ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – HOW TO HELP, PART SIX

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

THERE IS A NEW PETITION ON AVAAZ. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE:

STOP BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA FROM IMPLEMENTING KILL-LAW AMENDMENTS TO THEIR ANIMAL WELFARE ACT

I know there are many petitions, and what will one more do? Each petition is slightly different, and reaches a different audience as change.org, Care2 and Avaaz have their own ‘networks’; also each petition will be printed out and the number of signatures attached and submitted to the BiH Parliament. The more the better.

ALSO: please continue to write to EU MEPs, your country’s embassy in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the EU Intergroup. If you have written before and received no answer, PLEASE WRITE AGAIN.

YOU CAN USE ALL OR PARTS OF THE NEW PETITION LETTER ON AVAAZ, SEE BELOW. PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN THE LETTER WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND IDEALLY TO SEND IT INDIVIDUALLY RATHER THAN TO BLOCK EMAIL ADDRESSES.

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Dear

For some time in Bosnia and Herzegovina mass hysteria about stray animals has been systematically created by continuous political and media propaganda that aims to get public attention and direct citizens away from more pressing problems: unemployment, the failing economy, organised crime, corruption, failure of institutions to implement laws, the crime rate, which is continuously increasing.
Instead public attention is directed to those who cannot defend themselves, who are not guilty because they are abandoned and who are themselves victims of a dysfunctional and corrupt system in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the stray animal populations.

The burgeoning stray animal population, that has been caused by people is being publicised as an “animal problem”.

For months certain political parties and media spread hatred against stray dogs in particular, and intentionally are causing fear and hatred. Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have almost no interest in a humane reduction of stray animals.

The large number of stray animals on the streets of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a direct consequence of a failure to implement the existing Animal Protection and Welfare Act. It is a fact that an increasing number of stray dogs on the streets is always a direct consequence of the failure to implement preventative measures which are provided by this Animal Protection and Welfare Act.

And instead of making provisions to implement the law, a proposal for changes and amendments to the Animal Protection and Welfare Law has been made by Nermina Zaimović – Uzunović, a member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly and a member of the Social Democratic Party, amendments which contain primitive and inhumane provisions for the euthanasia of healthy stray animals that are fostered in shelters if they are not adopted in 14 days.

This provision is not enforceable or advisable in practice because of the following reasons:

1) Euthanasia deals only with symptoms but not the causes of stray animal population problems. It will not lead to population management and must not be relied upon as a sole response to such problems. The focus of euthanasia of healthy stray dogs is on the consequence, not the cause of the problem. If causes that lead to the abandonment of animals are not resolved, the problem will continue. if those who are responsible for the implementation of the Animal Protection Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the media and political parties are only focused on consequences and not on the causes, the problem of stray animals will not be solved by any method.

2) Euthanasia as a way to manage the population of abandoned animals is five times more expensive than the implementation of TNR / CNR methods (catch – spay/neuter – release) and the construction of shelters for stray animals–which should function as centres for the adoption of stray animals.

Does this mean there is money for killing stray animals, but there is no money to implement the existing Animal Protection and Welfare Law? The proposed amendments do not lay out a financing plan nor do they offer money-saving solutions. The costs of euthanasia are 30% higher than those of neutering/spaying.

3) Nowhere in the world has euthanasia solved the problem of stray dogs for any period of time.

4) In Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in other parts of the world, there is no system that would efficiently and without consequences to the environment solve the problem of vast amounts of biological waste resulting from mass euthanasia. The proposed amendments to the BiH Animal Welfare Act do not include any mechanism that would allow the country to remove corpses of dead animals in large numbers, no provision for financing such a project.

In practice what does the implementation of these the proposed amendments to the BiH Animal Welfare Law mean?

This proposal aims to provide a carte blanche for the mass killing of stray animals, and to conveniently put aside four years of inaction regarding the implementation of the existing Animal Protection and Welfare Law. The existing law includes provisions for identification and registration of ownership of dogs. Irresponsible owners abandoning dogs and owners refusing to sterilise their free-roaming dogs are some of the main causes of the stray dog population problem. The proposer of the new amendments does not mention these issues, nor offers a plan for improvement of implementation of the existing provisions. This means the problem will keep occurring: the cause is being ignored and only the result is being addressed.

Also, this proposal removes responsibility for the above mentioned inaction from the lower levels of government, the veterinary profession, inspections and police, a responsibility and its implementation which is clearly and precisely provided by the existing Animal Protection and Welfare Law.

It was clear even to the minister who proposed the disputed new provisions and her political party that implementation of the provisions of the euthanasia of healthy stray animals is technically and financially impossible. Humane euthanasia practises are costly — this requires trained professionals and expensive drugs. Dogs in shelters are known to be ‘euthanised’ inhumanely in a number of ways including clubbing. Images from other state shelters show starving dogs and dog corpses left amongst living dogs.

The new amendments are intended to mask the massacres of stray animals that will occur. The proposed amendments clearly reveal considerable inconsistencies. For example, keeping the obligation to invest in mass neutering, but also dictating obligatory allocation of funds to euthanise these very same dogs.

The existing Animal Protection and Welfare Law is an absolutely enforceable and functional law and it is not enforced because of political interests. After four years from adoption and entry into force of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law, there are continued obstructions to its implementation. Also, enormous funds have been laundered through the so-called shelters for stray animals, whose owners, directors, managers, are people close to the local municipal authorities.

