Sara Turetta is a social activist with more than 20 years of experience in helping animals and communities. Her book telling the story on how she created the shelter with higher standards for abandoned animals in Romania will be published by Humanitas this autumn.

After years of voluntary work in various kennels in Milan, Sara decided to devote herself full-time to the desperate condition of Romanian strays. She left her job in a prestigious Italian agency and she founded Save the Dogs and other Animals. The first of its kind ONG in Romania in the animal protection sector, with a staff of 50 people and a facility, in Cernavoda, financed by a network of international donors and partners, the association created a space which includes a modern veterinary clinic, a dog shelter, a cattery and a sanctuary for over 80 formerly working donkeys and horses.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, The Association Save the Dogs and other Animals has decided to get involved in helping Ukrainian refugee families crossing into Romania at the Isaccea border point.

Beside its tight cooperation with local NGOs to welcome refugees and ensure first need supplies, the association is helping them to find pet-friendly accomodation, handing pet food, supplies and carriers to refugees crossing the Romanian border, providing care for the refugees pets which are temporarily not taken care of and even finding new homes for the pets if needed, reuniting refugee families with their animals, helping them to travel with their pets (and even giving pet carriers to refugees at Otopeni International Airport in Bucharest).

Along with with seven other Romanian organizations, Save the Dogs and other Animals recently launched an international appeal to the low cost airlines, asking them to amend their transportation and boarding regulations, in order to allow pets arriving from Ukraine to be taken on board the planes with their owners, in the cabin, aiming to enhace their confort and alleviate the stress caused by the current events.

The American Independent Film Festival .6 is redirecting all ticket proceeds from the screening which will take place in Bucharest to support Sara Turetta’s association.

Puteți dona direct folosind link-urile de mai jos: