Vushtrri, Gracanica
and Preoce

A new prevention campaign was launched in Vushtrri. Since the city is planning dog killings, against which lawsuits and protests will be ongoing, we launched a new program on January 12, 2025. Flyers are posted in all surrounding villages, and individual farmers and homeowners with dogs are asked to have their dogs castrated free of charge. On this occasion, we also draw attention to the necessary vaccinations and treatments for dogs at the vet.

We want to reach out to penniless dog owners with this campaign, but we will not turn away other willing people if it is the only way to vaccinate and castrate their animals! The goal of sustainably reducing street dogs comes first.

At the end of 2020, we signed a contract with the city, according to which they donated 60 euros to DVM Zenel Zhabari for castrating their street dogs, of which we only have to pay 33 euros per dog instead of 45 euros. Mayor Dr. Xhafer Tahiri has thus kept his promise at our 2019 meeting - we are investing in infrastructure, and the city is participating in the CNVR program! This contract was renewed at the beginning of 2022 by the new mayor Ferit Idrizi.

For 2023, Mayor Idrizi has expressed his interest in continuing the program. Due to a lack of donations, the decision was postponed until March 2023. But negotiations are ongoing. In return, the mayor's office increasingly worked preventively and called on citizens to refrain from abandoning dogs. Since the chipping/registration program started with three community veterinarians in December 2022, control of the suspensions should be made easier. By the end of 2024, we signed and fulfilled a contract with the city.

In December 2024, the city announced a castration and killing program. Despite the protest, we couldn't do anything about it. We continue to operate a sanctuary in Nevolan/Vushtrri. But we have necessarily discontinued our castration program.

For the northeast of Kosovo, we joined with the motivated DVM Zenel Zhabari at the end of 2018. He is extremely motivated and often helps free of charge when he sees suffering dogs. He has provided his land and has himself started investing in a veterinary clinic where he can treat street dogs. That is hardly possible in his tiny practice in the city center of Vushtrri. The total costs amounted to around 100,000 euros. Donations were made by the Asmi Nardo Foundation and the Kirchhofer Foundation thus, we could complete the annex building with the inner boxes at the beginning of 2021. All inner boxes are lined with epoxy and are very easy to clean.

In spring 2017, our partner veterinarians had two assignments in Graçanica and Preoce to treat 190 dogs. These missions were unannounced because every action encourages irresponsible dog owners from Pristina and the surrounding area to abandon their dogs in Graçanica. Graçanica is mostly inhabited by Serbs, and Preoce is a Roma village. The work on site was done in an abandoned gas station with a room, electricity, and water.

In May 2018, the Graçanica region was assigned to a veterinary team from Pristina, and the state temporarily financed the castrations. We remained responsible for emergency assistance at that time. It was already apparent in 2019 that no one was taking care of the dogs anymore. We sent DVM Zenel Zhabari to Romadorf Plementina/Obiliq where he provided first aid, vaccinated, and castrated.

In the southern region of Pristina, we employ Atlan Gidciz, a Roma friend. Especially in winter, but also during Corona, we had food bags delivered to him. Two to three times a week, he distributed water and food in Preoce, Uglare, and Lapnoselle. He dewormed puppies on an outpatient basis. But it is not enough to survive. Thus, he welcomed puppies to his farm several times, which were later taken to the Gjakova or Vushtrri Sanctuary.

‍Atlan Gidzic is also our mediator at Romacamps Obiliq, something of the worst we've ever seen - and since autumn 2018, we visited the region regularly with our Veterinarian DVM Zenel Zhabari to treat and castrate new dogs, deliver dog food, and medicine. Private contributions also help the destitute Roma families who have been living in containers for years!

In January 2023, we again treated freshly abandoned dogs in the fields near Preoce from Veterinarian Shaban Mehmeti. But, these are only drops on a hot stone.

However, our missions throughout the region are complicated because there is no place where we can treat dogs. Transportation to Vushtrri is cumbersome and does not allow efficient work. The NGO SAAS has existed in Lapnosëlle for about a year, they run a sanctuary with 50 dogs and continue to help us find dogs that have not yet been marked and treated. Animal welfare is important to the two Albanians who run this NGO. In contrast to many other organizations, they are also prepared to protest for it on the streets!