Vitadacani ODV (Porcikomodi)

Vitadacani is a non-profit volunteer association (organizzazione di volontariato, ODV) that works for the rights of all animals. Together with its partner, the Piccola Società Cooperativa Vitadacani, it runs two dog shelters and a farm animal sanctuary in the province of Milan. Between them they look after around 600 animals taken in after abandonment, exploitation or cruelty.

Its first shelter, the Parcocanile di Arese, opened in 2005. It was designed to move away from the traditional kennel, with enclosures built to help dogs interact with one another and with people, and it can house up to 150 dogs. Services for owned pets help fund the shelter. The second dog park opened in 2006 in Magnago, on a 40,000 m² site it shares with the sanctuary. About 250 dogs are waiting for homes across the two shelters. Some come from the municipalities Vitadacani has agreements with, but most were taken in because they were in serious difficulty or danger because of aggression, disability or old age.

Porcikomodi, the association's farm animal project, began in 2000. It takes in animals usually raised for food, such as pigs, wild boar, sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, ponies and pigeons, and keeps them for the rest of their lives. It does not buy animals from people who trade in them. The sanctuary also works with schools, local care services and volunteers, and hosts European Solidarity Corps volunteers. Vitadacani also runs a smaller refuge, La Boschina, and an SOS Maltrattamenti service for reporting animal cruelty. It also campaigns on national issues such as Italy's hunting laws.

Visiting and adopting: Arese is open every day from 3.30pm to 7pm. Magnago is open for adoptions on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 6pm, and on weekdays by appointment. Adoption starts with an appointment (appuntamenti@vitadacani.org) and a series of visits to get to know the dog. Requests from people who can't attend those visits aren't accepted. You can visit Porcikomodi on Sunday afternoons by booking through porcikomodi@vitadacani.org. Check the website for holiday changes.

How to help: donate by bank transfer or PayPal through Vitadacani's own website, sponsor an animal from a distance, become a member or volunteer. Taxpayers in Italy can give their 5x1000 to codice fiscale 10734290157, and donations qualify for the tax relief available for gifts to non-profits.