About LAPA
LAPA (Helping animals in Russia) is a registered UK animal welfare charity founded in 2013.
Our aim is to reduce the number of stray animals in a humane and responsible way, to end animal suffering and to improve animal welfare standards in Russia.
7 years ago we started our journey literally from Ground Zero. Our numbers and experience have grown over the years. Whilst we remain a small charity, we are proud of our achievements so far.
Our Programmes
On 20 July 2018 we brought our first Russian rescue dog into the UK – a dog called Marsha. This event marked the beginning of a very small but a very meaningful project for us. A project of giving some Russian dogs a chance of finding a happy forever home in the UK.
In the first year of running this project we helped 22 beautiful dogs and 1 cat find their loving forever homes which they would not have found in Russia.
Why do we do it? Because they deserve it, because it is their only chance to have a good life and because these animals are the best ambassadors for our work. These dogs prove better than any words can what wonderful companions, friends and family members they can be given the chance. And why it is our responsibility to help them.
All our dogs are healthy, fully vaccinated, microchipped, house trained and assessed. They are placed in foster homes when they arrive in the UK. This helps them adapt quicker and makes their transition into a new home smoother.
We are making a contribution towards supporting 30 shelters in Moscow and Moscow region (both private and state owned). There are over 15,000 cats and dogs held in these shelters. All shelters need help with food, medication, building materials, household and cleaning products.
It costs on average £25 to feed 1 dog for 1 month in a shelter.
Neutering is the only humane way to reduce the stray population. Both pets and strays should be neutered. Pets are often abandoned because they have health or behavioural problems which arise because they have not been neutered. Or their litters are killed or abandoned which could have been prevented by having the pet neutered. As a result, animals suffer and the number of strays continues to increase.
- A female cat can get pregnant twice or even three times a year from the age of 4 months. A female dog twice a year from the age of 6 months.
- A cat can give birth to 2 – 6 kittens in one litter. Dogs can give birth from to 4 – 12 pups per litter.
- If a female cat or dog was to mate every time she came into season, and all their kittens/pups were to survive and breed, then there would be up to 21,000 extra cats or dogs in just 7 years.
Neutering also prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uteris infetcions and cancers in females. Neutering eliminates urine marking and roaming in male cats. We promote neutering of pets and pay for the neutering of stray and shelter cats and dogs as well as rescued animals adopted by people with low income. This is one of our priority projects.
The cost of neutering ranges from £20 to £90 (2,000 to 8,000 Roubles). The cost depends on whether the patient is a cat or a dog, male or female, and if female, whether she is already pregnant. We only work with tested and experienced vets and clinics, on a discounted basis.
Every rescued animal needs veterinary help of some kind after they have been rescued. Sometimes its just a check up, de-worming, flea treatment and vaccinations. Sometimes it is more serious. Living in the streets is tough – there are many infections, injuries and cancers which mostly arise from the lack of neutering.
We pay for the treatment of rescued and shelter animals when the shelters or volunteer groups who look after them cannot afford to pay for it themselves.
Every cat and dog deserves good veterinary care and should be spared from suffering.
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- It costs on average up to £25 to de-worm, de-flea and vaccinate a cat or a dog.
- It costs on average up to £100 to carry out all the necessary veterinary checks and tests on a rescued dog or cat
- If a rescued cat or dog is ill, it costs on average up to £250 to treat them if the illness is not serious or complicated and the animal does not require hospitalisation.
We only work with tested and experienced vets and clinics, on a discounted basis.
