On Wednesday night Jelena Paunović and other animal welfare activists were notified about a dog in Sarajevo with a devastating wound. They were sent the following two photographs.
Jelena and others went to search for the dog – in an area very far from where most of them lived. But the dog was not found. They went out again yesterday as they heard about another dog who had been run over by a car. They looked for both dogs. The dog with the wounded jaw was not found. And today another search is being made for this dog, but as the dog has no lower jaw or tongue it will be a miracle if it has survived. We know nothing about this dog, how the wound happened.
It is a shocking reminder of what happened to Vučko almost exactly one year ago. If the dog is found, we will do everything to save its life. It is unlikely veterinary surgeons in Bosnia can help so it will require the intervention of an international animal welfare group or individual with a great deal of funds.
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UPDATE DECEMBER 5 This poor dog was found, dead, in someones yard. Just devastating news. Even after a reward was posted, no one found him in time.
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During the search, Jelena and the others fed as many stray dogs as they could. There are over 11,000 strays in Sarajevo. Winter is a very hard time for them, right now there is no snow, but thick snowfall happens every winter, and temperatures plummet to -20 or -30 degrees C. They found adult dogs and puppies, many of them.
When Jelena and her friend Jovanka started the car to leave for another area to search, one dog ran after them and so they pulled off to feed him. When they decided to go, the dog jumped into the car through a half opened window. He was in the car for some time but at the end they had to leave him. It is obvious that dog was left there, thrown out of a car, probably, and that he wanted to jump into another one and leave that place. Jelena said: “My heart was bleeding as we left.”
If you are asking why they did not bring the dog to safety: know that it costs 120 euros a month to put a dog into ‘pension’, and that Jelena already has nearly 20 dogs in pension, and she has no income. She and the other activists who work with her rely 100% on donations to keep these dogs in pension. If you read what Jelena writes at the bottom of this page, you’ll see her reasoning for what dogs she tries to save and the ones she leaves behind. It is always a very very difficult choice. Remember, there are 11,000 strays in Sarajevo. Only two state shelters which are overfull already, and no government support or spay-neuter program.
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UPDATE DECEMBER 5 GOOD NEWS!! This dog has been rescued! Someone in the UK read this page and has generously offered the dog full sponsorship and adoption. Jelena sent out people to find the dog this morning, and he was found! Right now he is in Jelena’s care, until there is a place for him in pension where he can be prepared for travel. He’s been named ‘Billy’.
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And then, they found the dog who was run over. They called him Sanny.
This is the story in Jelena’s words:
“Today, Jovanka and I received a call to inform us that there was a dog hit by the car in one neighborhood in Sarajevo. We went there, seeing many dogs as we searched but all of them playful and unharmed.
After a long time searching Jovanka noticed an injured dog lying on the garbage pile in a ditch. The dog was almost buried under fallen leaves and covered by a bush. We could hardly get him out of there.
At a nearby gate was a very rude guy who lives there, he was very impolite toward us. He saw no point whatsoever in getting this dog out of there and getting him help! Most people here think dogs are unimportant. We managed to take dog out, pack him in the car and of we went looking for a vet station.
A vet a made X-rays and neurological exam. The X-ray showed that the dog’s lower part spine was shattered and there was not much to be done for him. In the end we had to put him to sleep as he had no chance to survive and get better. I spent most of the day with him; it was very exhausting and the only thing that stays as a question: was it worth it?”
Jelena was up at 5 a.m yesterday and went to bed well after 1 a.m. This is ‘normal’ for her and what happened yesterday was not an unusual day. You can imagine how physically and emotionally shattering it is for her and the other activists. I have a hard enough time just posting these blogs. I could not do what she is doing. She needs all the support she can get – not just in donations to help feed strays, rescue wounded strays and so on, but to involve international animal welfare organisations and EU governments to push the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina to make drastic changes to how they and the citizens of their country treat animals. See ACTION TO TAKE and, if you are able, please donate to help cover the costs of what Jelena is doing.
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HOW TO HELP:
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.
Or if you want to use the customised PayPal form, click the link below. However, a transaction fee and a percentage (2- 5.4%) will be deducted by PayPal for any contribution made.
If you want your contribution to go to a specific dog, please make a note in the PayPal comment box. If you wish to contribute via bank transfer or have other difficulties or questions, please go here.
