Dear Animal Friend,
Change isn’t predictable, and we can’t always know whether our actions will create the shift we hope for. But even in difficult times, one truth remains: meaningful progress begins when someone chooses to act.
In our March newsletter, discover how powerful your support truly is – and how it can continue to shape better futures for animals everywhere, from rescues in Argentina to stray animal care in Bulgaria.
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Gordo, Florencia, and Flora have finally arrived home!
After months of preparation, logistical challenges, and crate training in Argentina, bears Gordo and Florencia and tigress Flora have finally begun their new lives. Each animal safely boarded specially designed transport crates and travelled to their forever homes: BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa in Bulgaria and FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands. |
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| From a cramped 2x2 metre cage in a former zoo to a spacious enclosure at FELIDA, Flora is finally receiving the lifelong care, expert rehabilitation, and medical help she needs. After years spent in solitude and months of excruciating pain, she now has room to move, recover, and rediscover her natural behaviours.
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For years, Florencia lived alone in a tiny concrete enclosure with no access to the outdoors and no greenery around. Now, for the first time in her life, she can experience the feeling of snow, the softness of grass, and the richness of her natural environment. |
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Kept in a small 4x4 metre space with barely enough room to turn around, Gordo was deprived of stimulation and proper movement for years. In his new home, he can finally reclaim his playful nature, explore freely, and naturally regain muscle while gradually reaching a healthier weight |
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We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported these rescues and helped ensure that Gordo, Florencia, and Flora can now enjoy dignified lives in species-appropriate environments. |
Ever worked in a circus? Share your experience anonymously.
The circus industry prides itself on loyalty and protecting its own – but that culture of silence often hides horrendous abuse towards animals.
We are seeking first-hand accounts from current and former circus workers about training methods, daily routines, and living conditions, especially where fear or punishment is used to control animals.
Speaking out takes courage, but your story can help transform the industry and promote more humane, ethical standards. If this resonates with you, we invite you to share your experience safely and confidentially.
Reach us at: animalsabusedinentertainment@four-paws.org |
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Dog Smiley – from patient to therapy dog
Ten years ago, our Bankya clinic in Bulgaria rescued a badly injured puppy named Smiley. He bravely endured two surgeries and lots of therapy – but that was only the beginning of his story.
Ani, FOUR PAWS expert in assistance dog training, saw the puppy’s potential and welcomed him as the first-ever canine recruit of the Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) team. That’s how Smiley’s journey as a therapy dog began! Since then, Ani and Smiley have been bringing excitement and valuable lessons to elderly homes, children's hospitals, and schools. Their latest visit to Hristo Botev Secondary School helped students learn how to care for dogs – a key aspect of responsible pet ownership that prevents pet abandonment.
Smiley’s remarkable journey underlines how transformative stray animal support is for the fate of animals and their communities. |
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| Photo of the Month: Bear Florencia in her adaptation enclosure at BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa. |
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Warm Regards,
Natalie Hood
International Fundraising Team |
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Follow our animal welfare journey on social media
In our newsletter, we send you only the most pressing matters. However, due to our involvement in animal welfare issues all over the globe, there are countless more stories to be told. If you want to see, read and hear more from our daily work and all the wonderful animals we get to work with and see footage from our sanctuaries, rescues and projects, follow us on our social media channels. |
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