For the first time, we got a drone view over our organizations own dog shelter in Faget, Romania. Yes, we are very proud of how much only a few people manage to create good deeds. Sustainable good deeds. We managed to get cooperative mayors on board, who made neutering and chipping of dogs obligatory for everyone, also sheep herders. We pay the neuterings and organize veterinaries, also haul the dogs from and back to their owners right in time.
Maybe some on this board want to support us and are still looking for a meaningful donation or even membership (one year membership costs 50 EUR only). Or maybe pledge a donation in kind. For this I will add our amazon wish list later.
But first those two drone videos over our shelter:
Oh, with pleasure! Thank you very much!!! But the membership formular is in German. Can you use Google translator or may I help?
I just wonder if the SEPA direct debit mandate works, or if it’s just a method within Europe. If it’s too complicated, you can of course donate via paypal without beccoming a member. In that case, to save costs for us, please use the “friends” button.
I post two links, the first leads onto the landing page of our website. After only a bit of scrolling down, you will see 3 symbols. The first says “paypal” and is for donations. The third symbol is for a document saying “Mitgliedschaft” (= membership). The second link goes to that document directly:
Sorry, Reg, but it"'s not possible to use the SEPA method, as Canada isn’t integrated. I guess, your only option to help us, is by donations via Paypal. I am going to meet with the Gantner family and other members on sunday and will ask, if you can become a member without using SEPA and by paying the member fee annually to a certain date.
I’d be happy to pay for membership by signing up for an annual 50 euro subscription by PayPal. Let me know if that’s acceptable to them after you meet them on Sunday. I support what you’re doing there.
Gunda, are members expected to do anything other than contribute money annually? Because if they are, I really can’t. I live on the wrong continent. I could just send them money with no membership involved.
I am going to send you a private message with an email-address, you can send the signated scanned version of the first page of the membership document (without the SEPA-formular on the second page). If you need help regarding the translation, please tell.
You can send the annual membership fee via paypal (please use the “friends” option, as that’s without transaction costs for our organization). You may choose a date, for your annual payments.
That translation was perfect. But you really can write in english to this address, if you ever have any questions about your membership or our organization.
The reply attempt in english might not be as good as the KI, but ok enough to understand, I assume.
I am curious about if they agree to remember your next annual member fee payment, though. Why not set a memo in your smartphone calendar? I will add one to mine, and will remember you next year, same time, lol. Thanks again!
Our members were all Germans. There was no need yet for setting up such a reminder system, due to the SEPA mandate each member authorizes. But I have set a reminder in ny own calender for you. It’s all fine. I just wonder if I should inform the Gantners. At the other side I am curious about their response, lol.
P.S.: Did you receive my pm regarding the tax certificate?
I don’t need a tax certificate, Gunda. I won’t try to deduct this small gift.
I’m curious why a bunch of Germans chose to go and save dogs in Romania. Don’t get me wrong. It is not a criticism. Just unusual. Are there no dogs/cats that need saving in Germany?
Ok, I just wanted to make sure, that in case you want to, everything is prepared. If you ever change your opinion, you know what to consider. I am pretty sure you legally could.
We don’t have street dogs. We have many stray cats, but they aren’t visible, as you can’t tell a stray cat from a cat having a human home.
The youngest daughter of the Gantners started it as a kid, by watching a tv report about romanian street dogs. She begged her parents to drive down (a hell of a long drive). The daughter went home and plundered her own savings (about 7- 8.000 EUR). The suffering the family saw there, united all to spend their free time for helping, gathering donations etc. Till they founded their own shelter. And look what they managed to create! Of course with the help of volunteers, even some craftsmen, who help animal rescuers with their skills (they are no members), went down on their vacations to help building.
It is surprising to me that Romanians treat their dogs like this. Shameful. And next door in Germany, you have no street dogs. We also have no street dogs in Canada, and we also have some street cats. I donate to a cat charity here in Vancouver called VOKRA, but they don’t need my money. They regularly raise $250k for their activities. Canadians don’t let dogs and cats suffer.
You know, one of the reasons I love Colombia is the way they treat their street dogs. They do have street dogs but it’s not a negative. These are just free dogs with no human owner, but they are clean, healthy and well fed. I think of them as village dogs. For the four years I lived in Mosquera, I would walk to the town square each night and spend time with the dogs. Dogs and mosquitos generally love me and most of these dogs did too. I would always walk over to one of the village stores selling barbecue and would ask for meat for the dogs. The vendor would ask “how much” and I would say “10 mil” (about $3 USD). I’d walk out of there with a LOT of meat for the dogs, but half they time they weren’t even hungry. Someone else had fed them before me. And when a dog needed to see a veterinarian, one of the respected members of the community would ask the vet how much, and then he’d walk around with a hat, “For Tommy” or whatever, and he’d collect exactly that amount, not one cent more. Really, Colombians are not perfect but I love how they treat their dogs. So totally unlike Mexico where the dogs are treated, well, much like Romania. I don’t understand it.
Beautiful. But Romania is not really “next door”. Except you consider Hungary and Austria door steps, lol. With that van we have to transport food etc. down and dogs up, we drive between 14 and 17 hours (incl. pauses). The drive back to our home base in Abensberg, being longer in time, because of the need to taking care of the dogs and to clean their cages. It depends on the traffic. That’s why we always need two drivers. Also for taking care of the dogs.
I can’t drive anymore. Don’t see anything at night. Yesterday, on my way back home from Abensberg in the night, I nearly sticked to the wind shield, as I was blinded by those many building site lights. I nearly panicked and sweared to me, never to attend any meeting again if I know I have to drive in the dark.
Having said this, it reminds me on Kathy, who drove all alone down there, because our shelter was desperately in need for food. What a brave, young woman. I never eoukd have done that.
