Animal Welfare News 2020
02.05.2020
Overview of news
The global fear of the corona virus has set animal welfare back by years thanks to false reports from veterinarians in Montenegro or the Minister of Health of Kosovo (!) about the risk of infection from dogs and cats. More pets are currently being abandoned and as there is suddenly no more trash on the streets and restaurants are closed, dogs are starving all over the South Balkans. If the castration work was not in vain, we now have to feed our treated street dogs in the Gjakova and Vushtrri regions, which consumes massive donations. A 15 kg food bag costs 22-28 euros.
When I was recently motivated to do assignments in montenegro I have chosen Niksic in the hinterland as a place of work - and see suffering without end. I'll leave it up to you to judge whether “community dogs” have a better life than those who stay in filthy animal shelters without any veterinary care and wait for their end. That is Montenegro - and everywhere. Either they are no-kill shelters like in Niksic, where the dogs slowly die sick on a chain left to themselves, or official killing stations that still exist everywhere in Montenegro. Despite the newly launched chip program, this country is a severe psychological burden for all animal rights activists when it comes to animal welfare. It is difficult to fight against the state and its government “animal shelters.” We have made a start, write everywhere... hope and help with our team of veterinarians in Niksic. We are in contact with the Veterinary Office - and we were promised cooperation - after Corona!
One of our strengths in the countries of operation is our contacts with government agencies - to give all dogs a better life. Although individual rescues are part of daily work in our areas of operation, we would like to fundamentally address the causes of the suspensions. This is how we made successful contact with new government in Kosovo, the Vetëvendosje - our letter to 2nd Deputy Minister Haki Abazi led to a meeting with Elza Ramadani, President of the animal rights NGO and a declaration of trust, according to which this government wants to work with StrayCoco and ARF as an NGO partner for animal welfare. Barely settled, there was a vote of no confidence from the opposing coalition party LDK - and the government was deposed. But we won't get rid of Kosovo so easily!
Stay healthy — and keep being helpful.
Thank you
Yours, Dr. Helen Wormser
President of the Board of Trustees
KOSOVO-GJAKOVA
Operations in our clinic and sanctuary have continued - although the two workers have been released until the corona crisis subsides. Our vet works alone from morning to evening. This is KUDO - taken off the street with many bite marks, where, according to the report, he lay immobile for two days, the purulent wounds were supplied with drainage and today he is a bundle of energy that is becoming more beautiful every day. Dog fighting in Kosovo continues with impunity!
Pilot project in MONTENEGRO
State animal shelter in NIKSIC, our location for the new pilot project in MONTENEGRO. Although supposedly a no-kill shelter, the dogs disappear overnight here. Otherwise, they will suffer chained up until they die.
Our vet Aleksandra now goes there regularly and takes care of the dogs. As soon as possible, we want to castrate them and improve their posture. But there will be resistance there. Tourists should not visit this country before it introduces humane dog ownership.
A law is in preparation, but still provides for the killing of dogs after 30 days in the home. We have already been heard about this - and presented the concept of community dogs as well as recommended Swiss legislation as a role model.
Our new team in Niksic/Montenegro
These two dedicated and courageous veterinarians Marijana and Aleksandra from the “Family Vet” practice work with street dogs until they drop - so far without payment, just because they want to help!
Srdjan is now setting up our container financed by the “Silent Brothers” 12 km outside the city. A modest transit center for street dogs is being built here. We hope that after the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, we are ready to carry out mass castrations there. Meanwhile, our team is responding to emergencies in the region and visiting the shelter dogs.
Transit home for street dogs in Nevolan/Vushtrri
We were able to make little progress in building the clinic with a transit home for street dogs in Nevolan/Vushtrri. There is still a shortage of donors. The main building is standing, the operating room is lined with epoxy, but the annex with the 8 inner boxes can only be built once we have paid for the hospital's windows and doors.
We have made great efforts to raise funds - but investments in the sense of development aid for Kosovo are unfortunately still unthinkable for many foundations and companies. DVM Zenel Zhabari and his colleague DVM Labinot Osmani work hard, but there is no hospital space to treat the many stray dogs from Vushtrri to Mitrovic. There are already three dogs living in Nevolan Sanctuary - and blind PIKI is enjoying the peace and quiet.
Project with our partners in Durrës
And back to our reality. This is what a bill for working with street dogs looks like - here is the project with our partners in Durrës. After the earthquake, vet Zylyftari, together with Jenny Hasanaj-Müller, did a lot of volunteer work, prepared a place as a transit station - while we covered the castration costs for all the dogs abandoned after the earthquake. In view of the many new stray animals, we have once again assured the Swiss-Albanian Association JETA Tier und Mensch to pay for a further 100 dog treatments. This is despite the fact that funding is now becoming scarce for some of our donors and animal aid comes last for many people anyway. However, we hope to continue to receive donations during this time.
Albania under Covid-19
albania has just forbidden all citizens to go out for more than an hour - and if so, only to go shopping. Dog owners have no chance to take their animals for a walk — they are ignored by the government.
We therefore urge you to use this PETITION to sign. Thank you!
STAY HEALTHY - AND DON'T FORGET THE ANIMALS TOO! WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS DONATIONS OF FOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY.
Donate for animals and Europe's poorhouse: help Kosovo.
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