The Romanian work came first
Sara Turetta moved from Milan to Cernavodă in October 2002 to develop animal protection work there. The organisation’s history describes an early clinic and shelter operating with limited resources and volunteer veterinary help. She established the Italian charity in 2005. Those dates distinguish the beginning of the Romanian project from the later creation of its fundraising organisation.
Reaching animals outside the shelter
A mobile clinic project began in 2007 around Cernavodă and Medgidia, aiming to reach rural areas and reduce the flow of abandoned puppies. Door-to-door microchipping of owned dogs followed in 2013. These projects show the preventive side of the work: going to the places where animals live, alongside taking responsibility for animals already needing rescue.
Several kinds of care on one site
Footprints of Joy opened in 2012. A new veterinary clinic was added in 2017 beside the dog shelter and equine sanctuary. The donkey refuge developed through a partnership with The Donkey Sanctuary, and horse facilities followed. The Cernavodă site therefore brings together the needs of companion animals and equines, rather than serving only dogs despite the organisation’s name.
Six horses and a long recovery
A 2026 sanctuary update follows six horses rescued near Bucharest in November 2025. Bruno needed surgery to remove his damaged left eye before settling into a small herd. The account describes the other five recovering from laminitis and malnutrition with veterinary and farrier care. Their progress gives a specific example of the work that continues after transfer to safety.
Follow the sanctuary’s own updates
The same equine update reports a new quarantine stable and planned enclosure expansion. Check later reports for the outcome of that planned work. The official history explains how the project developed; AnimalProtech’s map places this Romanian operation in Cernavodă.
Frequently asked questions
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