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.
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