At Animals Need Me, we rescue between 450 to 530 animals annually, providing a safe haven for vulnerable dogs and cats in northern Albania. Many of these animals are injured, poisoned, or mistreated. With the support of Albtiefbau, we maintain a shelter that houses up to 70 dogs. Our daily collaboration with Putrat Vet Clinic and other local partners ensures that we can provide urgent medical care for animals in need. We also assist owners who cannot afford medical treatment for their pets, believing in the importance of keeping families together. Though our shelter requires constant maintenance and investment, we continue to thrive thanks to the support of generous donors like you.

Since 2012, we have been at the forefront of preventing overpopulation in our city by conducting 37 sterilization and vaccination campaigns. These campaigns target stray animals, but we also offer free spay/neuter services to owned pets. In collaboration with partners like Pro Qen Albania, Stray Coco, World Vets, Farvets, Butterfly Foundation, Honey’s Pack of Hope, and the
Municipality of Shkodra, we’ve successfully sterilized and vaccinated over 4,500 animals. As the first Albanian organization to join the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), we are proud of the progress we’ve made. We are always seeking donations to support our sterilization and vaccination efforts.

One of the biggest challenges we face is finding forever homes for the animals we rescue. In Albania, the culture often doesn’t prioritize companion animals, leading to only 29% of our domestic adoptions. Many families immigrate while leaving their pets behind. However, thanks to international partners such as Pro Qen Albania, we have coordinated adoptions across Europe,
the USA, and Canada. Although this process involves significant costs and logistical efforts, we remain committed to rehoming as many animals as possible. We are also working to create a more animal-friendly environment through education and fostering. With support from Dog Coaching Center, we offer free boarding and training for up to 30 dogs per year. Additionally, thanks to Honey’s Pack of Hope, we provide up to five free training sessions for adopters. Every year, we successfully rehome between 150 and 220 animals. If you’re interested in adopting or fostering a pet, visit our social media pages or contact us at: info@animalsneedme.com

As the first organization in Albania to launch a humane education program, Animals Need Me is committed to promoting responsible pet ownership and safe interactions with dogs. Our volunteers regularly visit schools, universities, and media outlets to raise awareness about animal welfare. Thanks to Honey’s Pack of Hope, we’ve held 70 workshops in 22 schools, engaging over 1,200 students. We’ve also partnered with Dogs Trust Bosnia and Herzegovina to adapt a comic book in Albanian that teaches children safe ways to interact with dogs. Additionally, we’ve created informative leaflets and posters aimed at teenagers and adults to prevent dog bites. In partnership with Pixie Solutions, we’ve developed a groundbreaking app to educate citizens on animal welfare, report abuse cases, and register pets.
Download the app here.
If you’d like to support our education programs, please visit our Donation Page.

Thanks to a valuable partnership, we’ve been able to hire legal support to tackle cases of animal abuse in Albania. In the past two years, we have filed 33 criminal complaints across nine prosecution offices. We also organized the first seminar on “Advancing Animal Rights in Albania,” which brought together 90 professionals, including legal experts, veterinarians, students, and international guests, to discuss animal protection in the country.

At Animals Need Me, we believe in creating lasting change by building sustainable systems and frameworks that benefit animals for the long term. Instead of reacting to problems, we focus on creating solutions that endure. We advocate for animal welfare at all levels by engaging with public institutions such as the National Veterinary Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice, the Albanian State Police, and more. Most recently, we have met with major political parties to advocate for humane management of stray animals as part of their platforms for the upcoming elections.