19 dogs adopted in Sweden

On the day of departure, we arrive early at the shelter to take advantage of the peace and quiet and take them for one last walk

There is a different atmosphere at our shelter in Cernavoda in Romania on the mornings when we know there is going to be a departure. Dawn breaks and gently illuminates the hill where the center is located as we leave the main road and take a dirt path leading us to the heart of Footprints of Joy. There are no other cars on the roads, and the shelter is still deserted: most of the staff have yet to arrive, while the dogs are enjoying the cool morning air, peacefully napping on the wet grass in their enclosures. We know this unusual calm will soon be replaced by the hustle and bustle of the day ahead. After greeting the caretaker, we head to the adoption office, where a stack of documents awaits us on the desk, prepared the night before. The names of 19 dogs are written up on the board, including Giulio, Carmela, Kiki, Emilio, and Flavia. In just a few hours, these dogs will leave Cernavoda forever: they have been adopted.

We spend months preparing for Departure Day

The process of adoption began months earlier for these dogs, beginning with a behavioral assessment completed at the end of their training with the educators. This evaluation provides a detailed profile of each dog, detailing everything we know about them: what kind of animal they are, what things they enjoy, what makes them feel uncomfortable, and what their personal experiences have been. Together with photos and videos, all this information helps our partners get a sense of the best potential families for each dog.

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Similarly, our partners assess the families they meet to ensure they understand the dog’s specific needs and lifestyle.

We then receive an adoption request when these evaluations match up.

One last time

The week leading up to the departure is filled with final moments: a last bath, bidding farewell to the vets, one last playtime with the educators.

The week leading up to the departure is filled with final moments: a last bath, bidding farewell to the vets, one last playtime with the educators. As we watch them out in the playground for the very last time, memories come flooding back of our time spent together: we first met every one of these dogs on the worst day of their lives, and now they are about to start a whole new chapter.

On the day of departure, we arrive early at the shelter to take advantage of the peace and quiet and take them for one last walk before guiding them onto the van one by one. Some of them jump in eagerly, as if they sense what is in store for them. Some of them look at us, puzzled and oblivious of how their lives are about to be transformed. A quick check of their microchip, a reassuring pat – and then they’re all ready to go.

The van drives off down the country lane, and we take a moment to imagine what their lives will be like in the future.

This group of dogs is heading to Sweden, where we have been collaborating for over twenty years with Hundjialpen, a local association that manages pre- and post-adoption checks. Over the years, we have together helped find homes for more than three thousand dogs.

Within a few days, we will receive the first photos of them settling into their new lives and less than a month later, we will see them exploring the beautiful Swedish woods. While we know we probably won’t see any of these dogs again, the memories of our time together at the shelter will always remain with us.

The sound of the van fading away is soon drowned out by the chatter of the staff arriving at the shelter and the dogs starting to bark, letting us know it’s time for breakfast. We load our equipment into the car, ready to start a new day and carry on our mission to help more dogs like Giulio, Carmela, and Flavia.