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.

Christmas and New Year 2015 - 2016 in Ruseștii Noi

In Moldova there is an opportunity to celebrate both Christmas and the New Year twice. Christmas Day is December 25 for most Americans and Europeans who observe the holiday. The Romanian Orthodox and other Christians who are few in number in Moldova celebrate Christmas that day. However, most Moldovans are Russian Orthodox and the country celebrates Christmas on January 7.

As a consequence I like many PCVs traveled over our traditional Christmas holiday.  For me it was a wonderful trip to northern California courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law so we could celebrate together as a family. Our annual get together at Christmas has its own traditions which include wonderful meals, great wine, delicious cookies, Christmas caroling and of course just relaxing and spending time together laughing and sharing.  Being with my family especially my nephews was and always is very special.

I returned to Moldova in time to spend New Year's Eve December 31, 2015, and New Year's Day January 1, 2016 with my host family. The New Year or "Anoul Nou" is an important holiday in Moldova.  On New Year's Eve about 20 relatives of my host family gathered at the home of one family member for a large masa or meal.  The table was filled with fish, meat, vegetables, salads, crepes, bread, and fruit.  Homemade wine and fruit juice were freely flowing.  It was as I learned the first of many veritable Moldovan feasts.

Before the year 2015 ended, the house was visited by groups of carolers which is a Moldovan tradition.  Carolers wander about the village on New Year's eve, day and the day after. They also entertain on Russian Orthodox Christmas eve, day, and the day after.  Despite the cold, young people enjoy this tradition because they are rewarded with money by the residents for whom they sing, dance and recite poetry.

Just before midnight champagne was opened and poured and after we toasted in the New Year, we bundled up and went outside for fireworks and sparklers.  We closed the evening with a delicious torte and hot tea.  I think I finally crawled into bed after 2:00 a.m.

On New Year's Day, we went to another family member's house for an equally large masa in the late afternoon.  About 15 relatives enjoyed a sumptuous feast highlighted with roast turkey.

The Sunday after New Year's Day, January 3, my host couple and I traveled to Chisinau for a different, but very delicious masa at the home of another family member.  Inasmuch as there were only 7 of us, the meal was not as massive, but there still were three kinds of meat and three kinds of fish with all the trimmings, wine and multiple desserts.  By the time we arrived home at the close of the New Year's weekend, I was ready for a food break.  However, Christmas was yet to come . . .

Beginning Monday morning January 4, my host lady went into production for the Christmas masa which was to be held at our house. By Christmas eve, the house wafted with the smells of fresh baked bread, vanilla crepes, roasted meats, and more prepared with care and love. Groups of young carolers came to the house singing traditional songs and even dancing for us!

On January 7, we awoke to a white Christmas as snow gently blanketed the village. Late Christmas morning the family came together around an extended table at our house which was covered with dishes and platters of food leaving no available space. Eighteen of us celebrated Christmas Moldovan style with all homemade food and heartfelt toasts of brandy and American Jack Daniels, a gift to my host.

Christmas in Moldova is actually a two day celebration. So on Friday January 8, we walked down the road in the snow to another family member's house for a huge masa complete with the traditional mămăligă (a warm yellow cornmeal cake) and roast pork.  This feast began with brandy, followed by house wine, and concluded with hot tea and a very tasty homemade fruit torte.  I was glad we were walking home but the walk was not long enough after the two hour meal!  It was a spirited walk as we laughed while the children engaged in making and throwing snowballs with much gusto.

After two days of Christmas celebrations, I thought we had concluded the holidays. Wrong. As followers of the Old Russian calendar, the feast of Saint Vasile (St. Basil the Great) and Old New Year was January 14. On the eve of the feast and Old New Year's eve January 13, a massive masa was held at a family member's house.  When this couple was married, they had chosen St. Vasile as the patron of their marriage, family and home. So because they do things in a big way, 27 relatives and close friends were treated to an incredible feast. The celebration actually continued the following day for other friends and neighbors.  All I can say is I lost count of the dishes put before us.

On Old New Year's Day January 14, I was literally showered at the Primaria and at home with corn kernels and seeds by children and adults. This is another tradition promoting planting and a good harvest. The person throwing the seeds in turn is rewarded with candy.  We had a number of groups of children come to the door of our house that day in hopes of a candy reward which they did receive.

Now surely the celebrations were over.  Wrong again.  On Friday January 15, one of the people who is on the Mayor's staff and is named "Vasile" invited the entire Primaria staff to lunch at his home. The family laid before us a table filled to the brim with meat, fish, salads, vegetables and fruit.  The meal was topped off with crepes and a torte. So much for my productive Friday afternoon. 

It is my understanding that the winter holidays are now concluded.  The rhythm and normal cycle of life in the village in winter has returned.  There is plenty of cold, ice and snow.  There are also memories of delightful gatherings with people I have come to really enjoy and like, and who have welcomed me into their family.

If you like holidays, festive celebrations and meals that never seem to end come to Moldova!!

Chișinău at Christmas and the New Year 2015 - 2016

In America the commercialization of Christmas has led to a seemingly earlier start each year to the shopping season. Store decorations and the promotion and display of everything to make your Christmas merrier and bright appear as soon as the Halloween stuff clears the shelves, if not sooner.

In Moldova there was no Black Friday or Cyber Monday. November came and went without a hint of the upcoming holiday season. However, beginning December 2015, the stores filled with items for both Christmas and the NewYear.  It seemed like overnight a switch was turned on, and everywhere you went there were signs of the upcoming holidays.

For Moldovans the New Year is as big as, if not bigger than, Christmas. Both events are celebrated with merriment and feasts over more than one day.  It is a season of good cheer when people gather around tables to share delicious traditional food, laugh and toast one another's happiness and health.

The central area in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, was transformed into a carnival like scene with food, rides, photo opportunities and entertainment.  Both night and day people came to enjoy. Below are photos of central Chișinău at Christmas and the New Year.

Nativity Before Christmas Outside Roman Catholic Cathedral of Divine Providence

Roman Catholic Cathedral of Divine Providence