SOCIAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT ASSOCIATION ROMANIA 2014
Index: Vision and strategy 1. The association and its mission 2. 2014 Mission Report in short 2014 activity 3. Projects and social indicators 4. Quantitative and economic indicators Save the Dogs Romania management 5. Governance and management 6. Partners and headquarters 1
1. The association and its mission The association was born to give an answer to the plight of stray dogs in Romania, hundreds of thousands of animals destroyed each year in a context of an endemic stray dogs phenomenon. Save the Dogs aims to promote in Romania a culture that recognizes to animals (especially companion animals and equines) a number of inalienable rights. We believe that the society has the responsibility of protection towards animals, both connected to the objective value of the single individual, as being able to suffer and to have feelings, and to the positive and irreplaceable role of animals within the human society. Save the Dogs aims to fight against the stray dogs phenomenon in Romania through an integrated approach, following the guide lines of ICAM (International Companion Animal Management) that include: Qualified veterinarian activities on the territory, in collaboration with local authorities, in favor of the dog, feline and equine population and - indirectly - of the local human population; Educational activities, volunteer and awareness raising campaigns that encourage the reflection on the correct ratio between men and animals and promote compassionate and responsible attitudes of the citizens, particularly of the youngsters; Activities of identification and registration of the dog population to prevent dropouts and to encourage a proper management of pets through the empowerment of the owners; Activities of lobbying and advocacy to improve local, national and international laws and regulations related to animal management in Romania. 2. 2014 Mission Report in short While 2013 was a year of consolidation for Save the Dogs and other Animals (see also newsletter Save year 2, nr. 3) 2014 was a year of records: record in the Mobile Clinic s activity in the countryside around Cernavoda and Medgidia, record in the number of donkeys assisted thanks to our home assistance program, record in the number of dogs registered in the newborn national canine registry RECS (National Registry for Dogs Evidence). Moreover we can state to have created a large geographical no kill area confirmed by written agreements, which extends from Cernavoda to the sea and the airport in Constanta, passing through Medgidia, Mircea Voda, the CNE Nuclear Plant in Cernavoda and the cement factory La Farge in Medgidia. A good year then, although if it started with the application of the new law on the management of strays (the 258/2013) which effectively prevents the associations to apply the recognized method of canine population management Trap Neuter and Release. The law which provides the killing of the dogs after 14 days after their entrance in the public kennels make it difficult for Save the Dogs to 2
manage its own shelters because of the limited space and the big number of animals entering the facilities, which cannot be released anymore. The association has tried to cope with these new constraints introduced by the legislation through an increase of the programs for the sterilization and identification of owned dogs, focusing alongside on the surrounding rural areas, where abandonments and abuses are more frequent because of the extremely underdeveloped social context. Unfortunately the political scene remains quite discouraging, not only because it shows no signs of an approaching revision of the law but also because of the total lack of dialogue with the associations. In fact at the end of 2014 the President of the National Veterinary Authority (with whom we had begun a fruitful dialogue) has resigned and has not yet been substituted, while the Animal Police Department established within ANSVSA soon after the approval of the law never really operated and risks - on the contrary - to be dismantled. The hope is that a revision of the law may soon start. 3
