Autumn news from Kosovo
20.09.2019
thoughts
Dear animal and dog lovers
We will soon be working in Kosovo for 5 years - almost exclusively in direct aid for stray dogs and prevention work. There are results that can be presented, but there are other things that make me sad. There is no end in sight to castration work so far, because neither Kosovo nor Albania regulate and control dog ownership, breeding, markets and shops that sell puppies.
But what particularly concerns me is the overall picture. After all, it is not just the Balkan countries that do not care about the stray dog problem. I recently read in the Wiener Zeitung that an estimated 700,000 dogs are now stray in southern Italy. Look at Spain, Asia, North Africa, Israel, Palestine... the same misery everywhere, with and without animal shelters, with and without killing stations. The dog is THE living waste product of our world! And although apparently a huge sanitary and ethical problem, it is not an issue for the media, which could put pressure on for humane solutions, nor for politicians.
Nevertheless, we stay tuned - together with local helpers - and always in the idea of “constant dripping hollows the stone.”
Sincerely
Dr. Helen Wormser
President of the Board of Trustees
Dog Bardha
That's Bardha, who's been in our sanctuary for 4 1/2 years. A beautiful shar dog. Bernhard's Animals First & Only has now paid us a generous donation to expand the sanctuary for our permanent guests. We started with a “dog pool” — a welcome cooling off at 40°. Cost 668 euros... then we formed two hills from the excavation - and lo and behold, the dogs appreciate the height and the view.
Finally, concrete tunnels and timber were added. Any other ideas for interesting designs on your part are welcome! Around 17 dogs with disabilities will probably have to spend their entire lives with us. We currently have a total of 40 dogs in care and really hope that one or the other will be picked up :-)
Heat temperatures in Kosovo
With temperatures of up to 40 degrees in July in the Gjakova region as well as in Vushtrri and Shkodra, work progressed slowly this summer. As every year, tourists rushed unchecked through villages, there were more injured animals than outside the holiday season - and there were almost daily reports from both countries, such as “we found a puppy here and there, pick him up”! Everyone assumed that it was a matter of course that there are animal shelters in these countries and that they accept unlimited dogs or that our veterinarians go looking for the pictured dog based on a photo! Hardly anyone helped themselves! Our answer was always: “Either you want to adopt the dog, then we will prepare the necessary vaccinations and papers, or you motivate your relatives in Kosovo to take in the dog and pay them the food - we will help free veterinary treatment.”
The second variant worked once. The abhorrence of dogs is widespread among the Albanian population. While we are constantly capturing, treating and castrating new abandoned dogs in the Gjakova region, there is great misery elsewhere, due to a lack of castration programs and a lack of ban on suspension. The Veterinary Office has not done anything to alleviate the situation for a year, although Parliament approved a loan to reduce the stray dog population. We must continue to invest and consider other regions in particular. That is why we are setting up the program for Vushtrri - and Mitrovica as soon as possible. In any case, the daily reports with photos of sick and abandoned animals, puppies, are almost unbearable for us.
Despite the heat, our partner vet DVM Zenel Zhabari in Vushtrii took 40 dogs off the street and treated them. His enclosure (pictured above) is extremely modest. It has 8 individual boxes with a dilapidated shed. He has to castrate in his practice, which consists of three small rooms in the center of the city. The dogs must be driven there and driven out again. There is no room where they can recover after the operation.
We can't watch anymore. Since our partner vet is prepared to make his property in the countryside outside the city available for a small veterinary clinic with sanctuary, which has now submitted appropriate plans, our current CALL FOR DONATIONS this clinic and sanctuary in Vushtrri.
TCC (Transitory Care Center) Gjakova
With the TCC (Transitory Care Center) Gjakova We have covered the southwest region of the country. With Vushtrri, the northeast would be prepared to treat street dogs not only from Vushtrri, but also the region up to and including southern Mitrovica. The misery of dogs in this region is obvious - with efficient castration work, we could curb it a bit! Cost of the clinic, still without outdoor enclosures: 68,000 euros.
Further education and training courses
Our vet couple Eriola and Blendi Bejdoni continue to train prospective veterinarians as well as large veterinarians in the perfect small incision technique. Currently Sheha Shegu - she is in her last year at the Veterinary Faculty of Tirana, lives in Gjakova - and will hopefully complement and relieve our team.
Volunteers from Switzerland
The two volunteers, mother and daughter from Switzerland, who spent a few days in our sanctuary at their expense and walked the stationary dogs in the neighboring fields are really great. VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!
Sponsorship for dogs
Finally, a request: If you want to make regular payments, e.g. for a castration sponsorship or simply a sponsorship for one of our dogs in the sanctuary, it would really help us. The castration sponsorship currently costs 45 euros.
Why don't you sign up for a sponsorship with us. At the Sanctuary, all dogs currently have a godmother or godfather. But we always have new additions..
And remember Every dog that is adopted creates space for a new addition. We need these places for sick or injured street dogs! And all the abandoned puppies... :-(
Donate for animals and Europe's poorhouse: help Kosovo.
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