The Romanian Outcasts - Orphans and Animals
by Pia Berrend & Malcolm Plant
by Pia Berrend & Malcolm Plant - Two shadows walk this land! Once vibrant, colorful and active, they are reduced to forgotten wraiths by the dark mist of horror which now drifts into every highway and every alleyway.
The two shadows are 'Love' and 'Compassion'... Systematically destroyed by soulless laws which promote aggression against animals and by association, with people.
As the tides of love and compassion recede from the land, they leave behind a callous soulless emptiness. Disregard for all...
In Râmnicu Vâlcea, not only are the hearts of animals being stopped, but the hearts of their children are being callously broken. Children who have no-one, who have no home except the institution which is their orphanage... a world without someone to love them, someone to give them love. And in their lonely darkness came the creatures who freely gave them this love.
The animals lived in the grounds of the orphanage and a mutual affection community existed. Perhaps the first time either had experienced affection from another living being.
And then came the spectre in the night. Amidst the howling of the animals and the sobbing and pleading of the children, the dogs were torn from them and thrown into the local shelter.
If you believe that the above text was a "story" to capture your heart and your feelings... you were right! ...because the TRUTH is:
Children from an orphanage in Ramnicu Valcea, in Romania, had befriended some homeless animals and mutually they have found comfort and love in each other's company... perhaps the first time either had felt loved by another living creature.
But the local municipality ordered that the dogs be taken away and thrown into a local shelter where they awaited the 'death penalty'. The children were grieving for their best friends and all that was left for them, was to visit them every day until their final day would have come [1].
For the children and the animals, we - who live in countries where regard for both animals and children is part of our heritage - decided to save the lives of these animals! These kids needed to believe that there is some good in their world... some love and compassion.
But our pleas fell on empty ears... empty hearts. The Director of the orphanage initially agreed, but later reneged on an agreement to allow the dogs to live in the orphanage grounds, fearing complaints from local neighbors. No-one, it seemed, wanted these animals and no-one considered the feelings of the children.
But hope came like a light in the night. A local rescue group took the animals to safety from where new homes were sought. Out from the glow of compassion shining from Western Europe, many hands reached out into the darkness of Romania and carried these animals away to new homes... new security... new love!
Not only had the children seen their friends rescued from certain death but they had seen with unbelieving eyes that other societies were different from theirs and in other places people felt the same as them... they cared!
As they watched their friends leave for a new life of security and love, the children wept openly... no more the tears of pain and sadness... but tears of joy.
And the two lost shadows of 'love' and 'compassion' raised their faces to the sun... and smiled!
About the Authors
Pia Berrend (Luxembourg), is the Founder and Campaign Manager of 'Occupy for Animals', responsible for campaigns and a project-partner at the 'Making the Link' Study and Intervention Project, she is responsible for public relations at 'Lawyers for Animals', a Member of the 'European Communications Team', and one of the editors of this book.
Malcolm Plant (UK), BSc, BA (Hons), MSc, Dipl. Psychology, is the Initiator of the 'Making the Link' Study and Intervention Project, a Fellow of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver (USA), an Associate of Teeside University (UK), the Director at 'Lawyers for Animals', and the Legal Adviser at 'Occupy for Animals', as well as one of the editors of this book.
Malcolm Plant (UK), BSc, BA (Hons), MSc, Dipl. Psychology, is the Initiator of the 'Making the Link' Study and Intervention Project, a Fellow of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver (USA), an Associate of Teeside University (UK), the Director at 'Lawyers for Animals', and the Legal Adviser at 'Occupy for Animals', as well as one of the editors of this book.