Autumn 2025 – Save SOFA!

Owners at the Jewel Fest

After informally helping Spinoni in need over several years, we formalised our rescue endeavours by founding this charity to help Spinoni and Spinone crosses, in need of help overseas. Most rescues come from Italy, the home of our beloved breed, however wherever there is a Spinone in need, we will always do our best to help.
Our activities are currently severely endangered by an unintentional result of the Animal Welfare bill which proposes a total ban on import of docked dogs – including rescue dogs imported by registered charities! Read on for more:  

 

 

We’re going to need a lot of help….a very important update for Supporters of SOFA on the Animal Welfare Bill, now in the Lords.
 
The Animal Welfare Bill aims to stop puppy smuggling, which we fully support! But…attached to it is a ban on importing dogs with docked tails, which will effectively end SOFA as a charity. As it stands, rescue dogs are explicitly NOT exempted.
 
Next steps:
  • We are contacting the Bill’s supporters, MPs, and DEFRA to explain why an exemption is needed for rescue dogs..
  • We are contacting similar organisations for support, and associations and experts to prove that these dogs are rescued for welfare reasons, not docked for fashion, and that we are not a “loophole” for profiteering.
  • We’re preparing a clear information to share with lawmakers, showing them the positive work of SOFA and asking for a seat at the table in discussing an exemption.
You can see our recent letter to the Lords here, if you want more detail. http://bit.ly/4mQ7YsO
 
🐾How you can help (now):🐾
  • Have a read through our letter to the Lords to understand the issue. http://bit.ly/4mQ7YsO
  • If you know of any potentially useful contacts please tell us! Sympathetic vets? Journalists? Lawyers? Other registered charities affected? Other associations? Something else?
  • Please look for your most heart-melting photos of your rescued SOFA dog – Beautiful faces and pictures of your docked dog with other Spinoni whose tails are entire are especially welcome, but all are useful! 
  • Prepare a little about your own story to add to your letter when we are ready to start. It is especially useful if you can emphasis that we are a responsible charity who have been supporting and diligent.
🐾How you can help (soon):🐾
 
  • We’ll be asking supporters to contact their MPs, sign petitions, and share stories — but we need to coordinate our messaging very carefully. It is a complex issue and we need to understand exactly who to contact and when. We are lucky to have a very experienced advisor who we thank profoundly.
  •  For now, we ask you to hold off on taking action until we have a clear plan. More info on our Facebook page .
 
Our beautiful Spinoni from Italy may have lost their tails, but they shouldn’t lose their chance of rescue. We are going to need help to 🐾 Save SOFA🐾, so the Animal Welfare Bill works for rescue dogs too!

THANK YOU <3 



____________



Thinking of adopting?

When considering whether to adopt a Spinone from abroad, there’s a lot to think about – these pages are essential reading for anyone thinking of adoption with SOFA. 

A good place to begin is our information for those considering adoption here.  You can also read how the adoption process works, and we have a Q & A here for frequently asked questions.  

We also have advice for preparing for your Spinone’s homecoming, arrival day and for the first weeks and beyond. 

The best way to hear of new rescues seeking homes is to ‘like’ our Facebook page. If we have available dogs, they will always be at the top of the page.
https://www.facebook.com/Spinone.SOFA/
Make sure you are getting notifications – instructions here.

We highly recommend you join our Facebook group, Spinone Adopters and Friends, where you will find lots of interesting first-hand experience and discussion. 

Funds are being raised and used constantly via donation, charity auction and more and we are thankful for the enormous generosity of our supporters. More about fundraising and how to help here.