Vitadacani - Associazione a tutela dei diritti animali

description of organisation

Vitadacani Onlus is a voluntary non-profit association that works in defense of animal rights. It was founded in Arese, in the north-west province of Milan, in 1992 and opened its first shelter for dogs in 2005. The main user of the Association is the entire population, for which it carries out an important activity of support, assistance and advice for all problems related to the relationship between man-animal-environment and to which it provides useful tools to inform, share and spread the culture of animal and environmentalist. Vitadacani, in fact, considers the formation of a different mentality a priority, through a series of targeted interventions, in order to redesign the relationship of man with the animal and the environment. For example, the Onlus carries out, at regional, national and international level, awareness raising activities, organizing conferences and meetings, supporting campaigns against all forms of animal abuse, promoting legislative instruments in favor of animals and developing innovative projects. In doing so, it also avails itself of its own solid network of volunteers. Some of these initiatives aim to raise funds, others to train and educate and others to be help and support to those in need. Some examples:
-Corporate team building
-Pension for dogs
-Behavioral Consultants
-Catering and corner food for parties and events
- Monthly dinners vegan cooking classes
-Training Stages
-SOS door mistreatment
- Workshops for adults and children on issues of environmental sustainability and respect for animals
-Conferences and round tables
- Exhibitions, theatre performances, film screenings, concerts and art installations.

The core activity of Vitadacani, however, is certainly the management of 4 shelters: in particular, it deals with the direct management and care of 500 animals taken from exploitation and abandonment, including about 250 dogs, and as many animals saved by the meat industry. Since 2012, in fact, it has an agreement with the City of Milan for the recovery of animals so called "income" found in the municipality. It is the first convention of its kind at national level and an example of the innovative capacity of the association. In 2000 the Small Cooperative Society was founded, born as a rib within the non-profit organization, which collaborates with Vitadacani in the management of structures and projects. Since then it has been a stable and continuous partner of Vitadacani Onlus. The two organizations share goals, spaces and mission, operate harmoniously, developing a synergistic network that provides coordination, solidity and strength to the social enterprise.
Vitadacani is also a founder and member of the Network of Sanctuaries of Free Animals, the network that brings together and coordinates anti-species sanctuaries in Italy. The Network of Sanctuaries was founded to join forces and achieve important common goals, such as achieving recognition of the Sanctuary as a place where free and safe animals live, outside of any logic of exploitation, and obtain for animals the "refugee status", outside of the circuit of human exploitation.
Finally, Vitadacani is currently the reference point for animal welfare issues in the area for the Municipality of Novate (MI).
To sum up, the most important projects that the Association carries out are these:
● The Porcikomodi project, part of the Network of Sanctuaries of Free Animals, which attempts to save animals from slaughter and the meat industry and carries out activities to raise awareness on the subject;
● The Le Bambine project, which hosts a group of macaques stolen from animal testing laboratories;
● The DL4 project aimed at the care and rehabilitation of beagle dogs, rodents and rabbits from laboratories;
● The Cerbero project, whose objective is to welcome, rehabilitate and, if necessary, reallocate potentially dangerous dogs. The Association currently hosts and maintains about thirty dogs with behavioural problems and aggression, entrusted by the judiciary or saved from euthanasia and carries out a path of rehabilitation and training.
● The project La Valle dei Goblin, aimed at providing advice and support in the management of disabled animals. The aim of the project is to train individuals as well as other interested structures in the management of disabled animals in order to prevent their abandonment.
● From 2013 it organizes MiVeg, the vegan anti-specialist festival in Milan: two days of events, workshops and meetings that every year involves thousands of people.
● Vecan Project, through which the Association produces dog food of vegetable origin and not tested on animals.

Since 2015, the Onlus has also become a Civil Service body, hosting 6 volunteers every year.