First milestone achieved...!

prehistory

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IAround 50,000 dogs roam in Kosovo, which reproduce regularly, and most puppies perish miserably. It is in the interest of effective animal welfare to prevent puppies born on the street as well as among dog owners. Since January 2015, we have been doing this primarily in the west of the country, but also in intensive operations in Serbian exclaves in Kosovo and with partner organizations in two cities in Albania. In doing so, we are setting examples of a humane reduction in the stray dog population. This has not gone unnoticed in Kosovo.

In October 2016, I visited the Kosovo Veterinary Office for the second time and was informed in a condescending manner by the person responsible for dogs that there was an ordinance ordering the killing of all dogs. I couldn't change that anymore. The only thing missing is the minister's signature. You can imagine in what condition I left office again... anger prevailed and proved to be a very suitable driving force for wanting to change something for all pets!

The first step was Starting a petition together with OIPA, an Italian animal welfare organization, and the appeal to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, then Isa Mustafa, not to sign this regulation. At the same time, friends, employees of the US Embassy in Pristina, and animal welfare activists from the country have started together with us to present our Western model to the head of the veterinary office and to suggest a humane reduction in street dogs. Together was Working on a new regulation since December 2016 worked, which was finally signed after four hearings.

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THE REGULATION

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What is included in the regulation? First and foremost, the establishment of so-called regional “Temporary Care Centers” (as in the picture 2015 in Peja), in which the street dogs are vaccinated against rabies, dewormed (echinococcus) and castrated. Maximum length of stay is 5 days. The centers must be hygienically maintained and the animals must be watered and fed. Workers are subject to a number of requirements in terms of their qualifications. With a technically flawless cut, females can then also be brought back to their territory early before it is occupied elsewhere, which would inevitably lead to territorial battles. Sick and aggressive dogs must be humanely euthanized, which is prohibited in healthy dogs. All animals must be registered - street dogs with ear tags, privately kept dogs with chips.

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FURTHER MEASURES

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The government's new mandate is not easy to fulfill. Kosovo has no money. For castrations, the Financial Directorate of the country 1.1 million euros for the next 3 years provided. But the regions must invest in veterinary clinics themselves. In addition - our regular readers already know - 95% of veterinarians are large veterinarians and have never castrated before.

Die Oda e Veterinarisë - Kosovo Veterinary Association - has therefore decided on a training program with us. We have already carried out one in Peja and have repeatedly trained individual veterinarians. Our project manager DVM Blendi Bejdoni is always available for continuing education for veterinarians in Kosovo and Albania if they want to learn the small incision technique. This is a prerequisite for the female dogs to be returned to their territory within 5 days. However, he cannot handle the effort alone.

That's why we'll start with the first five-day seminar In Prizren at the end of July, during which two foreign veterinarians will teach. This is part of our animal welfare work in Kosovo and Albania and will also have to be financed by us - in the interest of animal health!

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Die Current situation in Kosovo Is as before: Dogs will be shot on the street, mayors will order hunting companies to reduce the population and it will be difficult for the veterinary office to enforce modern methods. Our support and that of foreign investors in Kosovo is all the more important! We refrain from taking pictures of dogs shot and bleeding to death on the street in Mitrovica in June, but that is still the almost everyday reality today and the reason why we as only Animal protection organization for dogs is actually active in Kosovo!

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Best regards

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Yours, Dr. Helen Wormser‍

President of the Board of Trustees