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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. Go here to find out how to help them. Money is needed for food, medicine and foster housing. You can donate via PayPal and I then transfer the money to Bosnia. I can also give you the PayPal email address of my Bosnian animal welfare contacts if you prefer. Even just one dollar or one euro will help.
IN MEMORY OF VUČKO 
Thanks you for everything you do for the dogs. I know you can’t save them all but you are making a difference for the ones you do help. It’s so sad about the paralyzed dog. In another situation, he might have been able to go to a loving home and use a cart. But you did the right thing. Leaving him to starve or be attacked and abused is no way to die. He was warm and loved during his last, peaceful moments. Stay strong. Your work must be so emotional but you are so important to the animals.
I just want to agree with everything that jeanofalltrades said. You are doing wonderful work which matters so much to these poor dogs,,every dog saved is one less on the streets,but it must be heartbreaking to leave the rest,and also knowing that the number will multiply because the dogs aren’t spayed.I hope the other injured dog can be found soon and given relief-I can’t imagine how much suffering he/she is going through.This is so sad. It seems to be happening worldwide with the majority of citizens hating and harming the dogs.I don’t know what the answer is to it. People are parting with their pets due to neglect or financial problems making the dogs homeless,then the dogs breed,causing the numbers to increase.Every town needs to have animal shelters to take them off the streets,but where will the money come from? Thank you for all your hard work and dedication,I’m sure many others appreciate your help.
You are an inspiration, your dedication and love is the only hope these poor animals have. I know how exhausting this is, the physical and emotional toll is inmense. Please stay strong, you are their only hope. Thank you for your labour of love!
thank you for all you do for the dogs .I know the decisions you make are very hard but you are making them right ,I too have and still care for animals as much as i can ,it is heartbreaking but also rewarding thank you god bless
This is horrible, i don’t have words, why the goverment doesn’t help the poor dogs? why is people so cruel, heartless,without compassion to dumb the poor dogs in the streets, Shame on all of them. I can’t stop crying. breaks my heart.
Jelena, ti si hrabra, pametna i divna dusa. Inspiracija za mnoge. Nije lako brinuti se o svim lutalicama, kada vecina oko tebe nemari i sabotira vas. Budi hrabra u ime zivotinja, jer ti si im jedina nada koju imaju. Nemoj da sumnjas u svoje postupke jer oni su ispravni. Imas dobro srce i dosta iskustva o ovom problemu. Ovo ti govorim jer sam u istoj poziciji. Sve cinim da pomognem zivotinjama. Veganista sam, recikliram, doniram novac, kolektiram novac za org. koje se brinu o zivotinjama, adoptiram, hranim i dajem utociste lutalicama. I opet mislim da ne cinim dovoljno, a ima ljudi koji nista od ovoga ne cini i smatraju se bitnim i dostojnim ove planete, a da ne spominjem mucitelje i ubice zivotinja. Na kraju ja ovo ne cinim samo sto je to jedino ispravno nego i radi sebe. Osecaj da sam pomogla nemocnome, nemoze da se menja sa komforom onih koji ne cine nista. Mnogo ti hvala za sve sto cinis da pomognes ovim zivotinjama. Ti si njihova i nasa heroina. Neka je bog sa vama.
Chère Jelena, de bien loin ;; de Rio de Janeiro au Brésil je vous embrasse bien amicalement, que Dieu vous benisse et vous acompagne toujours pour ouvrir devant vous les durs chemins à parcourir ! Que Dieu puisse vous réconforter et rechaufer votre coeur quand les choses deviennent top dificiles et parfois même insuportables ! J’accompagne toujours vos nouvelles et tout ce que vous faites pour nos frères les animaux .. J’espère que en 2013 je puisse vous aider par Pay Pal , je l’espère anxieusement !
Jelena you are a true activist you dont wait you act an i so appreciate all that you do for these dogs i can only imagine the heartbreak in this type of work YOU are an ANGEL!May GOD Bless You!
The dog with missing jaw and tongue was found dead. I have updated the text. I’m so sorry everyone to bring this news.
UPDATE DECEMBER 5 GOOD NEWS!! The dog that jumped into the car has been rescued! Someone in the UK read this page and has generously offered the dog full sponsorship and adoption. Jelena sent out people to find the dog this morning, and he was found! Right now he is in Jelena’s care, until there is a place for him in pension where he can be prepared for travel. He’s been named ‘Billy’.