An inconspicuous house with a garden near Radzymin, and behind the gate… a dog and cat paradise! A temporary haven for pets at a turning point in their lives, abandoned, lost, orphaned. And a hospice for the old and sick that no one wants anymore. Meet Skrzat and wonderful people who help us save animals. 

Old, blind, deaf and… happy! Skrzat our 5000th Adopciak

The world collapsed when Skrzat was 12 years old. His master died and he, blind and deaf, ended up in a shelter in Opoczno, where he had to share a box with younger and stronger dogs. For such a dog, it was a death sentence: a spark was enough for a tragedy to happen. We couldn’t let that happen. 

“Temporary home needed urgently!” Our volunteer, Magda, who works at this shelter, immediately knew who to call. “Lady Helenka, will you help us?” “Sure I will! Bring him!”, lady Helenka did not hesitate for a moment. Later that same day, Skrzat was on his way to a dog’s haven near Radzymin. He joined a clique of unwanted outcasts who got a new life there. Today, 11 dogs and 24 cats live on the property of lady Helenka and Jurek. Sometimes there are more, sometimes less, some leave, new ones come in. How many animals have they rescued so far? Hundreds? Thousands? They don’t remember, they don’t count. They have been doing it for 20 years.

 “At the beginning, he barked all the time, day and night”, recalls lady Helenka. “Suddenly he was in an unknown place, he felt there were other dogs around, but he didn’t see them. He must have been terrified, poor thing. We put him in a kennel cage to make him feel safer. He took to it straight away, he still likes it today. He doesn’t bark any more, has calmed down and goes for walks in the garden on his own. He’s quite a lively grandpa.”

 “At the beginning, he barked all the time, day and night”, recalls lady Helenka. “Suddenly he was in an unknown place, he felt there were other dogs around, but he didn’t see them. He must have been terrified, poor thing. We put him in a kennel cage to make him feel safer. He took to it straight away, he still likes it today. He doesn’t bark any more, has calmed down and goes for walks in the garden on his own. He’s quite a lively grandpa.”

The canine bunch is used to new dogs appearing in the house every now and then, so fights rarely occur, although care must be taken when feeding. Bowls are given out one by one. Sumo, Berni, Bodzio, Sparky, Zuzia… Skrzat eats in his cage, for safety. Most of them are outcasts that nobody wants – old, sick, disabled. 

Sparky is the youngest, only 4 years old, but he was shot as a puppy and has