Meet NIKITA

Nikita is one happy dog. You can see the joy and relief written all over her face.

Nikita was found in a terrible state a few weeks ago, full of fleas and ticks. She was starving, sick and dehydrated, and she was having difficulty walking. An abandoned old dog in Calabria, Nikita was doomed.

Enter the Rifugio Fata team, wielding love, compassion and their undying spirit of "No doggie left behind." They took Nikita in, and they raised the funds for her to see a vet.

The great news is that Nikita is now recovering in the safe haven of Rifugio Fata.

During the summer months, there is always a surge in the number of abandoned dogs, and Rifugio Fata's walls are full to bursting. They take in the most desperate cases, and they do everything they can to provide expensive medical treatment and care for every dog who needs it. Please consider giving a donation, of any amount, to help them with their vet's bills.

You can donate via this blog by pressing the donate button at the top or bottom of this page, or you can donate directly to Rifugio Fata:

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

Banc iban: Ass FATA BNL Lamezia Terme IT03P0100542840000000000271-
SWIFT BIC BNL II TRR postepay postepay 4023 6006 1576 8779
intestata ad ARDITO ANTONIO RDTNTN63CO4C352M

PAY PAL rifugiofata@libero.it
CONTO CORRENTE POSTALE INTESTATO A
LEGA NAZIONALE DIFESA DEL CANE sez. di Lamezia Terme C.C.3256513

Nikita says GRAZIE MILLE - a thousand thank yous -  to everybody who supported her rescue!

Education Education Education!

The mission of the Rifugio Fata team is to not only rescue and home as many dogs as they can, but also to tackle the overwhelming stray dog problem at a grassroots level - both in their community and beyond. The idea behind these efforts is to try to change the cultural attitudes and behaviors that lead to so many dogs suffering on the streets in the first place. As well as actively promoting spaying and neutering in their local community, the Rifugio Fata team hold open classes at the shelter, inviting members of the public to come in and learn about responsible dog ownership and find out more about what they do.

An important part of this grassroots effort is aimed at the people who hold the biggest key to affecting real and lasting change in the future - the children. A team of Rifugio Fata volunteers work with a local educator, inviting children from local schools to visit the shelter for educational field trips.

School trips to Rifugio Fata are fun and informative for the children, and the four-legged residents are always ready for visitors. And like a pebble dropped into a lake, the hope is that these children will go back to their families and communities, and their newfound knowledge will spread like a ripple, eventually gaining momentum until it becomes a tidal wave of change for our four-legged friends in Southern Italy.

Congratulations BUK!

Remember Buk? He was found by the roadside in February, hopping along with a terrible leg injury. 

Rifugio Fata picked him up and raised the funds for him to see a very kind vet, who offered her services at a discounted rate.

Well... thanks to Rifugio Fata, Buk is now a whole new dog with a whole new life! He has recovered from his surgery and he can run and jump like a normal dog. Not only that, he has been adopted by a loving family! 

Here he is, with his new brothers and sisters. As you can see, all of his worries are now firmly behind him. 

Congratulations sweet boy! You made it. And a huge thank you to Rifugio Fata and everyone who supported Buk's rescue.