StrayCoco Easter Quarterly Report

Plakat mit Osternwünsche udn verschiedenen Hunden

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Dear animal lovers,

I stayed in Kosovo from March 14 to 19, 2021 and reviewed all ongoing programs from Drenas to Vushtrri. I was positively surprised by the controlled situation in Gjakova. Anyone who walks through the streets today with DVM Blendi Bejdoni realizes that they know every dog, everyone is marked, and we hardly have any new additions, thanks to a campaign by the mayor's office, which draws attention to the suffering of the abandoned dogs and the consequences for citizens on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, distemper is common among abandoned and untreated dogs - with fatal consequences.

The situation was more stressful in Drenas, a project that we have only recently started - the dog shelter in a dilapidated stable, the “clinic” consisting of two tiny rooms on the thoroughfare. The infrastructure is missing, but vet DVM Shaban Mehmeti has mastered his job and makes the best of it.

The visit to the mayor in Mitrovica, Agim Bahtirai, who made it clear from the start that he wanted an animal shelter and nothing else - for hundreds of stray dogs? Drawing attention to the fact that the population of street dogs must be reduced first, that citizens should no longer abandon dogs - and that we will be able to talk about animal shelters in 5 years as soon as adoptions work in Kosovo (you only buy breeding dogs) - he stood up and left the room without saying hello. Ok, we failed here with a cooperation proposal - and what will happen next is uncertain. DVM Labinot Osmani is doing a good job - he helps injured dogs, castrates street dogs, many have already been with brands - but it will be difficult without cooperation with the city. Our decision is still pending.

In Vushtrri On the other hand, the cooperation with Mayor Dr. Xhafer Tahiri is working well, he is launching calls in the regional media to avoid abandoning dogs. Our small animal clinic is almost finished, epoxy and the outdoor area to the insulation rooms are still missing. But work is progressing. The plan is to castrate 600 dogs by the end of the year, with the city paying 27 euros per dog and we 33 euros.

In Niksic, Montenegro, the work is very intensive. In addition to catching and castrating dogs on a daily basis, our vet was able to place a particularly large number of puppies in families - this is why the behavior of Montenegrins differs from Kosovars.

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Your Dr. Helen Wormser,

President

GJAKOVA STRAYcoco Sanctuary and Veterinary Clinic

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StrayoCoCo Mitarbeiter halten Strassenhund auf dem Arm

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The little dog in Gjakova City Park came up to us limping - as a patient, she is now allowed to live in the Gjakova Sanctuary. According to her ear mark, she was castrated by our team on October 6, 2018, and since then she has lived on the streets - without fear of people. The picture shows the head of the Gjakova City Council, Shkumbin Kastrati and DVM Blendi Bejdoni, our project manager for the Western Balkans and vet in our small animal clinic.

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Gjakova Sanctuary, Erind, vet son :-)

Our dogs are well socialized, with other dogs, children and cats.

Hunde spielen im Gnadenhof Gjakova, Kosovo

Hund spielt mit Kind im StrayCoCo Gnadenhof Gjakova, Kosovo

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The CNVR castration program with discharge to the street after 5-7 days only works with healthy dogs. We can no longer bring cheerful dogs that require prolonged treatment back onto the streets - because that would be nothing more than suspending. They live in packs with us and thanks to special donations for the Sanctuary, we have been able to invest not only in sun protection, but also in “playgrounds” for our dogs. For example, we have built two hills from the excavation for the dog bath, which are often used as views - or for digging. EVA enjoys the peace and quiet here - formerly a dog with severe mange, has been our permanent guest for 3 years.

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VUSHTRRI

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Tierärzte kastrieren Strassenhund in Vushtrri, Kosovo

The discussions with our partner vet Zenel Zhabari are always heated — and constructive. We learn from each other. Thanks to special donations, his clinic “North Animal Hospital” is almost finished - the lining of the extension is still missing. The lousy and wet weather has prevented expansion so far. The only continuing education of veterinarians took place here - small incision technology.

Thanks to his intensive lobby work in the city, the mayor has already twice instructed citizens to have their dogs neutered and not to abandon them anymore. We try to encourage a monthly publication from the city.

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MITROVICA

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We started working with the young vet Labinot Osmani in November and since then you can see many dogs with brands in the city. However, local politicians doubt or do not understand the benefits of CNVR. We are now faced with the decision of whether we should continue - which we are urged to do by animal lovers - or leave the city even though L. Osmani's work is impressive. In an old drafty building, he built large cages with good dog beds, his operating room is tiny, only the outdoor area is acceptably designed. His staff are very friendly with the dogs. We would regret it if we had to give up for financial reasons and due to a lack of involvement from the city, and only the information campaign is important to us. This city is one of the poorest in the country; financial participation such as in Vushtrri is likely to be ruled out.

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DRENAS

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Since December, we have been helping to castrate dogs in this poorest region of Kosovo - with vet Shaban Mehmeti. He keeps the treated dogs in a simple dilapidated and drafty stable - while his “practice” is located further away on the main street and consists of two small rooms. The infrastructure is completely inadequate, but we don't have the money to help him get a decent clinic with boxes for the dogs. The days of castrating in the fields or in military containers are gone. But the current situation is not satisfactory - even if S. Mehmeti's surgical services are impressive. We will think about how we can change the infrastructure, but this is only possible with appropriate donations.

By the way, this little street dog was bathed and blow-dried!

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NIKSIC/MONTENEGRO

Due to the Covid situation in Montenegro and the closure of the borders, it was impossible for me to travel to Niksic. But our vet Aleksandra Krivokapic came to the Gjakova Clinic to learn about our many years of work and to discuss the processes together with B. Bejdoni. And yes - she too would like to build a similar clinic in Montenegro - because there is a shortage of things in this country and there are street dogs to treat every day.

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And it is sad how the distemper affects dogs - the little one finally had to be released from his suffering - his companion from the street comforted him until the end. For all our employees, suffering and eternal death are difficult to bear.