2014 activity 3. Projects and social indicators 3.1. Sterilizations and dog population management in Cernavoda and Medgidia The sterilizations of dogs and cats promoted by Save the Dogs in the cities of Cernavoda and Medgidia and in the surrounding rural areas increased if compared to 2013 (+10%). Below the summary tables. In gray we highlighted the months when the Mobile Clinic was also active in the villages around Medgidia. CERNAVODA MONTH DOGS CATS TOTAL GRAND M F TOTAL M F TOTAL M F TOTAL 1. JANUARY 6 33 39 10 17 27 16 50 66 2. FEBRUARY 16 39 55 14 35 49 30 74 104 3. MARCH 33 54 87 19 22 41 52 76 128 4. APRIL 23 48 71 2 28 30 25 76 101 5. MAY 28 43 71 10 23 33 38 66 104 6. JUNE 36 67 103 11 11 22 47 78 125 7. JULY 22 49 71 11 23 34 33 72 105 8. AUGUST 36 48 84 8 11 19 44 59 103 9 SEPTEMBER 27 54 81 7 22 29 34 76 110 10 OCTOBER 26 62 88 6 14 20 32 76 108 11 NOVEMBER 48 49 97 4 19 23 52 68 120 12 DECEMBER 15 28 43 5 1 6 20 29 49 TOTAL 316 574 890 107 226 333 423 800 1223 NR. MONTH MEDGIDIA AND MOBILE CLINIC DOGS CATS TOTAL GRAND M F TOTAL M F TOTAL M F TOTAL 1. JANUARY 11 27 38 6 15 21 17 42 59 2. FEBRUARY 6 21 27 3 20 23 9 41 50 3. MARCH 26 46 72 21 44 65 47 90 137 4. APRIL 14 36 50 13 27 40 27 63 90 5. MAY 54 151 205 20 44 64 74 195 269 6. JUNE 61 101 162 7 38 45 68 139 207 7. JULY 99 133 232 12 20 32 111 153 264 8. AUGUST 46 98 144 12 31 43 58 129 187 9 SEPTEMBER 33 102 135 3 25 28 36 127 163 10 OCTOBER 32 39 71 10 41 51 42 80 122 11 NOVEMBER 19 32 51 4 28 32 23 60 83 12 DECEMBER 10 13 23 4 6 10 14 19 33 TOTAL 411 799 1210 115 339 454 526 1138 1664 TOTAL 2014 2887 ANIMALS OF WHICH 2100 DOGS 787 CATS 4
Dogs and cats sterilized 2014 Dogs and cats sterilized 2013 Dogs and cats sterilized 2012 2887 2599 2553 The growth of sterilizations this year is due in large part to the performance of the Mobile Clinic in 25 villages around the cities of Cernavoda and Medgidia, a project partly funded by WAP (World Animal Protection) and partly by private Italian and foreign donors. The program, with the agreement of the local Municipalities, allowed to perform 816 sterilizations of dogs and cats and 657 identifications of owned dogs in poor villages in the Romanian countryside. These are the results of the activity of the Mobile Clinic carried out by Save the Dogs: Week Dogs sterilized Dogs identified Cats sterilized Total animals sterilized Villages visited I 26 26 7 33 Pestera II 27 27 5 34 Remus Opreanu/ Ciocarlia Sus III 45 31 8 53 Valea Dacilor/ Elementary school Harsova IV 30 30 18 48 Castelu V 54 54 5 60 Rasova/ Cochirleni VI 42 42 5 47 Nisipari VIII 60 60 13 73 Cuza Voda/ Remus Opreanu IX 38 38 7 45 Pestera/ Tortoman X 52 52 6 58 Satu Nou XI 41 41 2 43 Seimeni/ Dunarea XII 56 56 0 56 Mircea Voda/ Valea Dacilor XIII 25 0 1 26 Private enterprise Mangalia XIV 15 15 6 21 Rasova XV 51 51 5 56 Ciocarlia Jos/ Ozmancea XVI 21 21 6 27 Cobadin/ Izvoru XVII 16 16 0 16 Mereni XVIII 37 37 3 40 Satu Nou/ Faclia XIX 19 19 1 20 Mereni XX 16 16 0 16 Saligny TOTAL 696 657 120 816 5
On the 31st of December 2014 in our three shelters we were hosting 628 dogs and 52 cats, all accurately assisted by our vets. Dogs in Cernavoda/FOJ 494 Cats in Cernavoda 41 Dogs in Medgidia 134 Cats in Medgidia 11 We highlight the importance offered to our cats both through internal protocols for the feline management and the construction of a new cattery in Medgidia - thanks to the donations of private Italians and the support of the European partners of Save the Dogs - and through the partial reconstruction of the cattery in Cernavoda. All this had the purpose to offer the best conditions to the cats we welcome in our facilities. The adoptions have continued to be supported by our European partners and by the work of STD Italy, in a consistent albeit slightly smaller number than in 2013: the trend remains negative in recent years, but the hope is that in 2015 the number of animals welcomed by foreign families may increase. Below the summary tables related to the adoptions: Type Destination Adoptions 2014 Adoptions 2013 Adoptions 2012 Dogs Cats ITALY 186 237 231 SWEDEN Hundhjalpen 146 128 121 SWEDEN Dog Rescue - 38 133 SWITZERLAND 79 44 57 FINLAND 21 38 42 OTHER COUNTRIES (Germany and Montecarlo) 14 2 0 ROMANIA 39 31 6 Total dogs 485 518 590 ITALY 47 58 46 SWITZERLAND 9 6 16 ROMANIA 20 6 1 SWEDEN 11 0 0 Total cats 88 70 64 Total Adoptions 573 588 654 6
Out of the 573 adoptions made, 71 refer to dogs (and one cat) from the association STAAD of Neptun that Save the Dogs has been supporting for several years. The local adoptions (39 dogs and 20 cats, against 31 and 6 of the previous year) have grown following the campaigns promoting the adoptions carried out this year in the cities where STD operates through posters placed in public places and promotion in schools. 7
