1. ANIMAL SHELTERS IN POLAND

2. Who takes care of homeless pets? Taking care of homeless pets is communes’ task. They provide accommodation for dogs in animal shelters. Their duties also involve looking after and feeding free living cats (communes don’t provide them accommodation in animal shelters). What’s more, communes must find a farm, where homeless farm animals will stay.

3. There were 177 animal shelters in 2013: 133 belonged to communes 42 belonged to entrepreneurs 22 belonged to non-governmental organizations The number of communes’ shelters gradually decreases and there are more and more animal shelters which belong to entrepreneurs and NGOs. Nowadays about 100,000 dogs stay in animal shelters. The number of cats is not known. The number of animal shelters

4. The biggest animal shelters’ problems  The number of homeless pets has been still increasing.  Dogs maintenance costs are higher and higher.

5. People want to help pets Animal shelters are funded by communes, private individuals and charities. Donating homeless pets becomes popular in Poland. More and more people decide to adopt pets instead of buying them. A lot of young people want to work as volunteers in animals shelters. Famous people on the TV shows talk about their pupils from animal shelters and encourage people to help pets. For these people who can’t have pets in their houses, there is an Internet adoption. They can just send money for their pupils to special organizations. TV show „Adopt me”

6. What about other pets? Animal shelters in Poland are mainly for dogs. What about other pets, like rabbits, guinea pigs, horses? In Poland exist 52 public benefit organizations which help pets. Some of them, like Rabbits Aid Association or Guinea pigs Aid Association, were created especially for specified animals’ groups. They are funded by private individuals. People donate these organizations, adopt pets or decide for the Internet adoption. The biggest organization in Poland is Pet Care Company This organization was established in 1864 as the second of this kind in the world. Rabbits Aid Association Guinea pigs Aid Association

7. After joining the European Union… The Polish homeless pets’ situation is gradually improving because people can get grants from European Union to open the animal shelter. A lot of animals shelters were renovated due to EU standards. A very good example of transformation after 2004 is the most popular in Poland animal shelter „Na Paluchu”. Conditions in Polish animal shelters are very different. Some of them are comfortable and spacious. Unfortunately many animal shelters are still overflown. In polish animal shelters dogs are in cages. The number of dogs in the cage and the cage size are different in different animal shelters.

8. „Na Paluchu” The most popular Polish animal shelter is located in Warsaw. It was established in 1953. Before renovating in 2005 animal shelter „Na Paluchu” wasn’t in a good condition. Cages were small and tight. New boxes are more spacious and comfortable. What is more modern medical equipment was purchased. In July 2005, the shelter as one of the first in Poland, introduced a system of electronic identification of its residents. In the animal shelter there are about 2,000 dogs and 100 cats. About 1,200 pets are still waiting for adoption.