🐾❤️Reality Check: What Animal Welfare Abroad Really Looks Like!

When you start a project like this, you usually have a clear picture in mind. You tell the story, people become aware, companies step in, and together something meaningful begins to grow.

And then… reality hits.

Over the past weeks, I’ve been in contact with various organizations, companies, and individuals - each with their own perspective. One response in particular stood out. It came from someone with many years of hands-on experience in animal welfare on the ground. Not theory. Not assumptions. Reality.

What I received wasn’t a motivational message.

It was something far more valuable: honesty.

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“Most people just want to enjoy their vacation”

One of the most striking points was this:

People go on vacation to switch off. Sun, relaxation, good food. Everything else tends to fade into the background. Even when animals are suffering nearby. This isn’t necessarily cruelty. It’s indifference. And indifference is one of the hardest things to overcome.

Because if a project depends on people suddenly changing their behavior while on holiday, it’s built on fragile ground.

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“This has all been tried before”

Collaborations with hotels. Partnerships with travel companies. Awareness campaigns on-site. None of this is new. And yet, real breakthrough success remains rare. This doesn’t mean these approaches are wrong. But it shows that on their own, they are not enough.

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The real issue: trust

Perhaps the most important insight came almost quietly - but it changes everything: There are many initiatives collecting donations. But not all of them clearly show what happens to the money. And that creates doubt.

For people who genuinely want to help, questions arise:

• Where does my donation actually go?
• Is it used effectively?
• Can I trust this?

When trust is missing, even the best intentions don’t turn into action.

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Good intentions aren’t enough

Another moment made this very clear. A company kindly offered to donate dog toys. At first glance, that sounds generous. But then you stop and think:

What does a street dog actually need?

Not toys.

Street dogs need food.

Medical care.

Safety.

This highlights a deeper issue:

Sometimes help is offered without fully understanding the reality on the ground.

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What I’ve learned so far

None of these insights discouraged me. They clarified things. Because they show what truly matters:

• Not just raising awareness
• Not just starting well-meaning initiatives
• But building systems that actually work

And above all: building trust

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A different approach

Maybe the solution isn’t to change people. Maybe it’s to make helping so simple, clear, and transparent that people choose to do it anyway. Without overthinking. Without uncertainty. Just a small, direct way to contribute - where the impact is visible and real.

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So where does this leave me?

At the beginning.

I’ve reached out.

I’ve asked questions.

I’ve received answers - some encouraging, some difficult.

And that’s part of the process.

You don’t need big names to create change.

You need a model that works.

That’s what I’m focusing on now.

Step by step. Maybe smaller than originally planned - but more grounded, more real.

And I’ll continue to share this journey honestly.

Because change doesn’t start with a perfect idea.

It starts with the willingness to face reality - and keep going anyway.