A Rescue Tail

There are many stray cats and dogs in Moldova.  Vagabonds as they are called lack food and shelter and human care and concern.  Some are frightful and wild, but most seem afraid of humans. There are no local government agencies or money to assist, protect and support animals, and few private organizations.  The cultural approach and attitude toward animals has been one of my challenges

January19, 2016 was a cold winter day with snow covering the ground. I was working in the Primaria and took a break to look out the window at the vacant area between the Primaria and the building under repair which will hopefully be a local history museum.  There were two dogs romping around in the snow.  At first I did not notice anything wrong with them, but the more I watched I noticed that one was using only three legs and the right rear leg was being held up close to the dog's body. I could no longer watch and went outside to check on the dog.

To my surprise the dog was now at the base of the stairs to the Primaria and laid on her back. I had to do something and decided to get my coat, pick her up and carry her to the Veterinary Pharmacy in the center of the village.  It was closed and a phone call to the number listed was not answered. I thus walked back to the Primaria with the dog still in my arms and into the Primar or Mayor's office and asked him to telephone the local veterinarian.  Again there was no response. 

The Primar got some cardboard to put on the floor at the end of a corridor so I could lay the dog down.  However, she did not want to stay there so I took her into the Sală de Ședințe or village council meeting room where I work.  She laid peacefully on the floor seemingly glad to be out of the cold and snow.  I ran across the street to the market and brought food.  She ate greedily obviously being very hungry and drank water before crawling under the table to sleep.

I knew that I could not turn her out into the cold and had to find help.  Additional telephone calls to the village veterinarian were to no avail. I remembered that I had a photo from a Christmas display for an animal organization in Chișinău, brought it up on my phone and called the number listed.  The organization could not help, but gave me other phone numbers of other people and organizations which might be able to offer assistance.  I also called my PC COD acting manager who gave me an email address for a former volunteer who might be able to provide assistance.

After many telephone calls and a few emails, I finally got a tentative offer of assistance from Dr. Tatiana's assistant who told me that she thought they might be able to help and Dr. would call me after a surgery she was then doing.  As promised Dr. Tatiana telephoned and after explaining the situation, she said she could take the dog. We arranged to meet the next morning at PC in Chișinău and she would take the dog to her facility in the village of Ciorescu, northeast of Chișinău.

Now I just had to figure out what to do with the dog overnight and then get her to Chișinău in the morning.  I decided I would take the dog home and ask my host couple to allow her to stay the night and then I would put her in a large traveling bag and take her on a microbus to Chișinău in the morning.  As it was already five o'clock by the time I had made arrangements with Dr Tatiana,  I went back to the market to buy a towel to wrap around the dog as I carried her home.

Because it is almost a mile walk and she was somewhat heavy with my backpack, I had to stop halfway. In lowering her to the ground to rest and regroup with the towel, I apparently put some pressure on the injured leg and she yelped in pain and ran from me, but could not go far with her leg and the snow. I chased her and managed to gently pick her up at which she licked my face in appreciation.  We made it home and now I had to explain the situation to my hosts. I left the dog in the outer hallway, went in and told them my story.

Fortunately, I live with a good and kind couple who agreed to let her stay in the small area between the house and outer buildings.  It was not the warmest, but it was shelter from the out of doors and they laid down a rug for her to lay on.  I gave her food which she again ate rapidly.  As you might imagine I did check on her in the middle of the night and she seemed to be resting.

The next morning, January 20, 2016, as I was eating breakfast, Maria, my house lady, told me that Tudor, my house man, would drive us to PC because it was too cold to walk and travel on the microbus.  So I gingerly wrapped the dog in my large bath towel and we climbed into the family van for our trip to PC.  Tudor made sure we had plenty of heat and were not cold.

When we arrived at PC in Chișinău, Dt. Tatiana and her assistant were waiting.  A quick exam by Dr. confirmed that the dog had a broken leg which she felt could be fixed.  I filled out paperwork and the dog was in those few moments named 'Sandy' because of her sandy colored coat and in honor of a dear friend who is an animal rescuer back home.  I carried Sandy to the waiting van feeling satisfied that she was in good hands and would be well taken care of by Dr. Tatiana.

The next day, posted on the Facebook page of Fundatia Laika, the rescue shelter operated by Dr. Tatiana, I saw photos of Sandy and me, and her treatment and care.  Her leg was in a cast, but she looked well and was in a safe place.

On February 5, I went to Fundatia Laika to visit Sandy and tour the facility.  It felt so good to once again hold her.  I think she knew me as she willingly let me pick her up and as I held her she licked my face.  Little did I know that was the last time I would see her.

When I left Fundatia Laika that day, I told Sandy I would return. Fully intending to visit again, but with circumstances delaying my return for a couple of weeks, in that interim Sandy was adopted. Apparently a family in Germany saw her pictures on Facebook and Sandy looks like a dog they had who had aged and passed on.  They wanted Sandy and were willing to take her with her leg still in a cast with the promise that she would receive veterinarian care.  Sandy thus found a home with a family who wanted her and is hopefully giving her the attention and love she deserves and needs.

When I learned that Sandy was adopted and in Germany, I had mixed emotions. Sandy is affectionate and oh so lovable, and I could easily have spent many more hours with her. I thus felt a loss. Yet I knew that I could not keep her and was looking to find a good home for her.  I did not want her to be in the shelter, as caring and safe as it is, if she could have a real family and home.  I am happy and grateful she is with a family and realize that my rescue mission was a success.