VIP visitor Haddaway during his trip to Speranta Shelter near Bucharest, Romania.
VIP Visitor Haddaway Shown 'What Is Love' During Dog Shelter Visit
5 days ago 
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90s music legend cooks for 500 dogs and pledges ongoing support after heartwarming visit
He enjoyed UK chart success with the iconic track ‘What Is Love’ and former pop star Haddaway saw the answer first hand when he visited a Romanian shelter giving hundreds of abandoned dogs a second chance at life.
The singer, who enjoyed four UK top 10 hits during the 1990s, was the special guest at Speranta Shelter’s spring edition of its ‘Tocănița pentru toți Bobiță’ – which translates to ‘stew for all’.
In a unique turn from his usual stage performances, Haddaway spent the day side-by-side with volunteers at the Bucharest shelter, which has strong links to the UK courtesy of its pioneering remote adoption programme, cooking more than 100kg of chicken and vegetable stew for the shelter’s 500 residents.
The event drew around 200 visitors, making it one of the largest and most successful in the shelter’s history.
Haddaway, who was in Romania as part of the promotional tour for his new album, ‘The Sun’, took the opportunity to connect with local fans who had gathered to support the cause, also helping groom the dogs, while promoting the shelter’s adoption programme.
Speaking of his time at the shelter, located just outside Bucharest in Popești-Leordeni, Haddaway said: “For me, ‘The Sun’ is about seeking the light even when things feel difficult.
“I saw that light in everyone's eyes here at Speranta – the people, the volunteers and, most of all, the dogs.
“What Speranța does is nothing short of miraculous. They don't just feed and shelter these animals, they give them back their dignity and hope. I arrived as a guest, but I'm leaving as a supporter. I’m truly impressed by their work and I will definitely continue to support them.”
The visit also marked the inauguration of a new covered space at the shelter, designed to host food preparation and public activities regardless of the weather. This new facility will allow Speranța to continue its mission of socialising the dogs and preparing them for life in a loving home.
Anca Tomescu, lead vet and manager at Speranța Shelter, expressed her gratitude for the international attention the event brought to their cause, saying: “Having Haddaway here was a wonderful surprise for our dogs and our community. He arrived with a message of hope and lived it with us.
“Seeing him interact with the dogs, help in the kitchen and genuinely connect with the fans who came to support us was incredible.
“This was our biggest event yet, with around 200 people joining us. The interest in adopting some of our dogs following the event is proof that when people see the love and care we put in, they want to be a part of it. We are so grateful for his promise of continued support. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter where you are from, compassion has no borders.”
Speranța Shelter is currently home to nearly 500 dogs, including more than 200 seniors and many with special needs. All rescued dogs are treated, spayed, neutered and microchipped in the shelter’s own clinic, living in a friendly environment until they find their forever families.
The shelter’s remote adoption programme allows UK dog-lovers to ethically adopt from a distance. A remote adoption with Speranta means ensuring a life-long sanctuary for a dog in Romania without adding to the strain on British rescue centres.
For more information on Speranța Shelter, its remote adoption programme or to pledge a lifesaving donation, visit www.sperantashelter.org.
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