In 2014 Save the Dogs has devoted special efforts - thanks to specific collaborations with the Veterinary Clinic Filosvet in Medgidia directed by Dr. Alina Vasile and the Municipalities of Medgidia and Cernavoda to the identification (and sterilization) of owned dogs. These are in fact the dogs that are often being abandoned in our centers or on the streets and that ought to be sterilized in order to correctly and efficiently implement an integrated dog population policy, as suggested by organizations such as ICAM. Moreover since the 1 st of January 2015, as a result of the aforementioned Law 258/2013, the identification of owned dogs through microchips, their registration in RECS (National Registry for Dogs Evidence) and their sterilization are mandatory, the sole positive aspects introduced by the law. Save the Dogs had anticipated the law by launching in 2013 in Medgidia the first program for the canine identification in the whole Romania. The dogs had been registered in a private software open to the vet authorities and now they are being progressively reported in RECS. The identification program was extended in 2014 also in Cernavoda and for both cities we managed to convince the Municipalities to grant at least the purchase of the microchips. These are the results in both cities: Dogs identified in Medgidia through the door-to-door program 2013 644 Dogs identified in Medgidia through the door-to-door program 2014 578 Dogs identified in the area with the Mobile Clinic in 2014 657 Dogs identified in Cernavoda through the door-to-door program 2014 394 TOTAL dogs identified in Cernavoda and Medgidia 2273 8
3.2. The project for the protection of equines The project for the protection of equines in the region of Constanta has grown even more in 2014. The outreach activities - the home assistance performed by our vets - intensified and include a general inspection of the state of health of the donkeys, the dental examination, the cleaning of the hooves, the support to the owners and the monitoring of any cases of mistreatment. The activity started at the end of April and ended by the half of November and allowed us to reach 87 donkeys (13 more if compared to the 74 in 2013) and 85 horses, mostly concentrated in the Roma neighborhood Ali Baba, the poorest district of Medgidia. 10 horses were included in the special program Home Package sponsored by our new partner Austria Animal Care. The program consists in specific assistance (3 visits per year), material supply (ex. brushes, blankets, halters) and extra food and vitamins to some of the horses present in the barracks of Ali Baba, in particular to improve their quality of life during the harsh Romanian winter. Thanks to the consolidation in the last three years of the home assistance activities, the number of abused or abandoned donkeys has been decreasing: this year only four new donkeys entered our shelter Footprints of Joy, to whom we add Punk, an old horse saved from slaughter, who died during the year. Below the detailed numbers of the equine project 2014: Horses present at FOJ 10 Donkeys present at FOJ 61 Donkeys home assisted in Constanta province 87 Horses home assisted in Constanta province 85 Donkeys involved in pet therapy in Bradet (Brasov) 2 Children who benefited from pet therapy at Don Orione Center 60 Children who benefited from pet therapy in Cernavoda 5 9
After three years It s Donkey time! project at Don Orione Centre in Bucharest got to an end. In 2014 60 children benefited from a specific pet therapy within the center, each for a total of 8 hours of donkey assisted riding therapy in several sessions. The end of the project is due to organizational problems of Don Orione, which did not give us sufficient guarantees of a proper management of the donkeys involved in pet therapy activities. After the ending of the collaboration with the orphanage in the capital Save the Dogs donkey assisted riding therapy project has, however, doubled: a new program was launched in Cernavoda (at the request of the Municipality) thanks to a targeted funding and a second one has been set in Bradet, a village near Brasov in Transylvania. In Cernavoda the pilot project in 2014 allowed five children with disabilities to take advantage of 8 sessions