From Costanza to Footprints of Joy: a new beginning for Mika and Nadia
Some stories begin with fear but gradually transform into stories of trust. This is what is happening to Mika and Nadia, two of the 13 dogs Save the Dogs rescued from the public shelter in Costanza in Romania, last July.
When our team first entered the shelter, they were confronted with a distressing situation: more than 500 dogs living in severely overcrowded conditions, surrounded by filth and showing clear signs of extreme stress. On 22 July, we decided to intervene, taking 13 of them to safety. We focused on the dogs who were suffering the most, but who we believed also had a good chance of recovery. They were then welcomed at Footprints of Joy, where they spent their first few weeks being closely monitored by our team.
Today, we have some very good news to share: all 13 dogs are now out of danger. But rescuing them was only the beginning of their journey. Our team is now helping each of them rebuild their confidence and regain their independence, with the aim of preparing them to begin a new life.
Mika and Nadia are two of those dogs.
Mika at Footprints of Joy
They were both clearly terrified when they first arrived at Footprints of Joy. Their experience at the public shelter had left deep scars, and even the simplest things, such as going outside or feeling the grass beneath their paws, required time and courage.
But Mika and Nadia were not alone. Fortunately, they had each other, and had already formed a powerful bond at the Costanza shelter. Nadia, the larger of the two and still painfully thin, became a reassuring presence and source of security for Mika.
During their first walk on the grass at Footprints of Joy, that bond became even more apparent. Mika took tentative steps forward, looking around as she gradually became familiar with her new surroundings. Nadia stayed close beside her and, whenever Mika hesitated, gave her a gentle lick of encouragement before the two of them continued on together. These may seem like simple gestures, but for a dog who has known such fear and deprivation, they can mean more than we might imagine.
Nadia at Footprints of Joy
Today, Mika and Nadia are discovering for the first time what it means to have space, stimulation, and someone to care for them. We do not yet know how long it will take for them both to feel completely safe. But we do know that they have already taken an important step: they have left the suffering of the shelter behind and are slowly discovering a very different kind of life.
Their story also reflects the different journeys of all 13 dogs rescued from Costanza. Every dog responds differently to what they have been through. Some need time to learn that they can trust people. Some find confidence and reassurance in another dog. Others simply need to discover, one day at a time, that they no longer have anything to fear.
That is why our work at Footprints of Joy does not end after rescuing the animals. After receiving veterinary treatment and spending their first weeks under close observation, all 13 dogs are now beginning to work with our dog behavior specialists, who will help prepare them for the transition to life with a family.
In the meantime, Save the Dogs will continue to closely follow the situation at the Costanza shelter and press the authorities to improve conditions for the animals still confined there.
