Work hard...

One of the things that sets Rifugio Fata apart from so many of the poorly run shelters in Italy is their commitment to change. Unlike the municipal pounds who collect government money and, all too often, leave the dogs to perish in their cages, the Rifugio Fata team are constantly striving to raise their own funds and make a difference - for both their four-legged residents and for dogs in their local community.

A big part of their effort is education. The team puts a lot of energy into educating the public about their work at the shelter and about responsible dog ownership. And, even though they have been operating in a very challenging part of the world for over a decade, they continually seek to educate themselves about how they can better serve their furry friends.

As part of the ongoing education program at Rifugio Fata, the team recently invited renowned dog trainer and educator, Fausto Vighi, from Dog Evolution in Northern Italy to visit them at the shelter. He spent the weekend educating the volunteers about rehabilitating traumatized dogs and effective shelter management. 

If you would like to help Rifugio Fata continue their great work for stray dogs in Southern Italy, you can donate to them by clicking on the donate button on this blog, or via PayPal at rifugiofata@libero.it 

Or through Rifugio Fata's facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Francesca-Scerbo-Rifugio-Fata-la-pagina/223244014434430

Thank you for your support. 

...And play hard!

The team at Rifugio Fata know that any time spent in a shelter - no matter how good the shelter is -  is a poor substitute for family life, so they do their very best, with the resources they have, to make life as enjoyable as possible for their four-legged residents. Unlike so many shelters in Southern Italy, the dogs at Rifugio Fata are given regular access to open areas and lots of human interaction. 

A big part of a happy life for any dog is playtime. As well as working on training and rehabilitation, the dogs at Rifugio Fata are also given time to stretch their legs and let off steam. This summer, Rifugio Fata friend and fundraiser, Katharina Pils-Leimer, donated a paddling pool to help them stave off the summer heat, and give the dogs a playtime treat.

Some of the dogs leapt right in, while others took a little persuading, but everybody agreed that a paddling pool was a fantastic summertime gift! Thank you Katharina!

Rifugio Fata is entirely self-funded, and so financial support is always welcome. And if you can think of a useful or fun gift to send them, to help boost life at the shelter, that is also a lovely way to support these sweet doggies in need.