TOhelping animals to help people. This is the profound meaning of the project Save The Dogs “Street friends, life companions”, which offers support and free veterinary care to the dogs of homeless people in Milan. But «animals are often the “pretext” to open a dialogue with people living on the streets, who are generally very suspicious», explains Sara Turetta, President of the Save the Dogs ETS Foundation. The moment the person living on the street entrusts their beloved furry friend to the care of the operators, they take «the first step towards establishing a relationship of trust. A relationship that allows us to start the process of help and social reintegration.”
The Save the Dogs plan, dedicated to the dogs of the homeless in Milan
After almost two years of operation, the project has just received a grant from 65,000 euros from the Milan Community Foundation. The available funds will be spread over two years and will allow Save the Dogs to double the number of street unit releases. Going from the current 4 to 8 per month. To create a fixed assistance unit on a weekly basis in shifts in the areas of the city already covered. To extend the interventions to families who are in serious economic difficulty and are unable to adequately take care of their dogs.
The project was started with the creation of a street unit in the areas of Lambrate, San Babila, Corso Europa, Arco della Pace and Darsena, for the distribution of essential goods and the provision of veterinary care to homeless dogs.
From October 2022 to August 2023, 77 homeless people with their animals were helped by providing them with a kit with all the basic necessities. That is, coat and blankets in winter, pesticides in summer, bowl, leash, muzzle, food, first aid kit. And then healthcare, vaccinations, microchipping and sterilisations free, in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan and the ATS Veterinary Service.
«Helping animals to help people»
It was soon understood that the relationship with a four-legged friend is a fundamental but critical element, not only in the life of the homeless. But also of people and families living in poverty. «They often find themselves facing emotional distress, and a great sense of guilt for not being able to take care of your animalaware that this could also lead to having to give it up”, continues Sara Turetta.
The human-animal bond risks breaking in the face of the economic difficulties that many families face. And Save the Dogs was the first organization in Italy to intercept this dimension of need. 60% of those who welcome a pet spend on average from 30 to 100 euros over the course of a month (Source Eurispes year 2022). But when unexpected expenses arise for specialist interventions that cannot be postponed, the costs rise considerably. Many live in the impossibility of guaranteeing the animals even daily care such as food.
And instead guaranteeing food but also veterinary care through periodic checks is not only useful for the animal and the poor person who takes care of it. Ensuring good health also allows you to prevent the spread of diseases potentially dangerous to public health and for the animals themselves. Furthermore, “Street Friends, Life Companions” contributes to the mapping andidentification of the canine population and the registration of animals in the regional database.
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