WHAT WE DO
Everything we do is made possible by YOU.
When we first came to the Republic of Georgia three years ago, we were stunned and saddened by the number of street dogs begging for food from tourists here in Batumi.
Why So Many?
More and more dogs are being abandoned by poor home owners who sell their houses to developers.
Some are abandoned or lost by tourists. Others escape from homes of cruelty and neglect where they spend years chained up in backyards.
Why in Such Poor Health?
Most street dogs and even family pets suffer from malnutrition, skin infections and poor health due to low immunity because they are typically only fed bread.
Also, street dogs are often victims of cruelty, like having firecrackers tied to their tails, or having paint or oil thrown on them.
Due to the abrupt end of government funding, many strays have been caught, sterilized, and tossed half-healed back on the street, which has led to infections and death. Ahead of the tourist season, street dogs are rounded up and abandoned in the garbage dump outside of town, or shot by bounty hunters.
What are we doing about it?
Rescue and Shelter
We rent a small house (with the goal of buying a property) and rescue dogs in need. We built some dog houses out front so that roaming street dogs could come onto the property and find food and shelter, especially during winter. The property’s front gate is always open to them.
Dog & Community Outreach
We regularly make trips around town and in the countryside to give street animals food and first aid. Most are bone-thin due to parasites, so even if the dogs find food to eat, their bodies aren't getting the proper nutrition. We give these dogs de-worming and flea medicine so they can gain weight and absorb nutrients.
Rehabilitation
These dogs have suffered, so many have behavioral issues like fear and aggression. Our goal is to help them become trusting companions again by giving them a safe and happy home and a sense of purpose. Some can be trained as therapy dogs or companion dogs. Some can be put up for adoption. Others are old and just need a loving home to live out their lives in peace and comfort.
Education
We started a private Republic of Georgia Dog Refuge Facebook group for locals to raise awareness and share tips on how to help strays, and how to better treat family pets. In this way, people can be a positive influence on family and friends’ treatment of animals. This will also hopefully have an impact on the overall culture of animal welfare here in the Republic of Georgia.
We have maneuvered during the tough times of the pandemic, and now are faced with war in the region which is causing food shortages.
What Do We Need Now?
Larger Shelter.
We need to expand our shelter facilities so that we can expand our rescue operations.
We need materials to build more doghouses, indoor pens and outdoor kennels.
Feeding Program.
We need food to feed the dogs at the shelter, those still on the streets, and for dog owners who cannot afford to buy dog food for their pets.
Medications.
We need first aid and essential medications for our rescued animals.
Veterinary Care and Surgery.
We need to be able to provide spaying and neutering services, as well as medicine and surgery for seriously ill or injured animals.
Staff.
We need staff to help care for our rescued animals.
Your support is vital to the rescue, care and rehoming of homeless dogs and refugees’ pets.
Please give as generously as you can.
DONATE NOWRepublic of Georgia Dog Refuge Foundation (aka Geo Dog Refuge) is fully certified in the Republic of Georgia and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. All donations are tax-deductible.
A FEW OF OUR DOGS
Meet Mitzi
Our second smallest dog, Mitzi, showed up one day outside the apartment building where we first stayed. She seemed like a lost or abandoned lap dog which sometimes happens to pets brought here by summer tourists. She became well-known for her outsized, piercing, repetitive yapping in the early morning hours as she ran around the traffic circle, chasing cars or running away from larger dogs. We rescued her when she approached us for help as we were out walking one morning. She had hurt one leg, and was limping and howling in pain, so we immediatley took her in, worried that being such a small dog, she might not survive.
Mitzi's leg has since healed, and she filled out to a healthier size. She has calmed down significantly and gets along well with the other dogs around her, even those who are four times her size.
Meet Queenie
We heard this poor dog wailing in the yard behind ours. We found her covered in motor oil, chained to a broken down doghouse, with no food, water or shade on a hot summer's day. Her owner had doused her with it in the false belief that it would get rid of mange (which is a common practice here). Her eyes were red and swollen and the oil smell was torturing her sensitive nose. We took her home and bathed her several times, then we haggled with the owner to buy her from him, as she was a valuable hunting and breeding dog to him. At first, she was withdrawn and fearful around other dogs, and only stayed by herself. She couldn't walk well because she had been chained up so long.
With love, companionship, food and all the water, she blossomed. She's 12 and her previous owner had still been breeding her every 6 months, so we got her fixed. Now she is outgoing and very devoted.