If you are a frequent visitor to France or live here, you will already know that dogs are often more welcome in restaurants than babies. France is a nation of pet lovers. According to the latest statistics from 2022, there are over 16 million cats and almost 10 million dogs in French households.
This month, we put the spotlight on Assistance aux Animaux (Help for Animals). The very first charity created in France to come to the aid of mistreated and abandoned animals.
Background
The charity was founded in 1930 by Mrs Mesubeur to rescue defenceless animals and promote respect for animal life. The association became the Assistance aux Animaux charity in 1989. The same year, it got the recognition of public utility from the French government.
The ‘Assistance aux Animaux’ charity receives donations from over 73,000 people. It doesn’t get any financial assistance from the French State.
Actions
In France, the Help for Animals Foundation undertakes to protect animals in its shelters, but it also offers a full-scale humanitarian service. By coming to the aid of abandoned animals and their owners when they have to receive emergency medical treatment or enter a retirement home.
Finally, one of the charity’s main focus is educating young people by distributing school programmes and arranging visits to its animal farms.
Today the Assistance aux Animaux Foundation has over 100 employees and 400 volunteers spread across the whole of France.
The Carros Animal Shelter
If you want to visit a local Help for Animals shelter, head to Carros, situated only a 35 minutes drive from Nice. Built in the 1980s, it now has the capacity to welcome 100 dogs and 100 cats.
Everything is done to make sure cats adapt to their new environment: with the provision of comfy baskets, toys and climbing trees. The staff work daily to improve the cats’ social skills. So that they can find a new forever family and home.
Dogs are housed in spacious kennels, with a heated indoor section and a place to run. In summer, mats keep the dogs cool by reducing the heat of the sun. Volunteers make sure they have regular walks. And the dogs get to run freely every day. They can even try their hand at the agility course, to provide exercise as well as a dog training opportunity.
Above all, the shelter tries to make the animals forget a sometimes painful past. Thanks to a devoted team who heal their wounds and look after them tirelessly.
The foundation doesn’t practice euthanasia. When you come to our shelters and adopt one of our animals, you will do two good deeds: give them a chance at happiness and provide a spot in the shelter for another pet in need.
For more information about adopting a pet or to make a donation, please visit: https://www.fondationassistanceauxanimaux.org/refuge-animaux-carros/
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