In honor of International Day abandoned animals, which is celebrated every third Saturday in August, the company Lidl donated a ton of food and snacks for cats to Animal Rescue Serbia (ARS). In addition, with the aim of raising awareness about adoption, together with ARS, she organized socializing of public figures with cats in the shelter through the "I'll give you a paw" campaign.
During the visit to the center, in addition to socializing, feeding and petting the cats, the participants and representatives of Lidl had the opportunity to make feeders and waterers for abandoned animals with the help of more experienced volunteers, but also to learn from them what challenges both abandoned animals and those who help them face on a daily basis.
Photo: Marko Rupena"I'm giving you a paw"
800.000 abandoned animals
There is no single register in Serbia, so the exact number of strays is not known, but it is estimated that more than 800.000 abandoned animals live on the streets of our country, of which more than half a million are cats.
"We believe that responsibility towards the community includes those who cannot ask us for help, but they also deserve it. This campaign is our way to support our four-legged friends, but also those who give them a second chance every day," said Aleksandra Mirić in front of Lidl Serbia's CSR department.
As a center for the temporary care of numerous animals near Belgrade, the non-profit organization ARS has been gathering volunteers for the past nine years with an important mission - providing assistance to animals in distress and caring for them until they recover or are permanently adopted. With the desire to provide them with a warm shelter for a longer period, the volunteers of this association strive to, year after year, educate as many citizens as possible about the importance of adopting animals, as well as the proper treatment of them, through various campaigns, projects and collaborations.
Photo: Marko Rupena"I'm giving you a paw"
ARS: Caring for abandoned animals is the responsibility of the whole community
From the beginning of its work until today, the ARS organization has supported more than 5.000 animals, while today there are about 150 of them in the shelter who are recovering and waiting for a new home - they currently have 91 cats, 60 birds and 2 rabbits. The said visit made their day more beautiful, as the kitties explored new scents, cuddled with the participants and enjoyed the abundance of attention they deserved.
"Adopting and caring for abandoned animals is the responsibility of the entire community. Whether it is adoption, volunteering or some other form of support, every action contributes to creating better conditions for the lives of these animals. Such events provide the opportunity to achieve a visible and significant impact together," said Sanja Radosavljević on behalf of the Animal Rescue Serbia organization.
The principles of social responsibility, by which Lidl is guided in every segment of its business, for the company also mean taking care of those who are at risk, but they cannot ask us for help with words. Believing that every abandoned paw can be a favorite pet and the most loyal friend tomorrow, Lidl will continue to support those who fight for their better tomorrow in the coming years.
