WOOF FEST is a large-scale initiative that unites people ready to give a home to animals with difficult pasts. This time, over 300 animals participated in the exhibition.
To attract as much attention as possible to the issue, the festival is held in central Moscow, blurring the lines between suburban shelters and the urban environment. Every animal at the exhibition and in the «Nika» foundation is prepared for relocation to a new home and has all necessary vaccinations and health passports.
A space where hundreds of stories change for the better, and Moscow becomes the starting point for a new life—for people and for animals.
«Nika» Foundation for Homeless Animals
The festival is supported by the charitable foundation «Nika.» This is not merely a rescue organization; it is a systemic project—the foundation implements humane practices that systematically reduce the number of stray animals and shape a new culture of pet ownership in society.
The foundation oversees two shelters where approximately 800 dogs and cats currently reside. Over its 15 years of operation, «Nika» has helped find homes for more than 7,000 of them.
The «Nika» Foundation regularly participates in exhibitions where animals find new families. However, its most large-scale project remains WOOF FEST.
Volunteer Team and Mission
Volunteering has become more than just participating in an event or supporting the sanctuary for us—it’s a conscious drive to restore hope to those who have lost it. We came together to help the residents of the «Nika» foundation take that vital first step toward finding a family. This project is our effort to bring closer the moment when every animal finds its own home—and for some, it may be the very first one in their life.
Our team’s objectives included:
— Material Support: Purchasing food and making donations to the «Nika» shelter foundation.
— Adaptation: Familiarizing with the shelter’s residents and conducting preliminary socialization.
— WOOF FEST Site Setup: Technical assistance, cage assembly, ensuring comfortable animal housing, and final dismantling.
— Mentorship and Communication: Caring for cats at WOOF FEST, consulting with prospective adopters, and facilitating animal placements.
— Visual Documentation: Creating a photo report of the event, as well as conducting photography at the shelter.
The festival became the most intensive phase of our project. During this day, our team:
— Consulted with over 100 visitors and families interested in adopting a pet. — Monitored the health of the kittens and introduced them to potential owners. — Assisted in selecting an animal that matched the lifestyle and capabilities of the future family. — Participated in site preparation, animal placement, and dismantling the venue after the event concluded. — Captured many touching and memorable moments from the festival.
In addition to participating in the festival, we also supported the shelter itself: we donated specialized pet food, assisted with socializing cats and dogs, and conducted a photoshoot of the residents for the shelter’s social media channels.
By the end of the day, 103 cats from various shelters found new homes. The «Nika» Foundation presented 24 kittens, 10 of whom found their forever homes.
We, with our team, adopted 6 of these 10 animals.
I. Introduction to the «Wet Nose» Shelter, managed by the «Nika» Foundation
Our story began with a trip to a shelter the day before a festival. It was important to us to meet the future residents personally and assist the staff with their daily care, the main focus of which is the socialization of cats and dogs.
To ensure the trip was as beneficial as possible, we also purchased specialized food and donated it to the shelter as humanitarian aid.
Even 1,500 rubles is a week of sustenance for one dog in a shelter. Our journey for this project began with that small step.
Students from the «I’m In» community joined the trip to the shelter, bringing humanitarian aid for the animals. It was especially meaningful to meet students from our home university and to do good together.
The shelter staff gave us instructions and then led all the volunteers toward the dogs.
It is always emotionally difficult to visit the indoor kennels. There are many furry friends here who need attention and love. Dozens of dogs howl at once from loneliness, and in such an environment, it is hard to hold back tears. In moments like these, you especially realize how vital volunteer assistance is to the shelter.
The only thing we can do is help animals learn to trust humans again. Every walk and every moment of interaction becomes an important step toward a new life.
Author — Angold Alexander
Each volunteer, in turn, walked and socialized the dogs. We managed to capture some of these warm and heartfelt moments in photographs.
Author — Angold Alexander
Students from the School of Business were also captured in the frame—they gave attention, care, and a sense of worth to the dogs.
Author — Angold Alexander
After the walk, it was rewarding to see that the animals had calmed down and seemed happier. In moments like these, the value of what is happening becomes especially poignant—when you realize you are contributing a small piece to a large, collective endeavor that so many people work on every day.
We weren’t able to conduct a full photo session with our participation—our priority was to give maximum attention to the animals and the walk. However, we managed to capture several shots, and they have become especially precious to us. Despite the gray and cool weather, the walk itself turned out surprisingly warm, lively, and full of joy—for us and for the dogs.
After our walk, the whole team headed to «Cat Paradise"—a cozy haven at the local shelter where new rescues were waiting for us.
Author — Angold Alexander
