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About the shelter

Tautmilė’s Shelter was founded in 2012 by Tautmilė Stanevičiūtė, an experienced volunteer and passionate advocate for homeless animals in Vilnius. 
 After years of helping in other organizations, she saw that the city still didn’t have enough capacity to rescue all those in need. 
What started in a tiny garage with just a handful of helpers soon grew into a full-fledged shelter: first moving to a small space in Vilnius, then expanding to larger premises, and eventually establishing a countryside homestead near Medininkai where animals could recover in peace.

 Today, the shelter operates across two locations. The city branch in Vilnius focuses on rescuing, treating, and rehoming dogs and cats, while the rural homestead provides expanded care, not only for cats and dogs, but also for other animals in need, offering them space, safety, and healing in a more natural environment. 
 Beyond rescue work, the shelter also focuses on education and advocacy. They run tours for children, share stories on social media, encourage sterilization as a humane solution to overpopulation, and remind everyone that animal welfare is a shared responsibility. They believe helping animals transforms people too, softening hearts, building empathy, and connecting communities. 
 Tautmilė’s Shelter receives no government funding and survives entirely on the support of individuals and local businesses. Every donation, every hour volunteered, and every adoption helps keep this mission alive. For the team, every rescued animal is not just a life saved — it’s a step toward a kinder society.