The Story Behind Dungler for Animal Welfare.
A Life Shaped by Compassion
For Ioana Gabriela Dungler, caring for animals has never been a choice — it has been a way of life.
Born in Bucharest in the 1970s, Ioana grew up in a small apartment filled with rescued dogs and cats. Her parents, who met while saving a stray cat, taught her from an early age that compassion isn’t something you talk about — it’s something you live.
“At a time when many animals were being left behind, our home was different. We didn’t have carpets or porcelain figures — we had paws and whiskers,” Ioana recalls.
That deep connection shaped not only her childhood but her calling. She studied architecture, graduating with a project for a Marine Wildlife Rescue Center on the Black Sea and a thesis on endangered species, focused on tigers. Years later, she would find herself rescuing tigers for real — a full circle only life’s purpose can draw.
Over more than 25 years in animal welfare, Ioana has led and inspired change across borders, cultures, and crises.
She established and directed the Romanian branch of FOUR PAWS / VIER PFOTEN, launching the country’s first national campaign for stray dogs and securing a legal ban on the use of wild animals in public venues.
Her work has never been just about rescue — it has been about dignity, respect, and the belief that animals have a rightful place in the world, free from suffering.
Through every challenge, she learned one of the hardest lessons in this field: to stay strong enough to say no when needed, yet soft enough to keep caring.
“I’ve seen cruelty, but also courage. Neglect, but also healing. Real change begins when people choose to care — and act on that care,” she says.
The Dungler Foundation for Animal Welfare is not just an organization — it is a continuation of a shared vision.
The name Dungler carries deep meaning: it honors Heli Dungler, Ioana’s late husband and the founder of FOUR PAWS, whose life was devoted to animals, justice, and the belief that humanity can always do better.
“Heli was a visionary — a gentle fighter who inspired people to protect animals not with pity, but with respect. By naming this foundation in his honor, I carry forward both our journeys: his values, his compassion, and his faith in doing what is right.”
Dungler for Animal Welfare was created from a simple but powerful truth: empathy becomes meaningful only when it turns into action.
The foundation stands as a promise — to protect, to heal, and to give back to the animals who give us beauty, trust, and joy.
Because we owe them not only survival — we owe them freedom, respect, and a life worth living.
