Bringing international expertise to support people experiencing homelessness and their pets
In July 2026, Silvia Bortoli joined the Save the Dogs Foundation as the new Coordinator of our “Friends on the Street, Companions for Life” program, which is dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness together with their beloved companion animals.
A graduate in Social Psychology from the University of Padua, Silvia also holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and has acquired more than twelve years of international experience acquired in the United Kingdom. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with research institutions, public bodies and third-sector organizations, focusing on program management, community engagement and partnership building. Her most significant professional experiences include key roles at the University of Exeter, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Both her professional career and her personal life have been shaped by a commitment to human wellbeing and animal welfare, and she has also volunteered with people experiencing homelessness in London. Today, this unique combination of expertise and compassion finds its natural home in the “Friends on the Street, Companions for Life” project”.
Sylvia explains:
«I was drawn to this project because it brings together two causes that are very close to my heart: supporting people and protecting animals. Having worked in both fields and volunteered with people experiencing homelessness in London, I believe “Friends on the Street, Companions for Life” to be a truly unique initiative one that values the bond between people and their pets while offering practical support to those who need it most».
Silvia’s appointment further reinforces Save the Dogs Foundation‘s commitment to an approach that recognizes the powerful bond between vulnerable people and their companion animals. By protecting and strengthening that relationship, the Foundation helps create opportunities for inclusion, care and dignity.
