Happy New Year! | December 18, 2023 – January 1, 2024: Zero Strays Georgia Updates
Happy New Year from Zero Strays Georgia! We are excited to share some wonderful updates as we reflect on a busy and impactful end to 2023.
Strengthening Partnerships: Mariam’s Visit to the Netherlands
In December, our founder, Mariam Shekiladze, traveled to the Netherlands to meet with our long-time partners at Pawsome Pets Foundation. This incredible organization has been instrumental in supporting Zero Strays Georgia through adoptions, fostering, and providing invaluable advice, fundraising, and logistical support. Our collaboration has allowed us to rehome many of our rescued animals in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
During her visit, Mariam had the opportunity to meet the wonderful team behind Pawsome Pets, including founders Helen Werk, Kirsten Lathouwers, and dedicated volunteers like Meghan. Mariam shares:
“I met the amazing team at Pawsome Pets, including Helen, Kirsten, and the incredible volunteers like Alice, who has fostered many of our rescues until adoption. Alice runs a dog hotel where my rescues stayed before traveling. I also had the chance to meet Jesse, who was staying at Alice’s hotel. Abby and Milo, two of my rescues, also stayed with us, and Abby’s foster, Eline, took her for adoption the following week.”
Mariam’s visit also included the final leg of Poppy’s journey to her forever home in the UK. Mariam explains:
“On the second day of my visit, Poppy traveled from the Netherlands to the UK, where she was met by Meghan, who helped facilitate the adoption process. It’s thanks to dedicated partners like Meghan, Helen, and Kirsten that we can provide a second chance to so many dogs in need.”
How Pawsome Pets Foundation Supports Zero Strays Georgia
Pawsome Pets Foundation plays a vital role in Zero Strays Georgia’s adoption process, especially in Europe. Their support has enabled us to find forever homes for our rescued animals in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. This partnership also ensures that we can continue to provide foster care, medical support, and fundraising for our stray animals in Georgia.
Looking Ahead to 2024: More Rescue and Adoption Efforts
As we start 2024, we are excited to continue working alongside our international partners to save even more stray dogs and cats in Georgia. With their ongoing support, we can provide medical care, vaccinations, and sterilizations to prevent the stray overpopulation and ensure the safety and health of animals in need.
If you’re interested in adopting, fostering, or donating to help us continue this important work, please get in touch with us at zerostraysgeorgia@gmail.com.
After a few days of visiting some of the most fortunate former stray dogs in the Netherlands, we returned to our day-to-day work in Georgia. Sterilisations, two car accident victims and daily feeding rounds.
The videos are from foster mum Larisa’s house as well as from Mariam’s house and from the daily feeding routine in and around Zugdidi. All this work is done one a volunteer basis and 100% reliant on individual donations.
Visit to the Netherlands
11 – 17 December 2023
We are in the Netherlands this week – visting adopted paws, our partner organisation Pawesome pets and attending the annual world animal conference hosted by Party for the Animals.
While we’re preparing to share our Netherlands visit shortly, we’d like you to take a moment to appreciate Haru’s transformation from tiny, abandoned puppy in Georgia to lucky, sizeable lady in the Netherlands.
What we did in the past week on the streets of Georgia
4 – 10 December 2023
Seven female dogs were sterilised, three put into foster care and four dogs traveled to their forever homes in Poland, UK and the Netherlands.
Four dogs found their forever homes around the world last weekend. Mariam traveled with three of them to Netherlands – with Poppy continuing on to the UK (the image to the left) whilst Abby (bottom left) and Mila (bottom right) found their forever homes in the Netherlands.
Our lovely Ushba flew into Poland and her forever home with a loving family.
Sterilisations were under way in Zugdidi.
The three in worst condition were put into foster care, paid for by our team members.
