"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has". – Margaret Mead
The animals’ protection charity "PRO ANIMALS", Tg-Jiu city, is the only one from Gorj county, Romania.
Back in 1989, when Ceausescu demolished the houses and people were forced to move in blocks of flats, abandoning their animals, thousands of poor dogs remained all alone wandering the streets, and breeding with no control, their numbers increased alarmingly, becaming a real social problem. We settled up in 1999, after being witness to the tragedies that were committed against stray dogs by the local authorities but also to the attitude of the majority of citizens.
Our association is a small one, but with a strong belief that animals deserve to be treated with respect and care and we are fighting as best as we can for animal welfare, unfortunately sometimes in a hostile community which has no respect towards animals or towards animal lovers. Back in 1999, we didn’t think it would be so hard, but soon we realized that it is not an easy task,especially taking into account the ingrate attitude of the authorities, that it demands lots of efforts and sacrificies, but we know and feel that it’s all worth it
Shortly, our activity is very complex : hundreds of animals rescued and taken care of; continuous neutering programmes; adoption campaigns; school education and animal assisted therapy programmes ; contracts and protocol of cooperation with Town Halls from Gorj County but also with General Inspectorate of Police and with Schools; involving in cruelty cases; etc
Our city, Tg-Jiu ,Gorj county, is situated in the S-V of Romania.
Our city represents an important point on the cultural map of Europe because of the monumental complex of sculptures realized by the wellknown maester Constantin Brancusi.That’s why it is visited every year by many foreign tourists. The city is pretty small, with just 100.000 inhabitants. The big majority of the inhabitants have reduced incomes and the unemployment rate is high. People ‘s education towards the respect for the animal’s life is very precarious. Generally, they think (because of the poverty) at what they will put on their tables tomorrow and not at involving in caritable activities. Here are also rich people who just don’t care about making philantropic acts concerning animals .
Pro Animals activates from 1999 but it is a legally registered charity from 2000, Authorisation: H.J./113/24.04.2000, Code of Fiscal Registration 13346147. It has a statute and a constitutive act approved by the authorities in charge .
It doesn’t receive any funds from the Romanian Authorities and rely its own activity on the founders’ participation and animal lovers’ donations. It issue receipt for any donation, having financial situation registered to the Public Finance Administration.
Pro Animals is a founder member of the Romanian Federation for Animals Protection and Control F.R.P.C.A., which unites many animal protection organizations from Romania, fighting to improve animals rights and welfare legislation.
WHO WE ARE:
Administrative team:
Carmena Serbanoiu, dipl.eng. ,founder and president.
Mircea Serbanoiu , founder and secretary (inactive as he is president of F.R.P.C.A.)
Patricia Paraschiv, executive director
The veterinary team with whom we cooperate:
Dr. Popescu Vasile – qualified vet
Delia – veterinary assistant
A word from the president:
I have always been very fond of animals, living with different kind of animals and being educated that every animals is a being that must be respected and protected. Because the authorities decided the mass-destruction of the stray dogs with barbarian ways I decided to settle up the
association Pro Animals at the end of 1999 which got juridical statute in April 2000.
I found another 8 animal lovers (including my husband) of different professions: doctors, professors, engineers, lawyers and with relative high financial possibilities. Unfortunately, after few months, when they realized that this activity demands time, money from our own pockets, daily work, quarrels with the local authorities, they stopped paying their dues (3 $ /month) and they preferred to withdraw themselves saying that their businesses are more important then the fight for animals’ protection and that in a country like Romania we will never win this battle. Their activity was reduced only at paying the dues for several months without any other contribution. After their withdrawal remained only me, my husband and my daughter.
Studies : I graduated The Veterinary Medicine and Zootehny University, from Bucharest, before 1989, specialised in Zootechny. I am a fully qualified zootehnist engineer with diploma.
It’s an university known everywhere, I have collegues in USA and other European countries who are working there.. This university is based specially on Management and Technology in animals’ domain and Veterinary Medicine. I made classes like: Animal Genetics, Animal Anatomy, Animals Physiology etc but also, Technology of Feeding and taking care of animals, and Animal Management. It combines somehow the information about animals health, grow, feeding etc with the one of animal management. And in 2006, I started studying for a Doctorate Degree , on animal protection and welfare, at the University from Bucharest
Home : Because of my huge love for the animals, our two rooms apartment was a real shelter. We had all the time many dogs, 12 and even more and 1 cat that were rescued from the streets, hit by cars or abandoned.
Luckly, starting with May 2004 we moved to a small house with a courtyard where dogs are happier and like to play and run all day long in the garden. Now, our family means also the 40 animals that we have (35 dogs and 5 cats ) .. In addition to this, I take from the shelter or from the streets and bring home neutered and sick dogs that I take care of until they recover and can be returned or adopted. Also, we have on our land 
across our home other dogs that we take care of…….read more
Shelter: The shelter is my second family. I spend there almost as much time as I spend at home. Every dog has his/her own name, I know their stories and everything about them.
I’m doing my best to save them and offer them all the care and love they need and there’s no greater and touching thing on the Earth then seeing the eyes full of gratitude of the dogs that are back to life and this only because of my hard efforts.
My work for animals’ welfare demands many sacrifices. From 1999 I hadn’t any holiday, any leisure
days. On Christmas, New Year, Easter, my birthday I was first of all beside dogs. Their presence around me bring me a lot of joy in my heart and positive energy.
There are also hard moments when I feel I can’t face this but the eyes of my speechless friends give me the power to go on and not give up.
Many people don’t understand my love for the animals……….but this because they weren’t educated to love and respect animals. We are trying hard to convince them that animals are not toys for children and guardians for their homes, that they have souls and need our protection and love as we need theirs.
What other thing fills your heart with more happiness and accomplishment then the behaviour of your dog when you come back home, when he is wandering the streets looking for food and you give him a slice of bread, when he thanks you by many kisses for saving his life, when he is alone on the streets and you offer him a home etc.
We are pretending to be superior to animals, but we have to look deep inside and see how many things we have to learn from them, like true and unconditional love and devotion!
Life and hard moments we passed through thought me never to loose hope and I feel that with the support of kind-hearted animal lovers – like you – this dream will be accomplished and many of these animals will owe their life to you!!! ”
