Welcome to Strays Of Albania
Protecting stray dogs through vaccination, sterilization, and rescue programs since 2024.
Our Activities
Vaccinations, rescues, temporary foster care, and awareness campaigns.
Quick Facts
Mission
The Tropojë region is one of Albania’s poorest and most underserved communities. Its needs are vast, but resources remain extremely limited. This project builds on our seven years of experience, beginning with our service as Peace Corps Volunteers from 2019 to 2020 and continuing through many follow-up visits since.
The local municipality lacks a budget to address the stray dog epidemic. There are no shelters, no departments, and no structured systems to manage the growing problem. Basic interventions, such as vaccinating or sterilizing dogs, are nonexistent. As a result, the community often resorts to inhumane measures, such as poisoning or shooting stray dogs, in an attempt to control the population.
Witnessing over 600 stray dogs at our service site was heartbreaking, but we also understood the importance of timing and cultural readiness. We needed to prioritize addressing human needs first in order to gain the trust and support of both the community and local officials.
Today, our mission is rooted in the belief that managing the stray dog epidemic is not only humane, it is a public health priority that benefits the entire community. Love and second chances in every paw. ❤
Dogs Available for Adoption
Click a dog to see details.
Donate
Your support helps a dog find warmth, safety, and a second chance. Every donation, big or small, brings food, shelter, and medical care to a dog in need. Together, we can turn abandoned stories into adopted ones. Donate today and be the reason a tail wags again.
Donate via PayPalVolunteer
“Give a little time, and you’ll change a whole life.”Volunteering is more than helping, it’s offering comfort, play, and hope to dogs waiting for a family. Join us and make that change happen.
Email:
straysofalbania2019@gmail.com
Success Stories
From Stray to Loved: Xhema’s Journey
Xhema was discovered by Belgian tourists in Valbona National Park, near a lake called Liqeni i Xhemes. Injured and abandoned, he was too frightened to be caught. The tourists shared his story in Bajram Curri, and thanks to the awareness Safe Paws has built, the community immediately reached out.
With the help of Eva, a local animal advocate, a rescue mission was launched. After a long drive and hike, Eva found Xhema with a wounded leg, weak, hungry, and exhausted. For the first time, he allowed someone to help.
Months of veterinary care, foster love, and Safe Paws support brought Xhema back to health. Then came the best news; the very tourists who had first spotted him wanted to adopt him. After preparing him for EU travel standards, a lengthy process of 4 months, Xhema finally joined his new family, who drove from Belgium to Frankfurt to welcome him.
From a lonely lake in the Albanian mountains to a warm home filled with love, Xhema's story is a beautiful reminder of what compassion and teamwork can achieve.
“Xhema may have started in Albania, but she was always meant to be part of our family.”
Adoption & Foster Care Initiative
Following the veterinary operations, Safe Paws organized a one-day adoption and foster care event in Tirana. This event provided a wonderful opportunity for treated dogs to find loving homes and connect with families who were ready to give them a second chance.
Four dogs were successfully adopted by national and international families, offering a hopeful step toward long-term, sustainable solutions for stray dogs in Tropoja and beyond. The event also strengthened the community’s trust in humane interventions and demonstrated the positive impact of compassion and teamwork.
