About Us

Registered in 2018, Samovila Foundation (SF) works for the most complex and multi-faceted sector with many dimensions – Animal Welfare, an area relatively under-focused and under-worked. Given the prevalence of street animals in India as well as practice of abandoning pets, we felt it was necessary to collaborate with like-minded individuals to collectively work for welfare of such animals. We are an NGO working primarily for welfare of special needs and senior animals since 2010. We provide basic services of shelter, food, medical care and attention to animals in need. SF was registered as a Trust in 2018.

Our Mission

Every animal on streets secures food, shelter, love and care, through provision of meals by local feeders, medical services for all ailments and place to rest when in distress and recover under professional caregivers. This is achievable through accessibility of animal welfare services.

Our Vision

Create a society where every animals live a safe and healthy life with love and dignity.

Our Goal

To enhance accessibility to street animals for food, shelter and medical care.
To develop environment that reduces lives on streets and increases safety and care.
To increase awareness and sensitivity amongst society on lives of animals on streets and increase their participation in care for community animals.

Team

Meet our Trustees

Srinidhi is a pharmacist and special educator, committed to animal welfare advocacy.

Srinidhi Ganguly

Daanish is a stock trader and a local animal rescuer/caregiver.

Daanish A Gandhi

Chhitra is the Senior Vice President at Reliance Entertainment, co-founder of PAD SQUAD and co-founder of HOPE.

Chhitra Subramanium

Frenvy is a meditation teacher and a dedicated animal caregiver.

Frenvy Joshi

Vaishali is the Honorary Wildlife Warden Palgarh, People for Animal Unit Head Palghar and also Co-Founder of Astha Animal Welfare Foundation Palghar.

Vaishali R Chawhan

Surya Balakrishnan is a filmmaker and co-founder of Footloose Films, committed to storytelling with social impact.

Surya Balakrishnan

Vandana is experienced in banking and manages the shelter, overseeing social media presence.

Vandana Das

Journey So far

Start

2014–2016

Expanded shelter to 5000 sq. ft. in malavli began caring for dogs

2019–2020

Temporary move to saphale, palghar due to land restrictions

2010–2014

Started fostering in a 250 sq. ft. apartment in mumbai collaborated with NGOs

2016–2019

Relocated to new panvel increased shelter capacity

2020 onwards

In Palghar

Our Future Plans

Since beginning in 2010 as a medical cat foster and growing into a shelter for senior and specially-abled community animals in 2014, Samovila Foundation has always chosen depth of care over size. We will continue to remain a mid-sized shelter to preserve the quality, dignity, and individual attention our residents deserve.

Looking ahead, we aim to build a young, compassionate team to manage the shelter in a more structured and sustainable way. We also plan to conduct vaccination drives and sterilization camps for cats to strengthen community care.

By 2030, we envision moving into our own thoughtfully designed, permanent home — built especially for the comfort and safety of our senior and special residents.

About us