign to be true. Even the job was huge it was worth to.

In the future we continue to help Pro Animals Romania the best  we can. The Neuter & Release programme is one very important project which we defenetly want to support as well the well-being of the dogs in the current shelter. Educational and therapy dog programme will be in our interest in future very closely. But we can't also forget that the new shelter for dogs with proper facilities including veterinary clinic is very much needed and we have to do everything possible to get construction started as soon as possible. There are so many things worth to support in Pro Animals Romania's activities and we hope that everyone who has red what we already have achieved would join us.

With best regards,

Kiia