July at Dumbrava

July was one of those months when, if someone had asked us what we did, the simplest answer would have been: we kept going. With the animals, the children, the elderly, the spay/neuter work, and all the less visible things that keep Dumbrava running.

🐾 The animals

This month we met Zorro, found chained to a tree with the chain embedded in his neck. The chain was removed, and he remained under veterinary supervision for a while. We had no room for another dog, but, as usual, we played a little “puppy Tetris”, moved the puppies together and improvised a place for him too.

Veterinary visits and treatments continued for Felix, Thor, Roxy, Baba and Mara, each with their own problems and appointments.

We also had kittens to care for, with treatments, vaccinations and tests. Unfortunately, July brought losses too. Within roughly two weeks, we lost three animals.

We also learned that Ursu, who came to us in 2023 after being hit by a car and later found his family in Luxembourg, had passed away. What remains is the comfort of knowing that his last years were spent in a home, with his own people.

There was good news too: Matei, Tini, Deni, Stef and Cris found their families.

👧 The Dumbrava kids

Summer holidays don't mean a break at Dumbrava. We continued our dog walks, bike rides, therapy sessions and days spent together. There were games, pizza and, inevitably, a serious water fight. We also spent a night camping at Dumbrava and helped with and took part in the summer camp organised by the Greek-Catholic Church in Cășeiu.

The children continued their tennis lessons, thanks to Dorel Pop, while our Duolingo competition kept going. Seven children are learning throughout the summer, and in September we'll find out who maintained the longest streak, earned the most points and made the biggest progress.

For us, these activities aren't just about tennis, English, bicycles or games. They're about spending time together, having new experiences and helping children discover that their world can be a little bigger.

👵 Together, regardless of age

We continued our meetings between the children and elderly people in the community.

We increasingly love that Dumbrava's projects don't stay in separate boxes. The children spend time with the animals, the animals are part of the children's activities, and children and seniors sit around the same table for games and stories.

After all, Dumbrava is the place where we learn to love – animals and people, whatever their age.

✂️ Spay and neuter work continues

Prevention remains one of the most important parts of our work.

Since 2022, 1,653 animals have been spayed or neutered free of charge through Dumbrava, not including procedures paid for by municipalities or those where owners contributed towards the cost.

In Cășeiu, we're working towards making our mobile clinic campaigns a regular activity, so that fewer animals are born in a place where there are already far too many.

🚗 And the things that make life more interesting than we'd like

Transport remains one of our biggest problems. Our vehicles are old and constantly used for animals, children, spay/neuter campaigns, treatments and trips to Cluj. In July, we continued dealing with repairs and technical problems exactly when we needed the cars most.

Unfortunately, a dog who needs to get to the vet or a child who needs to get to therapy can't wait until the car decides to cooperate.

💚 And tomorrow, we start again

Behind all of this are hours on the road, food, medication, fuel, bills, phone calls, messages, unexpectedly large water bills caused by broken pipes, and a lot of work that never appears in the photographs.

If you'd like to help us continue, recurring donations, animal sponsorships and one-time donations, whatever the amount, help us turn all these individual days into something we can keep doing next month.

Because the animals need to be fed again tomorrow. The children will need us again next week. And the next animal who needs help probably won't ask whether we have enough time, space or money before appearing.

Thank you for being part of Dumbrava. 💚