Students to look after Romanian dog shelter

Posted 15 March 2012

Two students from Harper Adams University College are spending their Easter break looking after a dog shelter in Romania.

Megan Ball and Samantha Lester will be running the Happy Angels House Rescue Centre in Giurgiu to allow the owner, Magdalena Radu, time to recover from chemotherapy.

The second year animal behaviour and welfare students are hoping to raise funds to donate to the centre and will be taking toys, collars and leads over for the dogs, in their suitcases.

19-year-old Megan from Talwaenydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, said: “We heard that the centre needed help through one of the Harper Adams Facebook pages.

“We’re anxious but also excited because we don’t really know what to expect. Animal welfare is extremely important to us and we’ve heard it’s a whole different world over there.”

The pair will be flying out to Romania on March 31 for a month and are planning to take revision books with them ready for the end of year exams.

When they aren’t looking after the 100 dogs at the centre they hope to catch up on their studies and explore the surrounding area.

Sam, 19, from Littlethorpe, Leicester, said: “It should be a good hands-on experience and a unique opportunity for us both.

“It will be character building and should hopefully help us with our future careers, perhaps help us to decide if this is the sort of work we want to do in the future.”

Owner Magdalena has worked in the Giurgiu area for many years as a lawyer and animal rights defender. She has been operating a rigorous spay and neuter campaign in the town for several years, reducing the numbers of dogs on the streets and offering medical care for the injured.

To donate to the centre and support Megan and Sam, please contact Megan on 07837205730 or visit here .