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About the shelter

Aperol Spitz Rescue Center is the first shelter in Russia fully dedicated to helping toy-breed dogs rescued from illegal and abusive breeding operations. 
 It was founded in 2022 in Saint Petersburg by Milana Shirkes and Ksenia Vasilenko, who turned years of volunteer experience into a full-time mission to rescue and rehabilitate small dogs suffering from neglect and cruelty. Many of the animals they save arrive in terrible condition, both physically and emotionally, and the team does everything in their power to give them a second chance — including working with law enforcement when necessary. The center provides around-the-clock care, including food, clean water, soft beds, toys, grooming, daily walks, and specialized medical and psychological rehabilitation. Each dog is treated with patience and love until they are ready to trust again and find a home of their own. The team personally handles every stage of the process, from the moment a dog is rescued to the moment it is adopted, never outsourcing this responsibility to fosters or intermediaries. 
 In just two years, the center has rescued and treated hundreds of dogs every year and found loving homes for over 800 of them. At any given time, more than 200 dogs live at the shelter, receiving daily care and attention. The shelter is now working toward an even greater goal — to build a larger space on its own land where they can house and care for up to a thousand dogs. They also plan to open a dog hotel, where owners can safely leave their pets under professional supervision. Aperol Spitz is run entirely through private funding and donations, with no state support. It stands as a powerful example of compassion, determination, and the belief that every dog deserves a future free from fear.