In 2023, local authorities notified ROLDA of their plans to build a road directly through our current shelter! This means all 12 paddocks will be demolished.
Transparency
Did you know that during 2024, costs related to PawzUp project represented 23.6% of our total expenses?
The PawzUp Center contains a number of distinct buildings as well as a number of warehouses, marked with numbers showing the order in which they will be built on the plan available at the bottom of this page. The entire construction project will take several years to complete. We have divided the project into four phases to ensure the capital costs of construction are manageable for our fragile budget and that our team can successfully absorb the logistic challenges.
The dog shelter in Phase I of our plan will be Romania’s first cage-free shelter, inspired by a similar project in the US! This shelter design will consist of 5 indoor interconnecting units. During Phase I, we will construct the first 3 of the five indoor units. Each unit will have an outdoor space and access to large expansive enrichment areas. Monitored by staff and volunteers, the indoor units will provide generous space for groups of dogs to live together.
The dog shelter will also include designated rehabilitation kennels for dogs needing closer attention. The dog shelter will spread over 1400 square meters and accommodate up to 240 dogs.
ROLDA urgently needs to construct a new shelter.!
While we are disappointed by how the Romanian authorities reacted to our efforts to help animals in our community, we must stay positive and consider this a perfect opportunity to allow these dogs to move into a new home and enjoy improved conditions!

Estimated costs of PawzUp’s building phases: *
* Prices are subject to change due to the unexpected dynamics of expenses and construction timeframes.
* The estimations listed above include the price of building materials (as of August 2022) and manpower costs. They do not include technical equipment needed, such as a water pump, accessories, wastewater plant, thermal power stations, partitions, and more.
** The estimated year of finalization for each phase/building is based on ROLDA’s current revenues and financial projections.