DEVELOPING ANIMAL WELFARE IN EASTERN EUROPE

Naturewatch Foundation, the charitable arm of Naturewatch, supports the improvement and development of animal welfare standards in Eastern Europe. We work closely with local authorities and with newly formed animal protection societies. The Foundation was granted charitable status in 1995. Registered Charity Number 1039679

Currently we are working to advance animal welfare standards in Ukraine and Lithuania.

Animal welfare organisations in all countries, including the UK, are often criticised for putting down unwanted animals.  However, the realities of running a shelter means that resources are stretched to the limit.  In many countries across the world, euthanasia is a tragic reality but it's always a last resort. 

Of course puppy farms and back yard breeders, where dogs are bred purely for profit, contribute greatly to this problem. These dogs often live in very poor conditions, are normally bred from too often and many are unhealthy. The puppies are generally removed from their mothers far too early and have had the worst possible start in life. Whatever you do, do not buy a puppy or a dog from these sources as they will have had the worst possible start in life, and are far more likely to have health and temperament problems.

You can do your bit to help make the world a better place for dogs and cats. Please spay/neuter your pet to prevent breeding and adopt from reputable animal shelters. 

Ukraine

Since 1996 we have been working with the Kyiv Society for the Protection of Animals "SOS" (SPA-SOS) and with the Kyiv city authorities to reform the city-run stray organisation that has a history of employing barbaric stray control methods.

To read more about Sponsoring a Dog at the SPA-SOS shelter for just 58p a week (that's no more than the cost of a Mars bar!), please click here

Milo is one of the lucky dogs that has been rescued and is now living at the SPA-SOS shelter. To learn more about his rescue and to seevideos, please click here

To learn more about our work in Ukraine please click here

Lithuania

We have been involved in Lithuania since 1993 - the year the Red Army finally pulled out, and the Lithuanian Society for the Protection of Animals (LiSPA) was re-established.

Our work there is led by Dr Ben Noreikis, a Lithuanian American who had previously worked for the Humane Society of America and returned to the land of his parents in 1993.

To read more about our work in Lithuania, please click here

We also develop educational and information resources, including a

Teachers' Pack for Key Stage 1, and a

Resource page for our
Endangered Species booklet.

Two of our previous projects...

Romania - establishing links in one of Europe's poorest countries

Turkey - sponsoring a neuter and release program in Fethiye