The Government of Canton Sarajevo has issued a decision ruling that the dog catching service of P. E. “Rad” be formed on 11th September, 2014, with the aim of removing aggressive, ill and elderly strays from the streets of Sarajevo, and “euthanising” them.
This particular dog catchers’ service was active until 2009, using catching, torturing and killing methods similar to those that had been used in concentration camps that had existed in Bosnia during the war (1992 – 1995).
The Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina came into force in April 2009, and it was then that this dog catching service was shut down: the Veterinary Inspection of Canton Sarajevo issued a decision ruling that the dog catchers of P. E. “Rad” must stop working immediately, because its methods were illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act.
However, while this dog catching service and the people enacting the crimes were criminally responsible for crimes, no charges were ever brought.
The recent decision to restore the dog catching service of P. E. “Rad” means that the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has abused the official authority because they have breached the Animal Welfare and Protection Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What will the restoration of this dog catching service mean for stray dogs and for citizens?
If dog catchers start working, many of the stray dogs will be killed in Sarajevo, using inhumane methods that are cheap: untrained dog catchers, wire nooses, ‘euthanasia’ by crushing skulls, injections of bleach (cheaper than the prescription drugs used in other parts of the world for this purpose) and other torturous methods. Hundred thousands of Euros for this ‘programe’ will be allocated, but you can ask yourself where this money will, in fact, be used.
If these activities proceed, citizens will meet dog catchers and witness their activities. Many people who have already witnessed the atrocities committed by dog catchers were traumatised, especially children.
This situation is illegal, it is against the constitution, it is a criminal offence.
Animal welfare activists want to use all legal means to end this horror, to save stray dogs and to make sure the government implements the existing Animal Protection and Welfare Act.
They will bring legal action against the illegal activities, they will document the activities and will petition against the decision. They are also trying to educate everyone in their country to the truth of what is happening.
If you can help with legal fees and other associated costs for activists please send a donation to donations@awabosnia.org and mark for ‘legal fees etc’.
Also, Journalists for Animals needs support document the situation and tell the world what is happening. There is a special YouCaring for donations for this.
Petitions:
Stop massive killing of dogs in Sarajevo
Petition to save Bosnia’s stray dogs! Please sign!
Also see the petitions on the Petitions page.
Media articles:
Criminal Charges Pressed Against Acting Prime Minister in The Government of Sarajevo Due to Forming Illegal Dog Catching Service
Bosnia: Sarajevo creates unit ‘to catch stray dogs’
U državama u kojima ne vlada zakon prava, vlada zakon linča
Stranka za BiH: Odluka Vlade KS o uklanjanju napuštenih pasa je neustavna i nezakonita
Sarajevo: Podnesena kaznena prijava zbog formiranja ilegalnog šintorskog servisa
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DONATIONS
Funds are needed to help individual rescues, for spay-neuter projects, for education also to continue advocacy work in Bosnia, uncovering the truth about what is happening there.
Donations are managed by AWABosnia, an independent group of animal advocates. On their website, Animal Welfare Advocates for Bosnia, you can set up a monthly donation via PayPal, or if you want to make a one-off donation, please go to your PayPal account (or set one up, it’s very easy) and send the money to: donations@awabosnia.org as a ‘gift’. Click on the image below to be taken to PayPal’s home page.
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This site is dedicated to Vučko. Read his story and don’t let him have suffered and died in vain. Please help the stray dogs and cats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The situation there is utterly dire, Vučko is but one amongst many horrifically abused animals. Even just one dollar or one euro will help make a difference.
IN MEMORY OF VUČKO 
Please help these innocent dogs to live & be treated humanely as they justly deserve!! Stop these monsters and their abusive tactics!!!
Stop that horrible animal abusing !
They are innoucent souls
Government of Canton Sarajevo must punishes the sick animal killers really hard. This fucking evil can never be accepted in Europe and shall be stopped 😦
how inhumane and barbaric. poor animals. they have the right to live aswell as us. god will punish you for killing his animals.
I’m sick to death of the corrupt government, local authorities, mayors and shelter owners/managers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Every year they receive millions of euros (107.8million at the last count) for the solving of the stray problem, but this money does not reach the animals. It is siphoned off by the corrupt. They do not want to put an end to the problem because of the money they receive which goes into their pockets. The EU must stop feeding those greedy, inhumane politicians with EU taxpayer’s hard earned money and demand that they implement the animal protection and welfare law which was passed in 2009. This good welfare law has never been implemented.
OH YES SUE, YOU SPEAK THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. THE MONEY GOES INTO THE POCKETS, MUCH CORRUPTION IN THESE COUNTRIES. VERY SAD BUT TRUE
Terrible action of killing dogs will officially become in September 22th 2014 in Canton Sarajevo, on Cantonal level. There are many cruel attacks against the citizens of Canton Sarajevo who would like to help dogs and other animals to live in better conditions! Murdering, killing of dogs in Canton Sarajevo is gong to start tomorrow, Monday, September 22th 2014. Help us to stop killing, to resolve problem in other way, because the authorities have got 5 million euros to resolve this “problem” in human way. Help us, please to stop killing dogs in terrible way!!!
Bitte helfen Sie diese unschuldigen Hunden zu leben und menschlich behandelt werden, da sie zu Recht verdient !! Stop diese Monster und ihre missbräuchliche Taktik !!!
Fuck you evil assholes! I hope you have the same fate.
Horrible stop
These thugs do not deserve to be a part of the EU. They are too backwards, evil, corrupt and twisted. Sickening mentality. I feel horrible for the animals being tortured. Bastards.
Sick and cheap inhumane way of culling a defenceless animal …..try neutering animals therefore not getting as many strays and only the few ppl want and can afford and not tossed out to become these so called strays ..it’s not the animals fault they are on the streets its mankind’s 😦
Justice for cruelty to animals
This barbaric practice is an afront to a decent society. I find it appalling as a man, that these decisions are taken by other men. As it nearly is always is. These poor animals have the right to shelter and food, and most of all, compassion. Yours, from an irate Scottish man!
They are all living beings they dud nothing wrong. The humans release them home dogs and this is now what happened. So now the humans has to pay for the surgery of each dog. Not the dogs should pay with there lives. Humans are responsible.