I
have a dear friend who was born in Romania. Sadly, I have read about some
cruelties to animals there. One came from an
American
woman who visited Romania
some
years ago. She was horrified to find so many homeless, wandering dogs on
the
streets
of the city she was visiting. When she returned to the States with a
dog
she
had
rescued and adopted, she started a fund raiser for a much needed
spay/neuter clinic in the Romanian city she had visited. I don't know if she
succeeded, but I
certainly applaud her efforts and compassion.
Another time I read that some Romanian farmers would sometimes let their
captured
wild horses remain in the cold woods for long periods and tie their legs in
some way
to immobilize them so they wouldn't run away. In my opinion --incredibly
cruel.
So I was very pleased to read a Care 2 account of a Romanian grandmother
who has -
over the years, saved hundreds of dogs and cats from freezing to death in
the harsh
Romanian winters. Yes, she too knew what it was like to be cold because
her own
lodgings were cold and sparse --so much so that she and her niece Mariana
preferred
sleeping in an old car to their drafty house. Thankfully, the house did at
least offer
some protection from the cold and biting winds for their often shivering
rescued cats
and dogs.
Finally, the house was made more hospitable and this 91 year- old lady--
Savasitia Miu,
most often called 'Grandma' by her admirers, would no longer have to sleep
in the old
car. But sadly, now her health took a turn for the worse, and she recently
suffered a
stroke and is bed ridden. However, she sits up and was pictured at this
post with a
number of her dogs sitting and laying close to her to lovingly "protect"
her. Though
unable to walk at present -this spunky lady has been able to continue her
rescue work
with the help of Mariana. One day soon-- more needed help would arrive for
the 80
dogs and 35 cats they were caring for at the present.
How amazing that this woman who probably had little monetary resources was
able
for decades to rescue hundreds of dogs and cats who might otherwise have
frozen to
death during Romania's bitterly cold winters. How sad that the people in
her environs
were so uncaring that there were so many dogs and cats who needed rescuing
in the
first place.
But two years ago when Grandma Miu and Mariana were sleeping in that old
car which
they found warmer than their house-- when by some miracle, they were
spotted by
German rescuer, Tammy Raab, who would take the animals and these two women
under her wing.
Now thankfully, these two were getting help from a German group called
Helft Handeln.
Through them-- veterinary care was provided for their rescues, and many of
the animals
have been adopted internationally through the efforts of this group.
The help arrived just in time because Grandma Miu and Mariana sadly have
come to
realize that they can no longer rescue additional animals despite the
wonderful help they
have been getting from Helft Handeln and also Harmony Fund these last two
years.
However, Grandma Miu has been amazed at the international aid they have
been receiving
from them. She finds it difficult to believe that people living in other
countries cared enough
to help her and the animals.
May God bless all these beautiful people--Grandma Miu, Mariana, Tammy Raab,
and the
people of Helft Handeln and Harmony Fund. They are all truly
inspirational, caring, and
compassionate people. And now Romania can also be happy in the knowledge
that there
are indeed some good people of compassion living among them who for decades
showed
concern for the homeless dogs and cats in their environ.
