How It All Began
The issue of stray animals is a global one, and sadly, Montenegro is no exception. Despite its breathtaking beauty, the country faces a serious problem: countless stray dogs and cats wander the streets, affecting not only the local population but also visitors.
Most of these animals were once someone’s pets. In many Montenegrin households, pets are not seen as lifelong companions. They are often taken in when they are small and cute, only to be abandoned when they grow up, fall sick, or become “inconvenient.” Even purebred animals are frequently discarded. A large part of the problem is the lack of knowledge about proper pet care, training, and health. As a result, Montenegro’s streets are home to many sick, injured, and suffering animals — left to face a lonely and hungry death.
Another major cause is the absence of a sterilization culture. Many people still believe that spaying and neutering are “against nature” or morally wrong. Kittens and puppies are often thrown out of cars, left on roadsides, in dumpsters, or in bushes. There is no national sterilization program, no mandatory microchipping, no taxes on unneutered pets, and no public campaigns encouraging responsible pet ownership. Even though Montenegro hopes to join the EU, the government pays little attention to this issue. There are no laws to punish cruelty or neglect, and complaints about poisonings or abuse are usually ignored.
As a result, hundreds of animals — even purebreds — are forced to survive on the streets, often scavenging for food near garbage bins. In some cities, municipal shelters exist, but they are limited. In places like Bar, where no shelters are available, dogs and cats are simply poisoned. Repeated reports to the police have led nowhere.
Changing the situation without community and government support is nearly impossible. But together, step by step, we can create a world where these faithful, abandoned souls have hope again.
In 2014, a volunteer from Moscow, Zhanna Kaganovskaya, decided to take action. She opened a private no-kill shelter for stray animals and named it Faithful Heart. Since then, the shelter has saved dozens of lives and helped many animals find new, loving homes.
Why the Shelter Was Created
Stray animals in Montenegro have almost no chance of survival. Poisonings, hunger, illness, and abuse are everyday realities — even for purebred dogs thrown out by former owners.
The few municipal shelters that do exist (only three in the entire country) often function more like small prisons. Animals are euthanized after 30 days if no one adopts them. Until then, they may receive no food, sleep on concrete floors, suffer from parasites, and face high risks of disease. Puppies rarely survive due to infections and viruses.
Local volunteers try their best, but there are far more animals in need than there are people willing to help. Before opening the shelter, Zhanna spent almost a year feeding strays around the city, leaving food at dumpsters, rescuing sick animals, and rehoming puppies and kittens. But there was always one big question — where could they be treated and cared for until they found a family?
The Shelter’s Mission
That’s why Zhanna decided to open Faithful Heart, a no-kill shelter where stray animals receive proper care, treatment, sterilization, and, most importantly, a second chance.
The goals of the shelter are:
- Catching and sterilizing stray animals
- Providing safe shelter while searching for new homes
- Supporting new pet owners with lifelong advice and guidance
- Treating animals to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases
- Reuniting lost animals with former owners
- Promoting adoptions through awareness campaigns
- Educating the local population, especially youth, on animal welfare
- Encouraging government involvement — including laws for mandatory microchipping, creating a national database, and taxing unsterilized pets
- Raising public awareness through social campaigns and partnerships with NGOs and volunteers
We believe this project can change how people treat animals — and with your support, it can continue to grow. Together, we can make the world kinder for all living beings.
If you’re looking for a loyal companion for yourself or your child — reach out! We’ll help you find your perfect match.
If you’d like to help as a volunteer, sponsor, or in any other way, contact us. We’ll find a time to meet and tell you more about the project — we’re always happy to welcome new hearts to Faithful Heart.