This project will build a large sheltering structure for elderly dogs, providing a great home and second chance for a great life for up to 30 unfortunate senior animals that have been abandoned at overcrowded public shelters. The special elderly dogs will be rescued, given any needed treatments and medications, loved, and then made adoptable to good homes. Local shelters, the community, the new loving owners and of course, the dogs themselves will all benefit from this project.
Did you know: Three quarters of European stray dogs are concentrated in Sicily. Many people come visit Sicily for the beauty, the sea, or the food, but few know about the large stray animal problem here. According to Commission data, in Sicily in 2016 there were 75,000 specimens of stray dogs. In 2018, there were 90,000. This is exemplified in older animals who may be abandoned for the cost or hassle of their medical needs, or just because they are not cute anymore.
This particular project will provide a home and second chance for some of these stray dogs- the ones that are most forgotten - the elderly. Rifugio Isola Del Sole will provide sterilizations as well as ongoing food, love and medical care for the senior dogs while they reside here, and it will hold adoption events and make them available for placement in good homes.
The cycle and growing abundance of strays is a large hurdle in Sicily. We believe that this shelter will not only have a revolving door for up to 30 elderly dogs at a time - off the streets and into good homes, but also to inspire action from others in the area. Combined with our other efforts including animal welfare education courses and free sterilization events, we can make a real impact on positive change and animal welfare in the area and the world.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
