Recently Jelena Paunović and other animal activists in Sarajevo went on their rounds to feed stray dogs. They came upon a very sad scene, in Jelena’s words:

“The whole world knows me as “Jelena who helps animals”. From time to time, there is someone who is “surprised” when I share a post to help people. “Oh my God you are helping people too…”

I am not sure if I am helping them, but as a human being, I can, if nothing else, share other’s people troubles and hope some assistance comes their way.

We visited a few places in the city today. We met new people and new animals. People are as miserable and hungry as their dogs are, but they don’t give up on each other. We visited one Gipsy quarter where we met 15 children who feed stray dogs and cats, in spite of the fact that they don’t have anything for themselves.

When we leaving them one girl said that her life wish is to have shoes. The day when we visited them it was raining heavily and the girl was walking barefooted over the garbage where she lives with her parents, brothers and sisters. Hungry dogs and cats were hopping around her, and I was ashamed to be a human being for having thought about the holes in my own sneakers. The girl was looking and me with a hope that I will, somehow, bring her shoes and she will never walk barefoot.

We left the place where they live as best friends, we promised them shoes, chocolate and food for the dogs and cats, but in fact we know we will have to beg good people to help us with this case. We all have shoes but these children every night sleep in a wet bed with dogs and cats they are taking care of.

And please, don’t tell me that they are “dirty Gypsies” and how much money beggars can earn per a day.

I only know that these children were wet, without shoes. In spite of the situation they live in, they were happy because we fed their pets. They hope they we will have chocolate for them next time. They also hope, we will bring some food for their dogs which are living same life as they live.”

Please note that food is desperately needed for feeding stray dogs and cats. 20 Euros a day (about 26 USD) will feed most of the strays visited by Jelena and the other volunteers we are in touch with.

Paypal Donations for the dogs and children in the post above via Andjeo Sarajevo at andjeosarajevo@gmail.com or through our group Animal Welfare Advocates for Bosnia at donations@awabosnia.org – please state for “Gypsy Quarter” and how you would like your money used.

If you live in the UK and can donate supplies for strays (food, veterinary supplies, blankets, collars, leashes, vitamins) or the children above, please send an email to Debbie Birch as we are now able to bring supplies over once a year via Alstrays pet transport and Debbie, who adopted a dog from Bosnia, has offered to co-ordinate.

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DONATIONS Funds are needed not only to help individual rescues and to help us keep safe the rescued dogs we are sponsoring but also to continue our advocacy work in Bosnia, uncovering the truth about what is happening there.

On our sister site, 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.

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 or cause, 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. Even just one dollar or one euro will help.