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About the shelter

Vyšnių Sodas Animal Shelter (translated as “Cherry Orchard”) is a non-profit animal welfare organization based in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was founded on March 15, 2010, by Monika Mužaitė, a dedicated advocate for humane animal care. The shelter pioneered a new approach in Lithuania by becoming the country’s first social rehabilitation center for homeless animals, moving away from traditional kenneling toward a more therapeutic, home-like environment. 
 Vyšnių Sodas operates two main facilities referred to as “villas”:

 ∙ Vyšnių Sodo Vila is a free-roaming cat shelter that resembles a domestic home, offering comfort and emotional recovery in a cage-free setting.
 ∙ Zuikių Vila is a separate dog shelter, equipped with indoor living areas and an outdoor training yard, where dogs receive behavioral support and socialization under the guidance of trainers and handlers. 
 The organization assists hundreds of animals each year. In 2024 alone, the shelter provided care to 455 animals, with 52 animals (42 cats and 10 dogs) in its care by the end of the year. 
 Vyšnių Sodas is entirely donation-funded, with no regular municipal financing. As a registered public institution (VšĮ), it accepts charitable contributions and encourages local supporters to direct 1.2% of their income tax toward the shelter. It also partners with municipalities on specific projects, for example, a 2022 agreement with the Švenčionys District to carry out catch-neuter-return (CNR) missions for stray animals in underserved areas. 
 Vyšnių Sodas is committed to creating safe, non-institutional spaces for animals to heal and regain trust in humans. Its innovative sheltering model, combined with strong community support, allows it to continue transforming the lives of vulnerable animals across Lithuania.