Curtea de Arges public shelter

In February 2021, Pawprints to Freedom took over the management of a public shelter in Curtea de Arges, Romania.

This shelter originally operated as a kill shelter, meaning that after 14 days on-site dogs would be euthanised.

After months of dealing with local authorities and submitted paperwork, we were accepted to take over this public shelter.

It was no easy feat but it was a wonderful feeling when we started to take in our first residents and even better when stray dogs literally turned up at our doors.

We have a contract with the mayor to catch 40 strays a month and we do so humanely with leads and kindness.

We use tranquillisers when needed and have vets on hand to do this.

We are now proud to say that we have turned the shelter into an adoption centre where the 14-day kill rule just simply doesn’t apply.

The Curtea de Arges public shelter is now a place where dog welfare is of utmost importance.

We have an amazing team on the ground who care for the dogs and make sure everything is run to the highest of standards.

Our Team.

In 2023, shelter managers Tony and Mari Parker took over the running of our public shelter. Together with their kennel team, they have done an incredible job improving the living conditions for our shelter residents and expanding the shelter.

Tony

Shelter Manager

Mari

Shelter Manager

Ana

Administrator

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Lack of animal welfare is a big issue in Romania and the only way forward is to educate the locals on how to treat and behave around all animals.

Curtea de Arges public shelter is now not only an adoption centre, but also a place that is open to the public so they can come and spend time with our dogs and learn.

We also often hold free spay events for locals, targeting the problem of strays at the route.

When we took over the shelter, we knew it wouldn’t be easy, the monthly costs to run this public shelter correctly are astronomical. However knowing that these dogs will be safe, cared for, fed and loved makes it all worthwhile.

Running a public shelter can be done differently and we hope we have proven that.

What was once a kill shelter is now a place of hope, love and happiness and is one of our proudest achievements

Our Dream for the Future

Since Tony and Mari took over the running of CDA public shelter in 2023, they have made vast improvements, creating some 5 star accommodation for our puppies with brand new pens and resurfacing areas in need of improvement.

Tony's dream for 2024 is to create a dedicated fenced-in exercise area, in which the kennel staff can leash train the dogs to help make them as adoptable as possible for their arrival in the UK.

The area would also benefit some of our unadoptable Romanian dogs like Kane, that aren't able to socialise with other dogs and currently live very restricted lives in their kennels.

Our ultimate goal for Romania is to own our own kennels so that we can run them independently without worrying that we need to keep renegotiating an annual contract with the city.

Please get in touch if you would like to help fundraise for us to make this happen.