Building Bridges for Animal Welfare in Moldova
In Moldova, many animal shelters work tirelessly to protect stray and abandoned animals – often with limited resources, minimal public awareness, and few opportunities to collaborate.
To help change this, FOUR PAWS brought together local shelter representatives for a first-of-its-kind Shelter Round Table in Chișinău.
What began as a small Round Table to create a space to share experiences, has now become a catalyst for stronger collaboration, better shelter practices, and gradual improvements in shelter practices across Moldova.
Why This Event Matters
Shelters are an essential component of humane dog and cat population management. By focusing on local adoptions rather than culling or long-term confinement, they could help create communities that value and protect animals.
Yet many shelters in Moldova continue to face severe challenges: chronic overcrowding, scarce resources, and a lack of training in disease prevention, animal behaviour, and shelter management.
To support shelters around the world in overcoming these obstacles, FOUR PAWS launched the Shelter Adoption Programme, a free educational initiative designed to improve shelter operations, strengthen networks, and increase adoption rates.
Our Long-Term Commitment in Moldova
Since 2020, FOUR PAWS has been working to bring hope to Moldova’s stray animals through a sustainable and humane Dog Population Management programme.
In partnership with the local organisation Doctor Vet Moldova, this initiative focuses on community engagement, veterinary capacity building, and humane, long-term solutions for managing stray populations.
Today, many stray dogs still live in and around the capital Chișinău, but through ongoing collaboration, more shelters are beginning to move toward adoption-focused, long-term care.
The Shelter Round Table built directly on this foundation, creating a stronger network of shelters ready to apply best practices and raise local adoption rates.
“In a country where shelters often stand alone, this Round Table became a space for connection — where experiences were shared, and new partnerships began to form.” – Oleksandra Lischyshyna , FOUR PAWS Animal Welfare Issues Expert – Stray Animals in Need of Care
A Collaborative Effort for Change
Organised by FOUR PAWS in partnership with Doctor Vet Moldova, the Round Table brought together shelter owners and staff from eleven different shelters across the Chișinău region.
Led by Cansin Turker Meral , Animal Welfare Issues Coordinator – Stray Animals in Need of Care, and Oleksandra Lischyshyna , Animal Welfare Issues Expert – Strays Animals in Need of Care at FOUR PAWS, the interactive half-day workshop covered:
As a gesture of support, participants also received anti-parasitic medication for the animals in their care, directly improving animal health and welfare across participating shelters.
“What stood out most was the openness of participants to learn and exchange ideas. The discussions were dynamic and insightful, proving how much progress can happen when we come together with a shared goal.” – Cansin Turker Meral , Animal Welfare Issues Coordinator – Stray Animals in Need of Care
Building Trust and Community
For many participants, the event represented an encouraging opportunity to start rebuilding trust and cooperation among shelters that had long worked independently.
Through open discussion, participants shared their biggest challenges, from financial limitations to promoting adoption among younger generations, and explored how they can support one another moving forward.
Looking Ahead
To better understand public attitudes and guide future awareness efforts, FOUR PAWS recently conducted a nationwide survey on barriers to dog adoption in Moldova.
The findings revealed both promise and potential:
These insights reinforce the importance of initiatives like the Shelter Round Table and the Shelter Adoption Programme – not only to improve shelter operations, but to build trust, simplify adoption, and strengthen the bond between shelters and communities.
Creating Lasting Impact
The Shelter Round Table is one of many steps in FOUR PAWS’ ongoing work to improve conditions for stray and shelter animals in Moldova. Upcoming activities for shelters will include:
Every shelter that improves its practices, every staff member who gains new skills, and every dog or cat adopted into a loving home represents a step toward a more compassionate world.
Through similar initiatives, FOUR PAWS continues its mission to build capacity, strengthen collaboration, and create lasting impact for animals everywhere, one step at a time.
If you work with or support an animal shelter and would like to:
➡️ Learn more about the FOUR PAWS Shelter Adoption Programme,
➡️ Join the Companion Animal e-Learning Hub, or
➡️ Collaborate with us to strengthen animal welfare in your community,