When we first heard Lola’s story—a young, gentle, beautiful dog who had spent her entire life chained up—we knew we had to act. Her chain was no longer than one metre and had cut into her neck, and fear paralysed her at even the slightest touch. She didn’t even know what a kind word meant.
In March 2021, someone showed us a photo of Lola: sad, chained, terrified… an image impossible to ignore. That’s when we said: “We’re bringing her to the shelter. We can’t leave her like this.”
The very next day, Lola walked through the gates of Speranța Shelter for the first time. She was weak, dirty, and marked by a life of abuse and isolation—but for the first time in her life, she was safe.
This was the beginning of her rescue.
A rescue that, like all others, requires transport, medical procedures, treatments, food, accommodation, and preparation for adoption. Without the help of caring people, Lola would have remained just a sad story. With help, she began to come back to life.
Healing a dog who has lived her whole life chained cannot be measured only in days or weeks, but in the small victories that mean the world to them. For Lola, every step forward was the result of months of patience and work, and we were witnesses to one of the most beautiful transformations.
At first, anything coming from a human frightened her. A look, an outstretched hand, even ordinary shelter sounds made her recoil instantly. But patience works miracles. After just a few days spent with people who asked nothing from her but offered gentleness, Lola began to open up. Soon, she lifted her gaze towards her caregivers for the first time and then, timidly, wagged her tail. Just a little—but enough to show us that her heart was beginning to heal.
Over the following weeks, Lola made incredible progress: she accepted her first gentle stroke, started seeking attention, and even slept relaxed—signs that for the first time, she felt safe. Then came the moment we long for with every rescued dog: her first free run. Lola ran without fear, without a chain, without constraints, discovering the world—toys, friends, grass, freedom.
As weeks passed, she transformed into an affectionate, attentive, loving dog. She would rest her head in the hand of any visitor and behaved as though she were making up, second by second, for all the years without love. She became the shelter’s cherished sweetheart.
Still, old traumas do not vanish overnight. Although she was relaxed inside the shelter, taking even one step beyond the gate terrified her. She had lived years on a chain, and the outside world felt full of imaginary dangers.
To help her overcome these fears, Lola entered the Messengers of Hope programme, where she began a careful desensitisation process. Our specialists worked with her on every reaction, every hesitation, teaching her that not every noise is a threat, that a leash is not a chain, and that a walk is a joy, not a punishment. Their work, combined with her desire to grow, transformed her into a balanced dog ready not only to receive love but to offer it back.
After months of work, Lola was completely changed.
In place of the frightened dog who had lived on a short chain, we now had a gentle, attentive, intelligent girl who wanted more than anything to be loved. She still had small moments of hesitation, but her progress was immense and steady.
For us, it became clear that Lola was ready.
Ready to take the big step.
Ready to be part of a family.
And then the miracle happened: Bogdan saw Lola on our page and decided he wanted to change her life. And not only hers, but also that of the family’s other shepherd dog, Mandela, who would become her brother.
That’s how Lola’s new chapter began.
During the first days at home, she ate quickly and anxiously, afraid—out of old habit—that she might not receive enough. But once she understood that food, love, and safety were always there, she transformed into a completely new dog.
She befriended Mandela, learned the house routine, enjoyed the big yard, and discovered freedom once again.
Now Lola is home. Truly home.
Happy, loved, calm, cherished. Exactly how every dog should be.
Lola has been given a new chance thanks to your generosity.
Your donations can help us save other innocent lives.