of riding therapy each, assisted by a skilled kineto-therapist. This represents an important goal for these families, if considered that in Cernavoda people are still reluctant to show in public a disabled child. The results - verified after each pet therapy session by a municipal responsible of social services on children - were surprising and the benefits for the children were evident, particularly in psycho-emotional terms. The pilot project will be followed in 2015 by a more extensive program of activities for 20 children funded by the Foundation Paideia from Torino. Regarding Bradet, an orphanage run by the Provincial Council of Brasov, we were specifically asked - given the success of the experience at the Don Orione Centre - to introduce donkey assisted riding therapy practices in the facility for the benefit of the approximately 100 children hosted, many of which suffering from autism and other disabilities. Two donkeys were then transferred from Footprints of Joy to Bradet, where a well-defined project will start next May. Meanwhile in 2014 a barn and a large fence were built and the operators involved in the project benefited from traineeships, while the children have already had the chance to enjoy the pleasant company of the two donkeys. 10
3.3. The educational project Save the Dogs educational project reached 2,444 pupils from 6 to 11 years old from January to June 2014 (in 2013 it reached 2,635 pupils). The lessons, two hours per month, were held in 10 schools (7 in Medgidia and 3 in Cernavoda) involving about 120 classes and 150 teachers. About 700 children (there were 400 in 2013) came on a visit to Footprints of Joy during the Saptamana altfel, the week dedicated to alternative activities in the Romanian curriculum. Furthermore, the project also contemplated the organization of parallel events to encourage the respect towards dogs and the other animals that Save the Dogs assists. Among these we mention the exhibition of paintings Since we love dogs in Medgidia with the participation of the deputy mayor of Medgidia and a hundred of children with their families and the raising awareness action carried out by Save the Dogs staff on the 5 th of December in the occasion of the International Day of the Volunteering at Nicolae Balcescu Highschool in Medgidia. We also point out the organization of the Footprints of Joy party in Cernavoda on the 4 th of October, in the occasion of the World Animals Day, with the presence of the Mobile Clinic for identification and free registration in the canine register, guided tours to the shelter and the competition that rewarded the best dog / best owner. In this occasion we also enjoyed the presence of two Romanian VIPs: Mihai Traistariu and Mircea Solcanu. Finally, the specific project of traineeship in collaboration with the Prison of Poarta Alba continued successfully. 5 new inmates have followed once a week a training and volunteer project in our center of Medgidia, obtaining 3 months later a dog trainer qualification. The project will start again shortly involving five more inmates. 11
4. Quantitative and economic indicators This section shows the figures of the association as a whole in order to provide a clear idea of the quantitative work and the structure of STD in Romania. STAFF (01/2015) 50 Managers 1 External relations officer Administrative staff 2 Int. adoptions staff 2 Logistics responsible 1 Educators 1 Data-entry 1 Veterinarians 3 Vet assistants 4 Drivers 3 1 Save the Dogs has grown in recent years in terms of staff, consultants, minimum wages (increased according to the law also in January 2015), training for veterinarians and staff on occupational safety. This turned into an increase in current expenditure on staff, but it also meant the creation of a more solid, secure and functional structure than the previous one. We worked a lot on Occupational Safety and Health: the inspectors ITM (Territorial Labor Inspectorate) did not notice any irregularities and did not produce any useful recommendations, a quite unique event in the Province of Constanta. Skilled catchers 2 Skilled workers 27 Watchmen 2 The local and foreign volunteers continue to play an important role for STD. It s about people who annually visit our facilities to socialize with our dogs and help during the events organized by STD together with the citizens and the local schools. In 2014 88 volunteers from all over Europe (they were 80 in 2013) have devoted at least a couple of days of work to STD: a crucial help for the association! VOLUNTEERS 88 Romania 17 Italy 12 Sweden 35 Switzerland 11 UK 5 Finland 7 Argentina 1 12
