More information
Description
We are working in the sphere of protection and betterment of the animal conditions and rights in Bielsko-Biała, both directly by helping the animals, as well as through legal and educational activities, working towards a systemic change. Our partner, the “World is in Our Hands” Foundation that we work with in Bielsko-Biała is an expert on working with the local government and creating systemic solutions for the animal protection issues. Foundation’s experience and knowledge are necessary for implementing this project. We will create the first local policy for stray animal care in Poland (according to our knowledge). It will be based on an expert analysis and public consultations. We will design a template for an animal care program, and we will convene a Civic Council for Animal Care in Bielsko-Biała. We will train representatives of the police, municipal police, prosecutor’s office, courts, probation officers, Municipal Animal Shelter, and the City Hall in the law pertaining to animal rights, their current situation in the city, and tools that are helpful in preventing animal cruelty. We will design and publish guidebooks entitled “Taking an Animal into Custody” and “City’s Feral Cats and the Civic Caretakers Rights.” We will organize open days at the Municipal Animal Shelter and informational and educational meetings to activate and encourage individuals interested in volunteering. Through our work in Bielsko-Biała we hope to develop tools that will be helpful to other organizations and municipalities in Poland, making our project an important part of improving animal conditions across Poland.
Summary of project results
We operate in the field of animal protection and welfare improvement in Bielsko-Biała, directly assisting animals, conducting legal and educational activities, and advocating for systemic changes. The "Świat w Naszych Rękach" Foundation, which has been our partner and with which we work in Bielsko-Biała for the care of animals, is an expert in working with local authorities and developing systemic solutions in the field of animal protection. Their experience and knowledge were indispensable for the implementation of this project.To the best of our knowledge, we have created the first local policy for the care of homeless animals based on expert diagnosis and social consultations in Poland. We have developed an animal care program and established the foundations for the Social Animal Care Council in Bielsko-Biała, which we hope will be established soon. We provided training for representatives of the police, municipal guards, prosecutors, courts, court guardians, the municipal shelter, and the local government on animal protection laws, the situation of animals in the city, and tools to prevent their harm. We have also prepared and published expert opinions on the intervention in rescuing animals and the situation of feral cats in the city. We organized open days at the municipal shelter, as well as informational and educational meetings that engage and encourage the local community to get involved in animal care and involve willing individuals in volunteering. By working in Bielsko-Biała, we have developed tools that can be utilized by other groups, organizations, or municipalities in Poland, so we hope that our project will be an important voice in improving the situation of animals nationwide.According to the evaluation surveys, our training sessions have had a very positive impact on local animal protection efforts. Furthermore, after the open days at the shelters, there are more people interested in volunteering there.
.
.