Together, we can give every animal a second chance.

Chris and Tatyana met in 2015. At the time, life was simple - just the two of them and Chris’s loyal Golden Labrador, Simba. For years, it was always the three of them. Every road trip, every quiet morning, every season of life… Simba was there. He was family - a soul who embodied love, loyalty, and resilience.

In 2022, after the loss of Tatyana’s father, Chris and Tatyana traveled to a tiny town in Calabria, Italy, where Chris had spent his summers growing up at his grandparents’ home. They had no idea that this trip would change everything.

One of the first stops was visiting his grandparents’ grave. They placed four small rocks on his grandmother’s tombstone - three light and one dark - a tradition of remembrance. They also visited his grandparents’ old home, where Chris shared stories about how his grandmother, Giovanna, would feed the neighborhood’s stray cats.

The next morning, Chris went into town to grab a coffee and discovered a tiny kitten standing alone in the middle of the road. They named him Rambo. Soon after, they found his brother, Rizzo, and their blind sister, Rosie - and just like that, the couple who had always dreamed of helping animals in a bigger way stepped into their very first rescue mission.

Ten days after returning home to Canada, another cat crossed their path - Leica. Their little family grew again. Their home was filled with life, healing, and the gentle chaos of their four little rocks (three light and one dark).

But in September 2023, their world shifted once more. Simba was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma - an aggressive, silent cancer. For 14 years, Simba had been their constant and losing him felt unimaginable. Yet even in his final months, his spirit remained unbreakable. Chris and Tatyana poured their hearts into creating gourmet meals, researching treatments, and documenting his journey to raise awareness. Simba’s courage touched millions. He became a symbol of hope, inspiring people everywhere to cherish their pets and advocate for their well-being.

Simba peacefully passed away on September 6th, 2023.

Within days, still deep in grief, Chris and Tatyana found themselves back on a plane to Italy, returning to the same town where they had rescued Rambo, Rizzo, and Rosie. There, they saw a dog in a cage - the same dog they had noticed a year earlier. They vowed to each other that they would not leave Italy without saving him.

On the morning of the rescue, they asked Simba for a sign to know they were doing the right thing. On their way, they unexpectedly met a man who offered them a can of dog food. They accepted it and placed it in their car. After completing the rescue - freeing a dog who had been caged for over two years - they remembered the can. When they picked it up, they saw one word written on the label: Simba. It was the sign they needed. That dog became Ringo - a cherished part of their family.

Shortly after returning home, they rescued Lenny, who survived against the odds and became another beloved piece of their growing rescue family.

Months passed, and from their grief, their love, and the extraordinary ways Simba continued to guide them, The Simba Foundation was born.

Though Simba is no longer physically with them, his legacy is far from over. His spirit lives on in every animal they rescue, every life they touch, and every mission they undertake. The Simba Foundation was created from love, loss, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Through rescue, rehabilitation, and advocacy, Chris and Tatyana honor Simba’s memory by giving animals a second chance - just as they fought so hard to give him one.

Simba’s story didn’t end when he left. It became the beginning of something greater. And with your support, his mission continues - ensuring that no animal is ever left behind, unloved, or forgotten.