As for the income and expenditures of STD Romania in 2014, we report below the profit and loss account of the reporting year in Euros which will be followed by a brief economic analysis 1. INCOMES 2014 in Euros 2014 2013 Notes Incomes - activities for projects Incomes from 2% 2.600 2.206 Incomes from local donations 5.822 13.169 Incomes from vet services (Mun. Cernavoda) 5.824 6.684 Incomes from vet services (private business) 798 2.371 Incomes from Romanian enterprises 23 227 Incomes from STD Italy 815.930 660.110 Incomes from other foreign donations 17.766 2 15.257 Incomes from sponsored projects 12.448 3 - Incomes from sale of goods 2.146 3.086 Incomes from fundraising activities Incomes from specific fundraising 141 231 Financial and extraordinary incomes Interests and refunds 1.625 484 Refunds from credit to the staff 1.463 - TOTAL 866.586 704.005 On the one hand in 2014 incomes registered a growth of 2% in response to specific campaigns made by the association in 2013 and 2014. Also the funds deriving from the American Horses on Death Row in support of the project dedicated to equines registered an increase. On the other hand the local donations diminished in response to the decision to divert many people searching for assistance in Save the Dogs centers to the Vet Clinic Filosvet in Medgidia, directed by Dr. Alina Vasile. Te be mentioned also the specific funding of WAP in support of the mobile clinic s activities. The foreign sponsorship program is going on well with three more projects funded in 2015: the educational project (WAP), the Mobile Clinic (funded by Dogs Trust) and the donkey assisted riding therapy project in Cernavoda (the Italian Foundation Paideia). 1 A clarification is that income and expenses here calculated in Euros with an annual arbitrary change were derived from expenses and revenues in RON, Euros, Dollars and British Pounds. Therefore the figures are to be considered similar to reality, but not corresponding to the calculations carried out officially in RON. The tables are to be considered a financial statement in favor of the members of STD Romania. 2 Donations from our American partner Horses on Death Row. 3 Mobile Clinic project co financed by WAP (World Animal Protection). 13
Regarding the expenses in 2014: General costs COSTS 2014 in Euros 2014 2013 Notes Central administration STD Romania 36.593 36.354 Costs - activities for projects Local staff, taxes and consultants 331.998 300.455 Post, web and phone expenses 7.225 5.185 Dogs project Cernavoda 4 165.656 125.655 Horses project Cernavoda 15.137 13.583 Donkeys project Cernavoda 28.872 28.943 Dogs project Medgidia 82.490 86.085 5 Mobile Clinic Medgidia 19.786 Educational project 6 1.137 Pet-therapy project Bucharest Pet-therapy project Cernavoda International adoptions project 7 Visits of STD Italia members Donations Social donations by STD Donations to STAAD association Credit to the staff Costs related to investments and new constructions Investments for the new Clinic 1.631 1.044 58.542 3.787 3.385 5.350 1.828 5.006-449 434-65.549 Investments and new purchases 79.474 61.083 TOTAL 848.941 724.196-421 - - - 4 Daily management of the shelters: transportation, medicines, vaccines, food for animals, consumables, cleaning material. 5 Included the costs of the Mobile Clinic, in any case limited in 2013 for lack of specific funds. 6 To be considered also the cost of an educator, included in the costs of the local staff. 7 Basically costs of transportation to the welcoming countries, plus the costs for passports and the testing necessary for the departure of dogs and cats. 14
