IKEA in Italy Opens Doors to Stray Dogs
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Catania can be found on the east coast of Sicily and has a widespread problem of stray animals (mainly dogs and cats). The weather conditions in Catania are pleasant in autumn and spring, but the summers tend to be very hot, while the winters tend to be very cold. On top of this, most of the rain in Catania falls during September and March. It’s safe to say that stray dogs are not fond of these conditions.
While not an international policy, IKEA in Catania has let itself become a home to these strays. The staff has been extremely loving and accommodating by providing rugs for the dogs to sleep on while keeping them groomed and fed. Some of the dogs have even been adopted by employees.
This move is, of course, very popular among the masses with many heading to IKEA to meet the dogs and similar to employees, some have ended up adopting them. Many took to social media (primarily Instagram) to share their meeting with their new fuzzy friends.
IKEA is also partnered with pet charities like Home for Hope, which is meant to encourage people to adopt strays. As part of this initiative, IKEA arranged for a photoshoot with stray dogs with the photos being hung in the store to motivate others into adopting them.
A spokesperson for IKEA has gone on record to acknowledge the widespread problem of stray dogs in Sicily and aim to be sensitive to animal issues and welfare. They recognize this issue has affected IKEA in in Catania for a while now. These dogs can now find refuge in the store, but this is not part of a corporate initiative.
Other stores in the IKEA chain that have made an effort to encourage pet adoption is one outlet in Arizona, which placed cut-outs of pets on the furniture so that people could see how the addition of a furry new friend would look in their homes.