Amici di strada, compagni di vita
Fondazione Prossimo Mio supports Save the Dogs and other Animals ETS, a foundation active since 2002 for the tutelage of animal well-being and the promotion of people and animals living together harmoniously. Operative in Italy and Romania, Save the Dogs realizes interventions for veterinary assistance, education, and general support for the most fragile people and animals, as well as for the prevention of stray dogs.
In Milan, Save the Dogs promotes the project “Amici di strada, compagni di vita,” an initiative dedicated to homeless people or those in situations of serious social marginality who live together with their pets, prevalently dogs. In contexts of harsh vulnerability, the ties between people and animals often represent an essential source of affective support and protection, capable of contrasting social isolation and situations of extreme risk. The project is born of the awareness that the presence of an animal may become an obstacle to accessing essential services. Many people renounce dormitories, soup kitchens, showers, or health care for the fear of having to be separated from their dogs. “Amici di strada, compagni di vita” intervenes precisely on this Gordian’s Knot, recognizing the centrality of the person-animal relationship and removing the barriers that block its tutelage.
The initiative comes to life through an integration of actions. An operative street unit, recognized by the City of Milan and inserted into the network of operative mobile units, acts regularly in various parts of the city to offer immediate support, to build relationships of trust, and to identify new needs. The interventions consist of on-the-spot basic veterinary care, the administration of vaccines and anti-parasite medicine, in addition to the distribution of such necessities as food, leashes, harnesses, and muzzles.
One central aspect of the project is the installation of temporary, secure, and protected pens situated near the facilities needed and local services. These spaces allow people to temporarily entrust their animals in secure conditions for the time they need in order to eat, shower, or have a medical appointment. The use of the pens is accompanied by a step-by-step approach and by training for the operatives of the participating structures, favoring a respectful and non-traumatic approach.
“Amici di strada, compagni di vita” is based on an integrated vision of human and animal well-being in line with the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnection between the health of people, animals, and the community. By supporting this project, Fondazione Prossimo Mio contributes to promoting a more inclusive model of welfare, capable of responding to the complex needs of the most fragile people, while protecting the dignity, health, and value of the tie that unites every person to their own animal.