My name is Giulia Lamanna and I live in Puglia, in the Italian province of Taranto, very deep in the south of Italy. In my area, which is one of heavy industry and refineries, there are many, many stray and abandoned animals. While some try to fend for themselves as best they can, there are quite a lot with medical problems that range from uncomfortable conditions to life-threatening for some of them.

I decided to devote myself to saving as many as I could, to feed those who are hungry and to secure medical care for those who are suffering injury or disease. I make regular rounds every evening in both the city and surrounding countryside to feed those who have not eaten, and take in those who are in pain. While I only have irregular employment in my town to fall back on, making it hard to make ends meet even for myself, I simply cannot let these poor creatures suffer, with no attempt to give them relief from their hunger and their hurt.

I currently care for about 100 cats, nine puppies, and nine adult dogs (some who need medical care). I try my best, but as just one individual, the demand for food and veterinary care is beyond my ability to keep up with and I am constantly juggling the money I have to cover the never-ending food and veterinary bills that pile up. 

I ask with sincerity that you look at the photos on this website that show just a portion of the desperate need here due to abandonment, indifference and even outright cruelty. Please let these images touch your heart and move you to help me to help these innocent creatures live a life not filled with hunger and pain.

I have had the good fortune to make long-distance friends with the staff at Little Woman Home for Animals (LWHA), a no-kill shelter in Texas, USA, who are helping to make my story known, and to turn tragedy for these innocent creatures into happy and healthy lives. They share my love for these beautiful, harmless creatures and are extending their humane outreach all the way from the United States to Italy by “adopting” my work under the umbrella of their organization. As an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) shelter with a 23-year history of saving animal lives, LWHA understands the commitment required to provide the level of care that I try to provide.  I am grateful for their interest in helping me, and their efforts to bring the story of my much-loved “Strays of Puglia” to you now.