Opening of the first veterinary clinic in the West Balkans

Alabinfo.ch article about the opening of our veterinary clinic

The opening of the first specialized veterinary clinic in Kosovo in October 2018 marked an important milestone for animal welfare in the region. Thanks to generous donations from Switzerland, in particular through the commitment of the Swiss StrayCoco Foundation under the direction of Dr. phil. Helen Wormser, a modern facility was created in Gjakova, which serves both as a veterinary clinic and as a temporary care center for street dogs.

The clinic, located on the road between Gjakova and Prizren, has an operating room, X-ray equipment, treatment rooms and several enclosures for temporary accommodation of animals. Dogs and cats can be kept outdoors until they are medically treated and neutered. The clinic is managed by experienced veterinarians Blendi and Eriola Bejdoni, who have been working for animal welfare in the region for years.

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The opening ceremony was attended by numerous guests, including the Mayor of Gjakova, Ardian Gjini, and the Swiss Ambassador to Kosovo, Jean-Hubert Lebet. Ambassador Lebet recognized Helen Wormser's commitment by awarding a medal of honor for her four years of intensive work in Kosovo. The clinic has several goals: It serves as a training center for veterinarians, as an educational institution for schools and children to promote animal welfare awareness and as a model project for humane population control of street animals

Helen Wormser emphasized the importance of the clinic not only for animal health, but also for the country's image. Many tourists avoid countries where street animals are mistreated. Through professional care and sustainable programs, the clinic helps improve animal welfare while strengthening Kosovo's reputation abroad.

The full article by Xhevdet Kallaba on Albinfo.ch provides further insights, see article below in Albanian:

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