Northampton Academy Sixth Form students Aimee and Nathaniel travelled to Romania during August with Paws2Rescue to help relieve the plight of Romanian dogs as part of their student volunteer scheme in Baia Mare.
Paws2Rescue is a UK charity which supports private shelters with food and bedding, raises donations for veterinary treatments and runs education and neutering programmes.
As part of their volunteer work, Aimee and Nathaniel took some of the 157 private kennel dogs out for five hours every day to give them some exercise.
Romania has one of the biggest street-dog problems in Europe and Aimee's adopted dog, four-year-old Bernie, knows this all too well. Although she was born in a kennel she lived with some 900 dogs brought in from the roadside, with only a green tag in her ear to identify her.
One month ago she was brought over to live with Aimee on a foster care basis before the Chamberlain family fell in love with her,
Julie Chamberlain, Aimee's mum and Paws2Rescue volunteer said, “Bernie was traumatised when she arrived after waiting in a kennel for four years, she was terrified of men. Slowly, like a flower, she is blossoming and she’s beginning to come over for fuss and attention. She is gentle, calm and sadly almost grateful to have been a chosen one."
Paws2Rescue help to bring 40 dogs over to the UK each month. The dogs are fully vaccinated, neutered and spayed in Romania before travelling. The dogs are then kept in kennels for two days for a full check-up to adhere to UK Government regulations.
"A lot of the big shelters in Romania need volunteers," Julie added.
"The dogs don't go out for a walk or socialise, Some of them show behaviour like lions, they pace up and down. In Romania if you drive along a motorway there are dogs everywhere, that's normal."
Prior to their trip, Aimee and Nathaniel raised nearly £1000, enough to buy food for a month for the 156 dogs at the shelter. They enjoyed the time and the dogs loved having the company and affection from them! Was an incredible and memorable experience.
Donations can be made here towards Aimee and Nathaniels total for Paws2Rescue >>>