Moers. The animal welfare organization Veto starts its annual “Food for the Forgotten”. The aim is to protect street animals in popular holiday regions of southern Europe from the consequences of hunger, heat and illness. Especially in the main season, animal shelters are overcrowded, the feeding stores are empty and the willingness to donate at a low point.
A summer full of dangers
The hot months are particularly dangerous for homeless dogs and cats: parasites, infectious diseases and the lack of food and water demand countless victims every year. In countries such as Greece, Italy, Cyprus or Bulgaria, animal welfare associations fight the same problems every year: heat, hunger, illness – and lack of support. They have to improvise, help under the most difficult conditions – and suffer from a massive decline in donations.
Veto on site: help and education at the same time
As part of the campaign, a Veto team traveled to Greece in June to get an idea of the situation. The impressions of regions such as Chalkidiki, Avdira and Xanthi are shocking: Many street animals disappear shortly before the holiday season – they are poisoned or brought to remote areas and leave themselves there. At the same time, local animal welfare associations fight for the survival of the animals at temperatures of up to 40 degrees.
What the campaign should do
“Food for the forgotten” provides animal welfare associations with urgently needed food, financial help for medical care and castration, as well as building materials for shadow spaces and the water supply. Castration projects and educational work are also supported. Veto provides transparent help without detours: all donations are used in a targeted manner, coordinated with experienced partner associations – and documented so that all help remains understandable.
“In summer, the donations drop to a record low – help is vital now. With our community, we want to change that and show how much strength is in action together,” says André Meyer, project manager for donation campaigns at Veto.
Successes from previous years
Since the start of the campaign in 2020, Veto, together with almost 80,000 supporters, has provided over 1.3 million kilograms of food and enabled important medical help and castration actions in several countries in southern Europe. Last year alone, the campaign reached several million people via social media – and secured the supply of over 14 animal welfare associations in southern Europe.
“Since 2020, our” Food for the Forgotten “campaign has shown how much can be done when many people act together. This year we also count on solidarity – for thousands of animals in great need,” continued Meyer.