Zero Stray Georgia was founded in 2015 by Mariam Shekiladze, an animal rights activist from Georgia. Georgia, a country of up to 4 million people, is home to an estimated half a million stray animals. Growing up in Zugdidi, an underserved town in Western Georgia, Mariam felt alarmed and determined to help stray animals from a very early age. Since 2015, she has been actively coordinating rescue missions, building a network of international friends and partners, and spaying and adopting hundreds of dogs. 

Today, Zero Stray Georgia brings together a handful of international volunteers with years of experience and training in stray animal management. We are working tirelessly to eliminate the stray dog and cat populations in Georgia one animal at a time. We rescue, treat, neuter and put them up for adoption, either in Georgia or abroad. We refuse to put our rescues in shelters as this results in behavioural issues and a loss of identity for the animal. Instead, we put them up in foster homes as temporary shelters for strays before their adoption and ensure that they are properly socialized and cared for. At the same time, we support underserved, rural families in Georgia through foster fees.