Every day, on her way to the animal shelter where she works in Adjud, Romania, Camelia Dobos treks through a dense forest. Recently, on one of these walks, Dobos noticed an odd sound echoing through the trees.
“I started to hear crying, tiny cries, from far away,” Dobos told The Dodo. “Someone who does not care probably would not have heard them. But when you love animals, you react to every sound.”
Dobos had a feeling there were stray puppies in the woods. She began calling out, hoping they might follow the sound of her voice. The rescuer searched the thorny bushes. Finally, she saw who she was looking for — a tiny, timid head rising from the weeds. Then another. In total, five puppies were abandoned in the brush.
“The scene broke my heart,” Dobos
said.
The rescuer scoured the area and spotted an empty sack nearby. Someone had likely taken these puppies from their mother, stuffed them into the bag, and left them in the forest to fend for themselves.
The terrified puppies were understandably wary of humans, and as soon as they saw Dobos, they burrowed into a hole in the ground. The rescuer tried reaching them, to no avail. Eventually, she decided to leave food and water nearby, vowing to return soon.
“Walking away from them shattered me, but hours were passing, and the other dogs at the shelter also needed care,” Dobos said.
Over the next few days, Dobos returned to the area repeatedly, catching each puppy as they began emerging from the hole to inspect the food. She brought them all back to the shelter, where they slept side by side in their new bed.
The shelter where Dobos works is funded largely by Annie’s Trust, a UK-based animal welfare charity that supports Romanian dogs. Thanks to Annie’s Trust, these puppies will receive all of the things they need to grow, including food, vaccinations and medical treatment.
Three of the puppies are already coming out of their shells and interacting with rescuers, while the other two remain tentative. Dobos knows it might take a while for them to trust, and she’s willing to be patient.
“They need time, understanding and love,” she said.
Thanks to Dobos and Annie’s Trust, these puppies are on the way to much brighter days ahead.
