An animal shelter as natural a part of town as the fire station or the local health centre: that is the idea behind Canovia. Instead of simply housing dogs, a network of centres of expertise is meant to accompany them through every stage of life, and their people along with them.
Canovia combines traditional animal care with digital tools. Dog owners, shelters, trainers, vets and animal welfare organisations are meant to come together in one place, rather than dealing with many separate providers as they do today.
One dog's life, six stages
- Rescue. A rescue service takes in injured, abandoned or stray dogs and gives them medical care.
- Care and rehabilitation. Veterinary care, training and socialisation prepare the dogs for a new home.
- Adoption. Digital matching brings together dogs and people who are genuinely right for each other.
- Foster homes. Foster families and dog boarding bridge transition periods, supervised and fairly paid.
- Training. Suitable dogs are trained as assistance, therapy or rescue dogs.
- Farewell. Grief support, a dignified burial and a digital book of remembrance.
No dog should slip through the net, from rescue to farewell.
Focus on assistance dogs
Assistance dogs make everyday life safer and more independent for people with disabilities. In Germany, the Assistance Dog Ordinance (AHundV) has governed the suitability, training, testing and keeping of these dogs since 1 March 2023. Implementation is lagging in some areas, however, as the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs itself acknowledges. On top of that, there are too few specialised trainers and waiting times are long.
This is where Canovia wants to step in: with an early assessment of which dogs are suited to which task by temperament and character, with individual training plans and with complete digital records of training and health.
More than a shelter
Canovia sees itself as part of the community. Plans include regular workshops for dog owners and volunteers, as well as partnerships with schools, care homes and youth detention centres. The idea: whoever takes responsibility for an animal gains something themselves, in structure, self-confidence and contact with other people.
Digital tools
A Canovia app is meant to help dog owners identify breeds, take preventive health care and find vets, trainers and therapists nearby. A QR code on the collar helps bring lost dogs home quickly. For trips, a dedicated Canovia layer is planned in TerraNav, with vets, dog beaches and off-lead areas. Donations are to be documented so that supporters can see what their contribution is used for.
Get involved
Canovia is being set up. We are looking for shelters and training centres as partners, trainers and vets, sponsors and investors with a social purpose. Contact is via Lighthouse Projects International.