Gift in your will
Leave a gift in your will to change the future of animals and people who look after them.
Together, we #givehope to the most vulnerable animals and people who care about them in Romania and across the Globe where they suffer because of natural or human-made disasters.
The global impact you’re part of
Presence in 8 countries on 3 continents
3 shelters built from ground
Where we currently help
Rescue & shelter dogs and cats in Romania, rehome dogs in Europe
Save abused dogs from puppy mills in Southeastern Europe
Help local rescuers in Ukraine
Help a shelter in Bethlehem, Palestine
Safe Shelter and Emergency Care
ROLDA provides food, warmth, shelter, and urgent veterinary treatment for animals rescued from streets, disaster zones, and areas affected by conflict. For many, ROLDA’s shelters mean the difference between life and death.
Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
Animals arrive injured, malnourished, frightened, and abandoned. ROLDA gives them time, treatment, and dignity, helping them recover physically and emotionally before finding safety and stability.
Keeping Families Together
In times of hardship, ROLDA supports vulnerable pet owners with food and medical assistance, preventing animals from being abandoned simply because their families are struggling. This early intervention keeps animals out of shelters and on the path to safety.
Education and Long-Term Prevention
Lasting change comes through education. ROLDA works with communities and children to promote humane treatment, responsible ownership, and compassion, reducing cruelty before it happens and breaking the cycle for future generations.
At ROLDA Australia, we’re building a more compassionate world , where animal rights matter and no vulnerable life is left behind.
We are committed to changing mindsets about animals, rekindling the human-animal bond, and advocating for the recognition of every pet as a beloved family member. We will not stop until this is achieved.
Milestones
20 years of ROLDA
1998
Dana rescued her first dog, Printz, from illegal dog fights. He was a mix-German Shepherd who opened Dana’s eyes to the cruelty facing millions of dogs in Romania.
1999
Dana established ROLDA, the first group of animal rescuers in Galati (the 5th largest city located in the southeast of Romania, which had approximately 30.000 strays). The public pound, built during communist times, where dogs were routinely electrocuted and skinned alive, was still active. There was no sterilization program in place.
2003
ROLDA purchased land in the village of Smardan (near Galati) in order to build what it is today, our first small sanctuary. Same year, ROLDA completed first kennels inspired by British wood model dog sheltering.
2006
In February, ROLDA Foundation becomes a registered NGO in Romania.
On 4th of July, ROLDA became an incorporated charity in the United States under the name Romanian League in Defense of Animals, Inc. Same year, ROLDA purchased the land where the large shelter for dogs is today.
2007
ROLDA began a partnership with the local giant steel producer to help humanely solve their stray dog population, estimated to 10.000 dogs.
2008-2015
Approx 10.000 stray (according to the steel plant management) were captured, feed, housed and rehabilitated when needed. A significant percentage was adopted across Europe in forever homes. During this period, using only humane methods, ROLDA was able to decrease the number of strays from the steel plant giant from 10.000 to 1.000.
2012
After Romania and the United States, we open a new branch in Norway, under the name ROLDA – Gatehunder fra Romania.
2014
ROLDA starts new branches in Switzerland (Association ROLDA Suisse), Sweden (Association ROLDA Sverige) and Australia (ROLDA Inc).
2015
ROLDA starts new branch in UK (ROLDA UK).
2021
ROLDA expands its support to rescuers located in other cities from Romania starting with Tulcea, where we help a small cat rescue organization.
2022
Emergency support for #UkraineAnimals threatens by war.
2025
Over 100,000 animals helped since ROLDA was founded.
2026
ROLDA celebrates 20 years anniversary.
Back
Animal focused stories from places
where ROLDA helps
Meet Franka 
We rescued Franka at ten years old from a puppy mill, where she had spent her life being used for breeding. When she arrived, she was in poor condition and suffering from a painful hernia that required surgery.
Like many dogs trapped in puppy mills, Franka had never known safety, affection, or life beyond confinement. Her early years left both physical and emotional scars. Today, Franka has left that life behind. She is healthy, secure, and thriving with her forever family, finally able to experience comfort, care, and love. Her journey is a powerful reminder of why adoption matters, and how rescue can completely change a life.
Meet Tripod
Tripod was found in Ukraine with a severe leg injury caused by shelling. He was in extreme pain and fighting for his life when our ROLDA Heroes, an independent rescue team we support, reached him. He was rushed to the nearest veterinary clinic, where he received urgent emergency care. Despite the trauma he had endured, Tripod showed an incredible will to survive. Thanks to fast action and community support, Tripod underwent lifesaving surgery and had his injured leg removed. He is now recovering safely in foster care, free from pain and surrounded by people who care for him. His recovery continues under close supervision as he adjusts to his new life.
Meet Cris
Cris was rescued after her elderly owner passed away, leaving her alone with her sisters in a village yard. While her sisters were quickly adopted, Cris remained in foster care when her health suddenly deteriorated. Emergency tests revealed that Cris was battling both FIP and a mycoplasma infection, a life-threatening combination that required immediate and intensive treatment. Her condition was critical, and for days her survival was uncertain. Today, Cris is thriving. She has completed treatment, gained weight, and her bloodwork is stable. She is now in foster care and continues to grow stronger each day. Cris’s story reflects ROLDA’s commitment to helping not only strays, but also vulnerable pets whose families cannot afford lifesaving care.
How you can help us
Please choose an option
Help us build a safer future for animals, the way we all dream it should be.
Be part of our journey to address animal welfare responsibly, delicately and in a way that respects all living creatures. From humanely reducing the stray overpopulation, to educating kids or helping poor communities to look after their furry friends, we use common sense to address a very emotional subject in a clever way. We are often considered crazy, bullied, and drained emotionally but our energy comes from them, every time we look into our furry friends eyes. We’ve fought tough battles against heartless people, against suffering, against injustice. We’ve faced cases that break hearts and situations that would make anyone give up. But we never give up.
For every animal saved from bombs, bullets, natural disasters, indifference, or cruelty, we fight with everything we have. And we will keep fighting, because every life saved is a victory. The fight for dignity and the right to life for animals will not be lost, not as long as we stand together. With every new person that joins our mission as a donor, volunteer or ambassador we will become stronger, bigger and reach more animals in need, faster. In a World in constant rush, the love and loyalty are for special people who choose to stand up.
Help us continue to #GiveHope to homeless animals that have nobody else
Ways you can help end animals hunger and abuses
Say I GiveHope
Share on social media – become Ambassador
Make a gift & GiveHope
Buy cute handmade gifts to help animals in need.
Donate crypto
Donate to ROLDA in crypto currencies or NFTs
Please continue Helen’s legacy and help
ROLDA build PawzUp Center.
PawzUp is more than a state-of-art center for dogs, cats, horses, donkeys… it is meant to spark the bond between humans and animals!
It started as a bold dream inspired from the daily observations: the need to dedicate quality time to what matters for us, the benefits that animals bring in our lives, how we discover our best version around our pets for whom we represent truly everything and how little we communicate with each other but still, how much we could say and do if we really want to change the World for the next generations.
Helen was a ROLDA supporter from Australia who chose to live very modestly to raise money for the animals in need. After learning about the PawzUp project, she instantly felt in love with it and when she chose to mention us in her will, thanks to her generosity, we could complete a major milestone (buying the large piece of land where the center will be built) tiding Helen’s name forever to this magnificent project.
It’s because of amazing people like you that amazing things for animals can happen and we thank you for care!
