While we vegans all wish there wasn’t a need for animal sanctuaries, we are truly grateful for the compassionate work being done by so many people around the world to help animals in need. The animal sanctuaries, rescue centers, and shelters shown on this page are sorted based on reviews from your fellow vegans worldwide, and many are well worth your support. If you’re able to, consider visiting one or more of these animal care facilities, whether they are near home for you or if you happen upon one while you are traveling abroad.
Our goal is to provide a platform that truly respects and mirrors our collective vegan opinions and perspectives. As our global vegan community adds additional animal sanctuaries and care facilities, and as we review and rate our favorites, the resulting listings will continuously, and more accurately, reflect our favorite animal sanctuaries.
Our vegan community’s favorite Animal Sanctuaries in Thira
The Santorini Animal Welfare Association – SAWA is a non-governmental, non-profit making organization, founded in 1992 by active and devoted animal lovers of the island. Its purpose is to protect the island’s animals – ranging from stray dogs and cats to abandoned donkeys and mules, care for their wellbeing and become an advocate to their rights.
In close cooperation with the Municipality of Thira and the local vet, SAWA insures that a great majority of stray animals are neutered and spayed, vaccinated, treated in case of injury, disease or poisoning and, if possible, re-homed in Greece or abroad. Moreover, SAWA oversees the implementation of the “Code of Practice” for all donkeys and mules engaged in the Bay of Fira and is constantly making efforts towards the mitigation of their health and working conditions.