Romanian Zoo Dogs
NEW LIFE FOR ROMANIAN ZOO DOGS
2 dogs from a Romanian Zoo will now have a second chance thanks to a joint project between ‘Born Free Foundation’ and Jan Fennell, international author and Dog Listener.
Jan was approached by Virginia McKenna, Founder of the ‘Born Free Foundation’ about two dogs currently living in a zoo in Romania that was due to close, as Miss McKenna appreciated that these dogs would inevitably have adjustment issues and knew that the method adopted by Dog Listeners would give these dogs the very best chance of settling into domestic homes. Jan and her team of International Dog Listeners were pleased to be able to help. 
Mollie is 6-7 years old and has been at the zoo nearly all her life. Nobody knows why she was put in the zoo, but she arrived as a puppy. She used to live with her son, but he died last year. Nobody knows why, as he was just found dead in their cage.
Dina is approximately 3 years old and is very human friendly so it is thought that at some stage she has had a home. It looks as if she has had puppies in the past but nobody knows what happened to them.
Foster homes have been found for the dogs, Dina in Watford and Mollie with our Bournemouth Based Dog Listener Natalie Finch, as their transition to life here begins. Steph Drake, one of Jan’s Dog Listeners, is delighted to be co-ordinating the project with ‘Born Free Foundation’. Steph and Natalie will use Jan’s ‘Amichien® Bonding’ method, which is based on communication and positive reinforcement without any use of force, gadgets or aggression.
Once the dogs have been assessed and have recovered from their long journey, they will have been rehabilitated to help them adjust to a very different life than they have previously experienced and then they will be looking for permanent homes.
As Dog Listeners, the team take their responsibilities very seriously and the organization is unique in that there is strict quality control in place to ensure that each consultation is carried out to the highest possible standard.
The support & care begun by the Dog Listeners in the foster homes will continue once the dogs are placed in permanent homes.
Steph says ‘it is great to see Britain’s reputation as a dog-loving nation once again being demonstrated by this project and to see so many different peopl
e working together to help these dogs. It will be lovely to finally see them settled in loving, permanent homes after all they have been through.’
Natalie would also like to thank Dave of Healthy Pets In Blandford for his advice on feeding Mollie and sponsoring her with a food supply www.healthypetsblandfordltd.co.uk
The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity working throughout the world to stop individual wild animal suffering and protect threatened species in the wild. Romania joined the European Union on the 1st Jan 2007, and it is now required to adhere to the terms of the EU Zoo Directive. The Directive requires all zoos to meet minimum standards in animal welfare and husbandry and to demonstrate a commitment to conservation of biodiversity and public education. Most of the 36 zoos in Romania fall way below these standards. The Born Free Foundation is working with the Romanian Association for the Protection of Animals (APAR) to help draw up feasible solutions for the closure of zoos to minimize suffering, while at the same time reducing the number of zoos.
Yellowstone Wolves
Yellowstone 2008 by Natalie Finch
We took trains, planes and funny automobiles to see Yellowstone Park, we crossed time zones and continents to get there. What we found was 2 million odd acres of dramatic mountains, valleys & forests caked in 190 inches of snow! It’s the most they have had in 30 years, which we were told will assist the land as the last few years there have been droughts.
Wolf watching takes dedication, patience and flexibility. Early starts are a must as the animals are most active at dawn and dusk. As a group we felt blessed because everyday we were out in the field, we saw wolves.
On our first journey into the Lamar Valley we had a young lone black female cross our path on the road and walk right past us, sadly she had mange and it is though that her parents were killed in a territorial skirmish. Unfortunately mange is on the increase and there is not a lot The Wolf Project can do about it. It has come in from outside the park and treatment has to be issues in two doses, which make it impossible to catch the same wolf again to administer the medicine. 
We went on to see the saga unfold before our very eyes, with an unknown gray male and 2 black druid females. For the first few days, we would just see them chilling out on a hillside, the 3rd day we saw them we had just endured a white out, where the snow fall is so thick and fast that you cannot see a thing, it cleared as quick as it came. Behind a herd of bison, we saw the gray male courting the black female, lots of parallel walking but the female was reluctant and would just lay down. He would act very cool, walk off for a bit and call her bluff by looking disinterested, which would have her coming after him, circling him and flirting outrageously, but there was something holding her back. She would often look back toward druids peak, which was off to our left in the distance. She would howl too, we could hear a response but could not see who it was coming from. After a few hours of watching the love birds, the group decided to split. On mini bus – Loo Stop (not for the faint hearted) and Linda’s bus to Druid Peak.
As we came round a bend we saw Bob Landis filming at the side of the road and then, on our right up a steep hill (pretty close too) was the other Black female howling and slightly distressed. We could not stop there, so Linda pulled into the ranger station we jumped out, I’ve never seen the scopes go up so quick, Then suddenly we heard howling from behind us and there they were, The Druid Pack in all their glory on druids peak visible by naked eye. We were speechless, breathless and excited by the story that was unfolding.
It was great to see the faces of the rest of the group when we told them and they saw for themselves the magnificent Druid’s. 
We found out that the 2 black females had become separated when crossing the road to hook up with the gray. We stayed with the Druids for considerable time, they were howling and calling the black females, obviously unhappy about the females off fraternizing with the gray. Bob Landis told us later the gray male has been trying to join the Druids since last November, but the Druid alpha male, was not having any of it! Maybe, we were privileged to see the forming of a new pack.
We also saw the Leopold pack, chilling and playing in the snow. On our last day in the Lamar, we saw the Slough Creek Pack, 12 black and one gray taking their time zigzagging up the hill, walking in each others footsteps to conserve energy. We saw 2 of this pack tie, under a tree. I’m struggling to find words to summarize how I felt, there is so much magic that touches you when watching these beautiful animals, in such a vast and scenic location.
I learned so much about them from all the wonderful people we met, who were so kind and generous in their knowledge, I felt like I was a sponge absorbing as much as I could, I feel now that I have a deeper understanding for all canines and utmost respect for how adaptable they are at survival in any given situation, I now know the importance of a complete eco-system and the impact every species has, on and within their environment.
If you love animals, history, geology and ecology, you’ll love Yellowstone as much as I did. There is so much more I could tell you and feel like I have only scratched the surface and maybe one day I will. I do recommend a trip in a snow coach, a coach with ski’s and tracks, that took us to see the Old Faithful Geyser in the interior of the park.
I can not believe we have been back 4 weeks already, time is flying past and the best things is, that most holiday memories fade fast, but not Yellowstone, its embeds something in your heart and mind, something that, when you close your eyes you can touch and send your spirits soaring with inspiration again……. Now that IS MAGIC!!!!
Yellowstone Wolf & Bear Adventure with Linda Thurston & Nathan Varley www.wolftracker.com
