Project rebuilding a dog shelter in Sicily

In 2012, the public shelter in Sicily, Castelvetrano on
Sicily (IT), was closed. Since then Liliana Signorello - 1st
President of the Association "LAICA" (Lega Animalisti
Italiani Castelvatrano) – takes care of over 250 dogs on
her private 4 acre grounds on her own initiative.
Project
rebuilding a
dog shelter
in Sicily
Somewhere in a hideout,
bitches with their puppies
are repeatedly being found.
To save and protect them
from the dangers on the
streets, Liliana takes them
and takes care of them
lovingly. Some of the dogs
can then later be conveyed
to new homes.
Project
dog shelter
in Sicily
Castelvetrano is a community in the province of Trapani in Sicily region of Italy, with 31.734 residents. Here
once lived the Greeks, Romans and even Arabs. As beautiful resort known, "behind the walls" and away from
the tourist centers in Italy, live 1.5 million street dogs; most of them in Campania, Apulia and SICILY.
Although the mortality rate of homeless animals lies by about 80%, there are still e.g. in Apulia, more than
100,000 dogs. In Sicily it doesn´t look better.
Life on the streets is a "fight for survival" for the animals. For most people they are a plague and instead of
"castration programs" being carried out in order to reduce the population rate, they die by car accidents,
starvation, thirst, poisoning or by use of violence. In public animal shelters - "Canili" - the survival or adoption
opportunities unfortunately are equal to zero.
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When in 2012, the public shelter in Castelvetrano, directed by Liliana F. Signorello, was closed by the
community, due to renovation, there was no alternative accommodation for approximately 250 animals. So
Liliana bought with her own resources a completely wild overgrown 4 acre site. Only with the help of some
people, the part of the land could be freed from the undergrowth, the ground was leveled and the area
fenced, so that the catchment of the dogs was provisionally possible.
When I returned about five years ago, after 7-year stay in Sicily, to Switzerland, I promised Liliana to
continue to support her and her dogs. Together with her husband, Enzo and a temporary assistant, it´s very
difficult for Liliana to take care of everything and all of them quickly reach their boundaries. Almost every
day more and more sick or injured dogs are being brought to Liliana, which she has to take to the vet.
So it´s not only the lack of financial resources, but it also costs enormous time. While Enzo pursues his daily
job, Liliana takes care of the dogs throughout the whole day. Often Liliana is being called by fellow animal
lovers to emergencies or she´s been brought more dogs, which have to be taken care of.
Without the support of
third parties, it´s ver y
difficult for Liliana (third
picture) and her small team
to cope with everything
alone. Therefore, I collect
cash and in kind donations
and visit them every year to
help on the scene.
Project
dog shelter
in Sicily
p.3
Some dogs dig holes in the
ground to protect themselves from heat or cold or
rain.
Most of them are sick and
weak and don´t survive the
extreme climate conditions.
Project
dog shelter
in Sicily
Donations are desperately needed here!! These include not only food donations, but also blankets,
medicines, toys or building materials: Everything that´s needed to allow the animals a good life and to
support Liliana financially, so that she can continue the expansion of the dog shelter.
On the open grounds there are hardly retreat possibilities for the dogs, to protect themselves from the sun
in summer or the cold in winter, no matter what weather conditions. The construction of a house with all the
features is financially simply not viable and so we have as a solution: isolated containers. Because of its
nature, the outer climate conditions can regulate the interior optimally.
In three years, it was possible to buy three of these containers with donations made; One for each year, in
which there´s space for about 20 dogs per container. With approximately 250 dogs and 50 of them living in
Liliana´s house, because they need special care, and more dogs are being found almost every day which also
need help. We need at least 10 of these containers. However, such a container, although discarded and no
longer useful for the actual use, still cost about 1,000 Euro. Even though I could collect sufficient money
and when something was left, food and bills were paid with the remaining money for the medical care of
the dogs - and also castrations - were paid. But in the end there is nothing left of the donations, since it´s
missing in all corners and ends. Thus, further work is urgently needed to be done, to ensure the total area to
be used properly for the dogs - bushes are required to be removed and the floor there has to be levelled, to
finally put up fences there too.
p.4
I believe so wholeheartedly in this project, am committed, because due to the time I experienced in Sicily
itself, I saw the appreciation given to street dogs. The Dogs are being exposed when they´re no longer
needed and left to themselves. When they´re not in one of the many overcrowded Canili, where they
spend a miserable life under the worst circumstances till their death, they die from starvation, disease,
injury or abuse. The people who work for these animals receive little support from their fellow men and
must on a daily basis fight against windmills and often get themselves to their limits: Physically, emotionally
and financially. These burdens can´t be expressed with words.
I strongly believe that we can expand the dog shelter. With the time, humans and dogs are able to feel
comfortable there and in future, this place can provide the necessary protection. Since the public shelter is
still closed, unfortunately there is no alternative for Liliana and the dogs: There only is this area!
Project
dog shelter
in Sicily
The aim of realizing this project in its entirety, using only a few people, still lies far away; Therefore it´s so
important to me, to attend the “In Hero Award” as a possible winner, to buy more containers with the prize
money and building materials. As well as dogs that need medical care, to allow this.
(Giovanna Leggio / Kontakt: notfall-hunde-sizilien@gmx.ch)
Spendenkonto:
PayPal: notfall-hunde-sizilien@gmx.ch
Notfallhunde Sizilien / Giovanna Leggio
IBAN/Konto-Nr.: CH27 8074 0000 0076 0490 8
BIC: 80 740
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