Our animal welfare work

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IS THE BEGINNING OF CHANGE

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We are firmly convinced that it is not enough to castrate street dogs and free-roaming private dogs. It needs more. Our work is based on three pillars: CNVR, education and politics! Since December 2016, we have had an influence on the dog ordinance of the state of Kosovo, which now provides for the nationwide castration of all stray dogs. Our vets have been attending primary classes in the west of the country for over a year. And now we invited Veterinary Office Chief Dr. Valdet Gjinovci (Food & Veterinary Agency Kosovo - FVA) to Switzerland two weeks ago - at private expense. Topic: Registration of dog owners, breeders and dogs. Here during a visit to Switzerland's Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, pictured with Director Dr. Hans Wyss.

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We have previously visited the Zurich Veterinary Office and the Zurich City Police, which is responsible for registering dog owners - in connection with the residents' registration office. It was learned that Kosovo only had population control since 2015!

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At the Federal Office in Bern, Dr. Valdet Gjinovci explained animal welfare and regulations on dog husbandry, breeding and handling of dogs. It was then on to the company Identitas, which runs ANIS and AMICUS. And Kosovo should be presented with an offer on how population registration and dog owner control can be combined. However, there is still a lot to do, and those who have died at present can still vote. This means that the registry is not updated. In all our efforts, we are constantly facing obstacles that can only be expected in a developing country!

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TRAINING... EDUCATION... UNDERSTANDING

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Cooperation in the school sector with the proven Susy Utzinger Foundation is successful. We have just translated the children's booklet about pet husbandry into Serbian. The printing was financed by the Susy Utzinger Foundation. These booklets are now being used in the Serbian exclaves of Kosovo. Currently in Preoce and in the “Prishtina Dog Shelter” Graçanica, where we receive space, electricity and water for ongoing castrations. These pictures are from last week, where we distributed the Serbian children's booklet with colored pencils to the children's delight.

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DAILY VETERINARY TREATMENTS AND CASTRATION

Third four-day assignment in the Graçanica area and in the Roma village of Preoce - partly financed by the Beatrice Ederer Weber Foundation - from October 2 to 5, 2017. Our team from western Kosovo in Albania was impressed that around 50% of the Roma population agreed to castrate their dogs. Just a few years ago, we witnessed how the puppies “disappeared” overnight, i.e. killed, every six months. With every castration, we prevent puppy suffering and we do everything we can to explain this to Albanian-burly dog owners over the next few years! Unfortunately, some families want puppies for their children - here and there - and as soon as the dog is grown up, it is thrown away. Our goal is to combat this with educational methods.

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The Roma dog owner listed above, who doesn't want to give up his dog at first... and then understands that his dog is being treated by a vet, castrated and then returned healthy.

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In the municipalities of Gjakova, Rahovec, Mamusha and Malishevo as well as in the surrounding villages, we search for untreated dogs every week and take them with us to the Nagavc Veterinary Clinic. Here: Mother dog with puppies from Rahovec, three puppies died of parvovirus, two puppies are healthy and are looking for a place to live. Mother and both puppies currently live in the sanctuary. Right two from our team of Pro Qen Albania treated street dogs in Shkodra. By the end of the year, we want to have treated at least 200 dogs in the city... before that, the city government has approved the castration of 230 street dogs. At the same time, a team of volunteers from “Animals need me” in Shkodra is providing education on the streets and in schools about pet husbandry.

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AND EMERGENCY HELP AGAIN AND AGAIN!

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Our team's emergency assignments are probably the saddest work. Most injured dogs that they find along the roads do not survive. This is ZOEY as she was found and 7 days later! She didn't eat anything for three days, then she slowly absorbed food and seven days later she got back on her feet for the first time. She now lives in the sanctuary. We are always looking for sponsors or donors for the dogs there so that we can maintain this facility. Occasionally, a dog is adopted, but many will stay with us forever.

DON'T FORGET, THIS ANIMAL AID IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH DONATIONS! - THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANY SUPPORT!