Wendy at Footprints of Joy

We found Wendy one morning in springtime. She was huddled in a ravine in Cernavoda, Romania, so caked in mud that it was difficult to distinguish her shape. It was the sound of her yelps which could be clearly heard above the noise of cars passing nearby that attracted our attention. When we saw her, we understood what she was doing there.

The moment we saw Wendy

Wendy was suffering from a terrible eye injury, and we could see that half of her snout was compromised. After several attempts to rescue her, we managed to transport her to our clinic, where we gave her a thorough examination and performed emergency surgery on her.

The moment we saw Wendy

Nothing is known about her past, how she came to be at that precipice, or what had caused such serious injuries. The only possible clue was the burn mark on her muzzle that is typically seen on many Romanian dogs: there is still a popular tradition, particularly in the countryside, which says that burning dogs’ muzzles with a hot iron helps protect them against distemper. This is in fact a myth with no scientific basis that we have been fighting for years.

Wendy’s life at our shelter

Wendy had to endure a lengthy program of physical rehabilitation that has enabled her to make a full recovery. Today she shares a kennel with Benjamin, and their mutual friendship has done them both a lot of good.

What she now needs is behavioral support to overcome the psychological trauma she has experienced. That is why our educators have started working with her and are helping her to develop new skills and gain more self-confidence.

Family Footprints will speed up the adoption process of our dogs

However, we are now keen to do more. What is still missing in our shelter is a space to accustom our dogs to a homely environment, so that they are gradually introduced to spaces, noises, and movements that they are most likely unfamiliar with.

Family Footprints will speed up the adoption process of our dogs

All this is going to be possible at ‘Home from Home’, the new area we are building to prepare our animals for adoption more quickly. This space will consist of a new playground specially equipped to allow the animals to enjoy new experiences, and a real life room, i.e. a room that simulates the living room of a family home.

This is how we imagine Family Footprints

Inside, they will discover all the elements to be found in a living room: a sofa, curtains, carpets and chairs, all of which are objects and materials unknown to dogs who were previously living on the streets.

In this way, our educators will be able to work with the animals to prevent the onset of new fears or phobias and prepare them for the environments they will find once they arrive with their adoptive families.

Wendy’s journey is still a long one, but we hope that a space like this will help her forget that ravine more quickly and understand what awaits her once she leaves our shelter.