A DALE animal lover is playing her part in tackling the problem of street dogs in Romania.
Lucy Taylor has already collected enough food and supplies to fill two van loads to support shelters in Brasov,
in Transylvania, and has launched an appeal for more donations.
Since learning of their plight, Ms Taylor, from Barnard Castle, has also adopted two dogs which were rescued from the Romanian streets – 12-year-old Hobnob and Saxon, whose age is not known.
The former Soviet republic has a huge problem with strays which dates back to the 1980s when industrialisation under former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu saw large numbers of people migrate from the countryside into huge city tower blocks – forcing them to abandon their pets.
With public shelters full to bursting point, the issue reached crisis point when the Romania government authorised a cull of strays after a four-year-old boy was mauled to death in 2014.
Ms Taylor supports two charities based in Brasov dedicated to saving street dogs -Gabriela’s Souls and Paws, run by Gabriela Marilena Porosnicu – and ODD (Old, Damaged and Disabled) Animal Rescue, which was established in 2020 to take over a rundown and overcrowded shelter in the town.
“Gabriela used to be manager of the shelter Hobnob was housed in and she started her own charity looking after waifs and strays,” said Ms Taylor.
“Hobnob was my sponsor dog, but because of his age, he would never have been homed, so I decided to take him.
“I felt I could give him a better life.”
Saxon arrived a year later and both have adapted well to life in the dale.
She said: “It is not difficult to bring a dog over. The charity will sort out all the red tape and arrange transport.
“Gabriela has rehomed quite a few dogs in the UK.”
Ms Taylor has set up a collection point for tins of dog food and dried goods at the Co-op’s Barnard Castle town centre store, where she works as a team leader.
She added: “I have done two van loads to Romania – one has gone to Gabriela and one to ODD.
“I like to help the smaller charities.
“They don’t have much of a presence in the UK and they don’t receive a lot of support in their own country and there is a massive problem of street dogs in Romania.
“The shelters are overrun with lots of pups that are born on the streets,” she added.
“I have received a lot of support from people in Barnard Castle – they have been excellent.”
One supporter even designed a poster for Ms Taylor to help publicise her efforts.
