Tambov
In March 2011, a group of Tambov volunteers teamed up with the goal of helping homeless animals of their hometown. It all started with a story of a dog named Lada. A poor thing was found paralyzed in the forest. Upon rescue, the volunteers began her treatment, and then decided to create a group to collect money for Lada’s recovery. Gradually, other animals needing help started coming in and the number of volunteers willing to help has increased. In August 2013, volunteers registered the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization – Center for Assistance to Homeless Animals “Kind Heart”. They dreamed about creating a shelter and put a lot of effort to open it. As a result, the dream came true in June 2015 and the shelter was built with the money raised through activities of “Environmental Quality Regulation” programme, a part of the state-run programme “Environmental Protection, Reproduction and Use of Natural Resources of the Tambov Region” for 2013-2020. Since the creation of the original group, and later the “Kind Heart” foundation, about 2,200 animals were re-homed with the majority of them sterilized. Currently, about 100 cats and dogs are living in the shelter.
The organization of the work of the ANO allows you to conduct activities directly within the shelter. Throughout the year, city residents of Tambov are welcome to visit the shelter with their children in order to play with animals and take them out for a walk. Another good practice that has been implemented are the “kindness lessons” now taking place at schools, children’s libraries and other organizations. The lessons are conducted by specialists: veterinarians, law enforcement officers, and cynologists using video materials, presentations, as well as methodological aids provided by “FORGOTTEN ANIMALS” foundation. “Kind Heart” remains extremely active and participates in many local events for example, “Tambov – City of Good”. The volunteers are often invited to the leading TV and radio channels of Tambov and the region as well as the round table discussions dedicated to various environmental stray animals issues.
The foundation’s goal is not only helping animals in the shelter, but also presenting their social projects in various competitions. Twice, they became nominees for the national award “Civil Initiative” considering it a their small victory! Twice a year, a pet fair “For friendship, the breed is not important” dedicated to mongrel dogs, is taken place in collaboration with the Tambov Public Organization “Zarya”. The exhibit is attracting not only residents of Tambov but also participants from the neighboring regions. Together with LLC “Green Point”, a campaign for collecting recyclables for charitable purposes has been created and is being conducted. With the assistance of the “FORGOTTEN ANIMALS” foundation, a programme of subsidised sterilization was carried out in the city, which included a great deal of explanatory work allowing sterilization of a larger number of animals living in the closed territories of various organizations.