A Safe Home and Justice for Animals in Poland

Over the past quarter, our team at the Vet-Alert Foundation has remained deeply committed to creating real, lasting change for animals in need. We are pleased to share the progress we have made thanks to the continued support of our donors.

1. Construction of a Safe Animal Care Center

We have been intensively continuing the renovation of our headquarters, which will soon become a safe intervention center for animals who are abused, neglected, or in urgent need of veterinary care. The renovation is progressing steadily, with several new rooms already prepared for future use.

Importantly, the new space will also allow us to expand our mission beyond rescue and medical care.
We will be able to host educational and informational programs for pet guardians, offering workshops, consultations, and awareness activities that promote responsible animal care and welfare.

This dual purpose — direct help and community education — is a key step toward creating long-term, systemic improvements for animals in Poland.

2. Legal Battle for Charitable Veterinary Care

We continue our legal fight for the right to provide charitable veterinary care in our own clinic. Our foundation’s veterinary facility was removed from the official registry solely because we supported animals in need without charging for our services.

We are currently fighting this decision in court. Securing legal recognition of charitable veterinary care is essential not only for our work, but for thousands of animals who rely on nonprofit assistance across the country.

3. National Petition: Extending Rabies Vaccination Validity

In response to widespread public concern and emerging scientific data, we prepared and launched a national petition calling for an extension of the mandatory rabies vaccination interval in Poland — from one year to three years, in line with international standards.

The petition was officially submitted to both the Polish Parliament (Sejm) and the Senate.
To date, over 18.500 people have signed in support.

This initiative is an important step toward more rational, science-based vaccination policies that better reflect modern veterinary knowledge and improve animal welfare.

4. Defending the Foundation Against SLAPP

Unfortunately, our progress continues to be hindered by targeted actions from the President of the West Pomeranian Chamber of Veterinary Medicine. We are currently facing numerous SLAPP-type proceedings — including dozens of lawsuits, disciplinary investigations, inspections, and other forms of procedural pressure.

These actions do not relate to any wrongdoing on our part. Instead, they appear intended to silence our public-interest work, obstruct our mission, and discourage us from speaking out about systemic issues in the veterinary sector.

Despite this pressure, we remain steadfast. We continue to defend ourselves in court and remain fully committed to transparency, public service, and protecting animals.

Closing Thoughts: Your support has helped us persevere through a uniquely challenging period. Thanks to you, we are building a safe center for animals, educating the public, fighting for fair veterinary laws, and protecting the rights of organizations working for animal welfare.

We still have a long road ahead — but with your partnership, every step brings us closer to creating a safer, more just world for animals in Poland.

Thank you for standing with us.

Links:

• Petition
• Calendar of activities regarding the petition

Thanks to the support of our donors, we have begun renovation work at the Foundation’s headquarters, which will soon become a safe haven for abused and abandoned animals. A rescue and care center is being created, where animals will not only find shelter but also receive specialized veterinary and rehabilitative care tailored to their individual needs. Every contribution from our supporters brings us closer to creating a place where suffering animals can regain their health, sense of safety, and trust in people. All of this is possible because of you – our generous donors.

At the same time, we are undertaking legal and intervention efforts in key animal welfare cases in Poland. We became involved in a high-profile case concerning Belgian Shepherds – service dogs used by the police. One of these dogs died under tragic circumstances during transport. We are fighting for justice for this animal and advocating for improved living and working conditions for all service animals in Poland. This case has captured public attention and highlighted the urgent need for legal reforms regarding the treatment of animals that serve humans.

We have also launched educational and legal initiatives concerning mandatory rabies vaccinations. Our goal is to ensure that these vaccinations are not only effective but also safe for animals. We support caregivers in protecting their pets' health and are working to improve the quality and safety of preventative healthcare for animals in Poland.

Additionally, we have reported several cases of animal abuse to the police. In our ongoing struggle to restore the possibility of providing charitable veterinary care, we have received support from the Council for Public Benefit Activity, which operates under the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland.

Your support enables us not only to provide direct aid to animals in need but also to advocate for systemic change that will improve animal welfare throughout the country. Because of you, we can act – with courage, effectiveness, and heart.

Links:

• Charitable veterinary care
• Service dogs (police)
• Vaccination safety