It was a sunny day in Romania, and the temperature rose every hour. Around noon the temperature reached 104 degrees, which poses a real danger to animals, especially the homeless, as well as dogs on heavy chains in the countryside, where they are under the scorching sun – dogs like Paulina.
After neutering and neutering some of the dogs, the PETA Helps Romania team, including her Deputy Project Manager Janu Hoger, returned to a small rural Romanian village to check on the animals they treated to make sure they were recovering well after surgery. … They also wanted to make sure the dogs had enough food and water to drink on a hot summer day. In addition, some of them may need a new kennel that the group provides for cover.
The dog is tied up for years
On one site that Yana and her team visited, the family lived in very simple conditions. Two dogs spayed by the team a few days ago were running around the yard and seemed to be in good spirits. But then Yana noticed a small dog, tied to a heavy metal chain, peering out of the barren hut with frightened eyes. Day in and day out, exposed to the smell of her own excrement, she was surrounded by flies. She was seemingly an old dog and apparently lived in disgusting conditions for more than five years. Her name was Paulina.
Salvation: “You don’t have to be afraid anymore”
Yana sat down next to the hut and talked calmly with Paulina, helping her to understand that she no longer needed to be afraid and that strange people in the yard were there to help. Although Paulina was emaciated, it was obvious that she had given birth to many puppies over the years.
Yana and her team spoke to Paulina’s owners and asked if they would allow them to give the little dog a loving new home where it will finally be free of its chains and appreciated. The owners told Jana that they kept Paulina as a home alarm system and that she didn’t even know what life without a network was like.
Then the little older dog approached Yana, slowly and carefully, sniffing at her and showing signs of curiosity and interest. Yana talked to her and stroked her, and when Paulina came out of her shell, she seemed to almost understand that this day would be the beginning of a new life for her.
Paulina gets a new home
After some conversation, the family agreed to extradite Paulina. Yana untied the heavy chain around Paulina’s neck, lifted it carefully and carried it to the car. After a medical examination, Paulina spent several days in quarantine before meeting other animals at the PETA Helps Romania emergency room. Sometimes it seemed that Paulina could not believe the turn of events.
New life for Paulina
A few weeks later Paulina was enjoying the life every dog deserves. She quickly found her way to the bed, the couch, and her food bowl — and with all her heart. We don’t know who seemed happier, Paulina or her new loving guardians.
Yana and her team are very happy that they crossed paths with Paulina on that hot August day. Otherwise Paulina would have been left chained, unnamed and exposed to mud and harsh conditions like thousands of other dogs in Romania.
Paulina’s story is similar to the story of many dogs around the world, and she shows us all why we should speak up for animals every single day and never give up – after all, every life matters.
How to help chained dogs
PETA encourages people to let their dog mates live indoors where they can feel safe, warm, and loved. Please watch out for “backyard dogs” such as Paulina and alert authorities if you ever suspect a dog is being denied sufficient food, water or shelter (or is otherwise ignored or abused). Click below to learn more about helping chained dogs here in the US:
6 steps to help chained dogs
Also, ask your Facebook friends and Twitter do more to help the chained dogs.
Please also consider supporting our work to spread compassion around the world. Click below to learn more about how PETA is helping Romania continue to rescue vulnerable dogs like Paulina:
Support PETA’s Global Compassion Fund