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A SCOTS-based animal rescuer is leading a worldwide online operation to save and rehome street animals which suffer abuse and torture abroad.
Lucinda Hare, 61, founded the Ruff Beginnings movement in 2005 after witnessing awful animal cruelty during a trip to eastern Europe.
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Disgusted by the barbaric neglect the creatures were subjected to on a daily basis, she created the group to make their rescue possible by fundraising for transport, vet care and other essentials to help with rehoming.
Lucinda, an award-winning children’s author, says: “I had been to Ukraine and Russia and saw the number of cats and dogs on the street in a terrible state and yet tourists and locals just walked on by.
“People have no idea of the scale of the problem. In Romanian capital Bucharest alone there are 90,000 stray animals.
“I’m aware of them being hit by cars and left to die on the road, which leaves a huge number of disabled animals.
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“And they are tortured, people stick fireworks in their mouths and cut their legs off if they trespass.
“The shelters we get animals from are hellholes — they are left to starve with no food, no water and no warmth.”
It’s estimated there are more than 100million stray dogs and cats across Europe, with the problem generally more prevalent in many former Eastern Bloc countries.
In countries like Romania, many dogs are known as “yard dogs” meaning they are rarely kept indoors.
And the so-called “community dogs” aren’t neutered and are left to roam free. While they are fed by compassionate people, there isn’t the same pet culture which exists in western Europe.
There are around 125,000 stray dogs in the UK, while the numbers in Romania are thought to be as high as two million.
A lack of cash and education in poorer areas has led to millions of animals living on the street and being even viewed as vermin, which in turn leads to significant levels of abuse.
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With 1,500 rescuers across Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Egypt, Edinburgh-based Lucinda says the situation is spiralling out of control.
She hopes to recruit more new members to her rescue group so they can have an even bigger impact.
With nine cats — six of which are completely blind — and four dogs of her own, the fundraiser is always on the hunt for animal lovers who are keen to make a difference.
She adds: “We have so many people who love animals. It’s not just me who has a group as well.
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“There are those who run transport every week out of Eastern Europe and provide flight companions to go with them.
“There are 3,000 in my group — 1,500 rescuers and 1,500 supporters.
“The internet has allowed us to work as a worldwide team from the minute a rescuer sees an animal on the road right through to rehoming.”
The history guaduate is the author of the popular fantasy series, The Dragonsdome Chronicles.
It includes her first book, The Dragon Whisperer, which was shortlisted in the Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books.
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She took a break from writing and won a battle with breast cancer, but after losing her losing her own beloved cat Smudge in 2014, she was inspired to write Haggis – A Blind Street Cat’s Tail.
In another heratbreaking twist, her current rescue dog Charcoal was diagnosed with a brain tumour — leaving her with huge vet bills.
That has prompted her latest book, Howling Out Loud, which will explore why we love our pets and share stories and tributes from a range of different people.
She believes there’s a need for proper pet bereavement services equal to that afforded for the loss of a human.
She says: “I’m still struggling with losing Smudge five years ago, talking about her is still difficult. She was blind and she was my soulmate.
“I think pet bereavement should be in line with human bereavement.”
FIND Ruff Beginings on Facebook. And if you’d like to help Lucinda and Charcoal, visit http://bit.ly/save-charcoal
colan.lamont@the-sun.co.uk
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