Our projects: what we did in 2025
The impact of our work in 20252025 was a year of intense activity and measurable results for the Save the Dogs Fondazione, both in Italy and in Romania. Despite challenging operating contexts, shortages of veterinary resources and a growing number of vulnerable situations, the Foundation’s work continued to deliver effective actions in terms of prevention, medical care, and protection for the animals most at risk.
Prevention and population control in Italy
Through the Too Many Puppies project, active in Campania and Calabria, a total of 4,585 sterilization procedures has been carried out since 2019.
In Campania alone, 2,967 animals have been sterilized to date, including 1,397 cats and 1,570 dogs.
Identification efforts also continued throughout 2025 with 116 micro-chips applied, thanks to door-to-door initiatives in Rogliano and two dedicated Microchip Days held during the course of the year.
Friends on the Streets, Companions for Life: supporting vulnerable individuals and their pets
Friends on the Streets, Companions for Life remains a vital support service for people in situations of social fragility and their companion animals living in Milan.
Since the launch of the project, 329 people have received assistance, including 200 supported in 2025 alone.
Over the year, the initiative ensured a constant presence in the area, carrying out 981 field visits. In addition, 14 veterinary clinic consultations were provided for cases requiring more complex medical assessments. Activities also included 68 sterilization procedures, 267 vaccinations and the application of 40 micro-chips — essential measures for safeguarding animal health and ensuring responsible, long-term care.
Beneficiaries include people experiencing homelessness, low-income households, residents in public housing, informal living situations and other forms of vulnerable social contexts, reinforcing the project’s role as an integrated model of animal and human welfare.
Results and operational impact in Romania
A total of 1,511 sterilizations were carried out in 2025 — 600 dogs and 911 cats — representing an 11.34% increase compared to the previous year. Clinical services also provided 238 emergency treatments and the overall treatment of 2,134 animals. In addition, 147 animals were rescued and welcomed into care and protection programs.
One of the most significant figures concerns the organization of the sterilization activities: in 2025, 58.37% of the procedures were performed by external veterinary teams, enabling the Foundation to maintain and expand its capacity for intervention.
Adoptions: a reversal of the downward trend
Following several years of decreasing figures, 2025 marked a significant reversal in the trend of dog adoptions. During the year, a total of 171 adoptions were completed, of which 135 were dogs — a 26.17% increase compared to 2024 — and 36 cats.
This result reflects the structured, ongoing work of the adoption team and the strengthening of our international partnerships, which significantly expanded family-placement opportunities for long-stay dogs. Sweden remains the primary partner country, followed by Switzerland, Italy and Germany, all contributing decisively to the improvement of overall adoption figures.
The increase in the number of dog adoptions represents an encouraging sign and a concrete indicator of the effectiveness of the strategies that have been implemented.
Cat adoptions, on the other hand, recorded a decrease compared to the previous year. The data however includes the adoption of some particularly complex cases and a large number of local adoptions in Romania — a particularly significant achievement given the ongoing structural challenges in the region.
