The people who do the work.
"Help us please. Lindsey and team."
We came together to give them a happy ending.
Penny's Ark was born after years of working in Romania and seeing first hand the hardship of the dogs that lived there. Our vision was to build a sanctuary where dogs without hope of finding homes or salvation could live their lives out under our care.
The truth is quite unbearable. Dogs in kill shelters, killed in ways that can never be unseen or forgotten. Dogs in private shelters often living their whole lives incarcerated in kennels.
So we came together, to give as many of these dogs as possible a happy ending to their lives, where every day they have their feet on grass and fresh air in their noses.
We are proud to have been officially registered as a UK charity in 2023.
We are Penny's Ark.
#lindsey
Lindsey Church
Lindsey founded Penny's Ark in 2023. Before that, she ran Romanian Rescue Appeal, one of the larger UK-based Romania-rescue groups of its decade, until 2019 when the work and the maths caught up with her and she stepped back.
Penny's Ark is the second time round. Smaller intake, longer commitment per dog, an actual sanctuary, and an editorial honesty about the rough days as well as the good ones.
The UK team holds it all together.
Alongside Lindsey is a team of dedicated volunteers that help with the running of the charity, some of whom have been working with Lindsey in dog rescue for more than 10 years. There is a core team of trustees and a broader team of amazing people that give up their time and dedicate themselves to making Penny's Ark one of the most compassionate and caring sanctuaries in Romania. This is what drives the team. It is not simply about rescuing dogs. It is about making the dogs' lives meaningful and full of freedom, hope and love.
Together, the UK team cover all aspects of running the sanctuary: fostering, administration, adoption matching, finance and accounting, the sponsorship programme, running auctions, social media, baking cakes, attending dog shows and boot sales, sanctuary visits, dealing with enquiries, making videos and supporting our team in Romania who are at the coal face.
The Romanian team are at the coal face.
Looking after more than 50 dogs takes time, dedication, patience, gentleness, leadership and intuitive, empathetic, intelligent management. Our Romanian team possess all of these qualities. We are very lucky to have such amazing individuals working with us.
#catalin
Catalin
Catalin is the guardian of the sanctuary and lives onsite. He oversees and manages the day to day life there, making sure the dogs' needs are met and at the same time creating a safe environment to nurture them.
They love Catalin's calm, reassuring voice and gentle nature. He loves the dogs. This means everything to us. And to them.
#gabi
Gabi
What would we do without Gabi? She enriches the dogs' lives six days every week, spreading her love to all of them. She also keeps the kennels and the outside area clean.
She has a 40 minute walk to work and back each day, which must be hard. She lives alone with many dogs and cats herself. She deserves a medal.
#costa
Costa
Costa is our treasure, who has many roles: maintaining the sanctuary, building when necessary, driving dogs to clinics, collecting food and so much more.
Costa's wife gets involved with maintaining the lodges for volunteer stays.
#ionela
Ionela
We have worked with this amazing lady for a number of years, and we help to fund dogs in her care, of which there are around 100. Ionela runs her own shelter on the other side of Bucharest. The location is known as a dumping ground for unwanted dogs. The task is never ending.
However, Ionela works tirelessly campaigning. She educates in schools and runs regular spay and neuter campaigns. This is such crucial work, so that the dogs of tomorrow don't suffer as much as the dogs of today.
Ionela's dogs appear on our adoption pages alongside our own. We are proud to partner with such a force.
The wider team is everyone else.
Home checkers, second-line fosters, Pennies Auction sellers, the person who gives a few pounds a month. Everyone whose name does not fit on this page is part of the work too.