About the Foundation
The Story of the ADA Foundation
The ADA Foundation is a place many associate with a dog village, a cat sanctuary, an adoption center, and an ongoing fight for the welfare of animals – both domestic and wild. But its beginnings go much further back than its official founding.
The foundation’s story began not 15, but over 30 years ago in the home of the Fedaczyński family in Przemyśl. The father welcomed every animal in need – from canaries without legs, to rabbits, and even birds of prey like buzzards and owls. At a time when helping wild animals was nearly impossible, the family home became a sanctuary. Word about this extraordinary place spread across Poland – and so the ADA Foundation was born.
From the very beginning, the foundation's work drew media attention. In a country where rescuing deer or eagles was far from ordinary, the ADA Foundation stood out with its unique approach and courage. Back then, everything was lacking – equipment, medicine, knowledge – and everything had to be figured out through experience, often learning from mistakes.
Over the years, the Foundation grew. Today it has advanced veterinary facilities and years of experience, but at the start, every animal, every case, was a challenge. Eventually came the need to formalize its work – adoptions began, and legal requirements forced the Foundation to create an animal shelter.
For the founders, this was a huge disappointment – instead of a warm home, they had to create something that looked like cold containers. It broke their spirits. In response, the idea of the Dog Village was born – a concept that revolutionized the approach to adoption and life for dogs with traumatic pasts. The dogs moved into small houses where they could rest on a couch, learn to live among people, and have a second chance at a dignified life.
A concept that was initially criticized and mocked turned out to be groundbreaking. Today, many other organizations draw inspiration from it. The Dog Village is more than just a shelter – it’s a place of transformation. Dogs that spent years chained or confined in shelters learn to trust and love again in just a few weeks.
But the ADA Foundation is not only about dogs and cats. It also rescues wild animals – bears, lynxes, wolves, storks, and deer. The Foundation built the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center from scratch, despite the lack of regulations, standards, or support from government institutions. Everything was built thanks to passion, determination, and the support of people – donors, volunteers, vets, and staff.
The Foundation has survived many hard times – from lack of funding, through hostility from officials, to public hate. But it continues. It shows the truth, the emotions – joy from successful adoptions, sorrow after failed surgeries, and anger in the face of animal abuse.
The ADA Foundation breaks stereotypes, sets new standards, and teaches society compassion. It is a place built from passion and the need to help – without subsidies, without formulas, without compromises. Today, it’s not just a center for treatment and adoption – it’s a true social movement that inspires and changes Poland – animal by animal, heart by heart.
You can read more about the Foundation’s work on the official ADA Foundation website.
