“The goal of our project is “In Dushet and Zhinvali township, the promotion of raising the self-awareness of citizens on animal rights and the placement of shelters for street dogs” Tamar Maisuradze, Chairman of “Dzdek Mtskheta-Mtianeti Committee”.

The project “Together to protect street animals” is the winner of the civil initiatives grant competition, which is implemented by the “Mtskheta-Mtianeti Committee of the National Network for Protection from Violence”. The issue of homeless animals has been a severe problem in Dusheti Municipality and the entire country of Georgia for many years. Thus, it is essential to raise public awareness about our responsibilities towards these animals.

The project’s primary objective is to work with the population, local authorities, and civic clubs to promote sterilization-castration of animals, veterinary services, feeding, and shelter arrangements. The project aims to create sheltered houses for animals, especially during winter, which will be managed and monitored by the representatives of Dusheti and Daba Zhinvali.

The project will also involve school civic clubs to create groups to protect homeless animals’ rights. Information training will be held with Dusheti Municipality City Hall, City Council, civil society, media representatives, and young people. The ms.gov.ge platform will be used to raise public awareness of homeless animals among schools, local government representatives, and active groups. This project is innovative and pilot, and no similar project has been implemented in the municipality. By implementing this project, we hope to bring about positive change for animals in Dusheti Municipality.

The project is implemented by the Consortium led by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and composed of the following CSOs: Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), and Institute for European Politics (IEP).