As we remember another Rescue Dog Day on 20 May, I want to highlight some of the people who give dogs a second chance. This is a series of stories about Second Chance Givers – to honour and highlight their work. And how to get in touch if you are interested in finding more about them.
Today, we want to introduce you to Speranta Shelter, which means ‘hope’ shelter in English.
Speranta Shelter was founded in 2001 when Florina Tomescu rescued 300 dogs who were set to be euthanised when a public shelter closed. The charity is now led by Florina’s daughter, Anca, who is also its lead vet.
It works to rehabilitate and rehome dogs in Romania while also focusing on sterilisation and education to improve the overall situation for strays. To-date it has sterilised more than 200,000 dogs.
Based in Bucharest, it provides a permanent home for around 500 dogs, many who are elderly or disabled. The charity also focuses on sterilisation and education, and to-date has sterilised more than 200,000 dogs.
Speranta rescues strays in need both from the streets or also shelters where dogs can be euthanised after 14 days if they are not adopted. With a lack of animal welfare laws this can often be through barbaric methods like beating or starvation.
Unlike many European shelters, Speranta rarely rehomes abroad and instead focuses on local adoptions to help tackle the street dog issue in its own country. It also has a no-euthanasia policy and many of the dogs in its shelter are elderly and require long-term care – its oldest residents are more than 20 years old!
Many dogs who arrive at Speranta are injured or traumatised and need rehabilitation, which is carried out by the shelter’s veterinary team and its on-site behaviourists. The shelter is also home to many disabled and elderly dogs.
Dogs which are not suitable to rehome even after rehabilitation live their lives in comfort and surrounded by love at the shelter. For dogs who can be rehomed, a suitable family is sought in Romania.
Speranta champions a ‘remote adoption’ programme, where supporters can financially sponsor a specific dog for an amount of their choosing. This money helps to fund food, care and medical costs, allowing the dogs to remain in their familiar, secure home while still receiving the love and support of an adopter from afar.
The charity is passionate about improving the situation for animals across Romania through sterilisation and education. It has also been instrumental in spearheading a new animal welfare bill which is currently going through parliament.
Speranta has also spearheaded calls for reform to animal welfare across Romania, and Anca was recently invited to the parliamentary palace for her work in this area.
Website – www.sperantashelter.org
Instagram – www.instagram.com/speranta_shelter
