To mark the 20th anniversary of Save the Dogs, the Italian team embarked on a three-day trip to Cernavodă in Romania, which is where our story first began 25 years ago. It is the story of a journey dedicated to animal welfare and genuine, concrete commitment, which continues today through the work of the teams operating in Romania and Italy.

This meaningful trip brought together the two teams based both in Italy and in Romania, who are united by a single goal: that of giving animals the possibility of living their lives with the dignity they deserve.

For some members of staff, it was their first time visiting the shelter.

The three days we spent together enabled us to share our experiences, discover new things, and connect with both each other and the animals. Being able to see up close the work that our Romanian colleagues carry out every day was extraordinary and uplifting. It was an inspiring visit: although we were far from our desks, we were all close to the cherished values we have in common.

Roberta

For some, it was a “home-coming“, a return visit to a place they had helped create, a location where they had lived and worked for many years.
For everyone present, it was an intense experience, charged with powerful emotions and deep meaning.
It was a trip that will stay in our memories forever.

During our time in Cernavodă, we shared profound and heartfelt moments, filled with a whirlwind of emotions.

We got involved in all the daily activities at the shelter, spending time with the local team – if only for a few precious hours – as they performed their routine tasks, from feeding the animals to organizing the the warehouse, which is now well-stocked thanks to the generosity of those who have chosen to support our work and stand by our side.

Every time I return to Footprints of Joy, it summons up powerful emotions.

Witnessing first-hand the work we do and meeting the people we are able to help each day gives me a new burst of energy. I am truly grateful to all the supporters who make it possible for all the great work that is done here.

Monica

Our visit wasn’t only confined to the vast spaces of the shelter itself where the animals are cared for every day by a team of wonderful people: we also visited the neighbouring villages and offered our help to those most in need, who live in the poorest parts of the city.

Cernavodă has undergone significant changes over the past two decades, but it remains a fragile area. Stray cats and dogs can still be seen roaming the streets, and many families continue to face serious hardships. Despite this, the positive results of the work we have done to date are visible: many animals have been rescued and have found homes with adoptive families, and many people now understand better the importance of respecting animals.

However, there is still much to be done, and our visit has fully recharged our batteries.
The trip has given us an opportunity to pause and reflect, to absorb the reality that inspires us to keep going every day, and it has given us renewed motivation.

We have returned to the Milan offices even more united, more mindful, and with an even stronger sense of responsibility.