After the consolidation of the expenses in 2013, in 2014 the costs related to the project activities of the association increased again. Apart from the staff (in 2014 we had up to 53 employees), the more relevant increase in the expenses was registered in the management of dogs and cats in Cernavoda, due to the change of the suppliers of food and deworming products for dogs (the choice fell on higher quality products), the increase of tests on dogs and cats as well as the increase in the number of animals hosted and the necessary fixing of the old cattery. The decrease of expenses for adoptions is instead due to the decrease of the number of adoptions in 2014. All the other expenses are in line with the past. The educational and the donkey assisted riding therapy projects confirm to require little financial effort, although they appear always more relevant. Investments include: i) the purchase of a new 4 * 4 car for the director in order to face both the harsh winter weeks in Romania and the emergencies II) the purchase of a new vehicle for the transportation of dogs in Medgidia III ) the construction of a new cattery in Medgidia IV) the buying of breakthrough technical veterinarian material for our centers (ultrasound portable systems, a new device for blood analysis, a new operating table, a pulse oximeter in Medgidia etc.). All the administrative and accounting activities have been verified by an accountant from Bucharest, who offered regular assistance to the staff in Cernavoda. In addition, the 2014 budget has been audited. About 92% percent of the costs have covered the activities for the projects of the association in favor of animals and for the education in the schools, while only 8% has been used to cover administrative costs. 8 8 General administrative costs, loans to employees, salaries administrator and accountant, fifty percent wages director and communication officer 15
5. Governance and management of STD Romania STD Romania is a Romanian registered association whose sovereign body is represented by the Assembly of the Members. The Assembly nominates a Board and, within it, a President, a vice president and a treasurer. The Assembly annually reviews the decisions of the Board, which convenes one or more times during the year, and of the President. The professional structure is defined according to the following organizational chart: Assembly of the Members Board President Director- General Dogs Project Cernavoda Dogs Project Medgidia Project Mobile Clinic Horses & Donkeys Project International Adoptions Educational Project Pet-therapy Project General administration and accountancy Planning and development Communication and PR The members play a political role while the professional structure plays a technical and operational role. The members are in fact responsible through the Board for the strategic planning and for setting the goals and the economic and social constraints to be respected. The professional structure seeks to reach these goals and at the same time checks the social constraints. All members of the Board are elected by the members and none of them receive a compensation for their work. Within the professional structure the Director-General is responsible for the economic balance of the association, for the control of the achievement of the goals and of the constraints imposed by the Board, as well as for the planning in collaboration with the Board. The central government is responsible for the achievement of the certification of the budget, while the project coordinators are in charge of the goals set for the proper achievement of the mission. 16
6. Save the Dogs partners and headquarters The partners and the official donors of STD Romania are: - Save the Dogs and other Animals Italia (since 2005) - The Donkey Sanctuary UK (since 2008) - Friends of Homeless Dogs Finland (since 2007) - Hundhjalpen Sweden (since 2005) - Animal Care Austria (since 2013) - Horses on Death Row USA (since 2013) - Susy Utzinger Foundation Switzerland (since 2013) - CNE Cernavoda Romania (since 2013) - Municipality of Cernavoda Romania (since 2002) - Municipality of Medgidia Romania (since 2005) - La Farge Medgidia Romania (2014) - Prison of Poarta Alba - (since 2013) - Mihai Kogalniceanu Airport in Constanta (since 2012) The association has its headquarters and offices in: Cernavoda - 905200 Strada Medgidiei H4 Sc. C, Et. 3, Ap.52 The other operational headquarters are: Footprints of Joy shelter: str. Hinog, 1 905200 Cernavoda Shelter in Cernavoda: str. Canalului, 1 905200 Cernavoda Shelter in Medgidia: str. Republicii, 121 905600 Medgidia For further information you may write us at: romania@savethedogs.ro. Save the Dogs activities were summarized in a video (in Italian with English and Romanian subtitles) which you may watch at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq2osim-rxc&feature=youtu.be Constanta, the dog rescued during the visit of the members of STD Italy and now happily adopted in Italy 17