The building of shelters for stray animals is, in fact, supposed to be completed in all cities by May, 2010. They are not completed. The proposed new amendments for euthanasia of healthy stray animals will provide income to complete work that should have been done over 3 years ago: dogs will be inhumanely killed in order to allow for this redirection of the use of the money to build shelters. Moreover new shelters will certainly continue to be completely inadequate for the health and well-being of dogs kept there, as has been documented regarding existing shelters all over the country, both new and old.

Furthermore, the European Union provides the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina with many millions of euros worth of financial aid each year. The allocation for 2012 was around €107.8m. Our understanding of the provisos attached to these aid packages is that there is a requirement for the recipient country to abide by EU laws which would include the laws related to animal welfare.

If EU funding is being abused, why should tax payers money be promoting a regime which has no intention of upholding our standards of animal welfare and who seek to become members of the EU in the near future? What is going on here, with millions of Euros going to waste and animal suffering combined?

In the 2nd reading and voting on the proposed amendments to the of Animal Protection and Welfare Law which was held on 20th November, 19 representatives in House of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina were against the new amendments, 22 of them were for, but there was not an entity majority from Republic of Srpska so the law was not changed. Since there was not entity majority, new voting will be on 5th December, 2013.

If the BiH Parliament votes for proposed amendments, there will be significantly negative consequences for the strays of the country, providing easy routes to continued inhumane ‘euthanasia’ of healthy strays (even those who have already been through spay-neuter programs!) and continued misuse of funds intended for the benefit of the strays.

Can you raise these issues to your counterparts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and in EU Parliament, and comment as to how this situation appears to be on going and unaddressed?

Immediate international pressure on representatives of the BiH Parliament who are for “the kill law“ is extremely important in order to influence them to change their attitude towards the proposed amendments, and to seek, rather, to implement all provisos of what is a very good Animal Welfare Act.

Kind regards,

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WHERE TO SEND THE LETTER:

1. MEPs

Find your MEP here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/map.html

2. Eurogroup for Animals

President: Dan Jørgensen (S&D – Denmark)
dan.jorgensen@europarl.europa.eu
Honorary President: Carl Schlyter (Greens/EFA – Sweden)
carl.schlyter@europarl.europa.eu
Honorary Secretary: Marit Paulsen (ALDE – Sweden)
marit.paulsen@europarl.europa.eu

Vice Presidents:

Kriton Arsenis (S&D – Greece)
kriton.arsenis@europarl.europa.eu
Jacqueline Foster (ECR – United Kingdom)
jacqueline.foster@europarl.europa.eu
Nadja Hirsch  (ALDE – Germany)
nadja.hirsch@europarl.europa.eu
Elisabeth Jeggle (EPP – Germany)
elisabeth.jeggle@europarl.europa.eu
Jörg Leichtfried (S&D – Austria)
joerg.leichtfried@europarl.europa.eu
Kartika Tamara Liotard (GUE/NGL – Netherlands)
kartikatamara.liotard@europarl.europa.eu
David Martin (S&D -United Kingdom)
david.martin@europarl.europa.eu
Sirpa Pietikäinen  (EPP – Finland)
sirpa.pietikainen@europarl.europa.eu
Raül Romeva i Rueda (Greens/EFA – Spain)
raul.romevairueda@europarl.europa.eu
Daciana Sârbu  (S&D, Romania)
dacianaoctavia.sarbu@europarl.europa.eu
Michèle Striffler (EPP – France)
michele.striffler@europarl.europa.eu
Janusz Wojciechowski (ECR – Poland)
janusz.wojciechowski@europarl.europa.eu

You can also write to the Italian members, but note that they have made a public stand against the amendments:

Cristiana Muscardini (EPP – Italy)
cristiana.muscardini@europarl.europa.eu
Andrea Zanoni (ALDE – Italy)
andrea.zanoni@europarl.europa.eu

3. EMBASSIES

Find your Embassy in Bosnia-Herzegovina:
http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/bosnia-and-herzegovina

Listing of some Embassies in Bosnia-Herzegovina:

Australian Consulate in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: mirsada@prismresearch.ba

Austrian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sarajewo-ob@bmeia.gv.at

Belgian Consulate in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: Sarajevo@diplobel.fed.be
Belgian Embassy: sarajevo@diplobel.fed.be

Canadian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: bpest@international.gc.ca (note, this is in Hungary, seems that there isn’t a specific CDN embassy in Bosnia)

Croatian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: croemb.sarajevo@mvpei.hr

Czech Embassy in Saravejo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sarajevo@embassy.mzv.cz

Danish Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sjjamb@um.dk

French Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sarajevo.consulaire@diplomatie.gouv.fr

German Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
E-Mail: info@sarajewo.diplo.de

Italian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: amb.sarajevo@esteri.it

Japanese Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: japanbih@sx.mofa.go.jp

Dutch Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sar@minbuza.nl, sar-ca@minbuza.nl

Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: emb.sarajevo@mfa.no

Slovenian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: vsa@gov.si, kbl@gov.si

Swedish Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: ambassaden.sarajevo-visum@foreign.ministry.se

British Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: ConsularEnquiries.sarajevo@fco.gov.uk

American Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: bhopa@state.gov, consularservicesba@state.gov

Finland Embassy for BiH is situated in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Email: sanomat.lju@formin.fi

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As stated in other posts, the activists need our support with donations to help them in the next days to campaign. Even if the law goes through, there is much they can do: all shelters need to be closely monitored to try to ensure that any ‘euthanisation’ as required by these proposed amendments is humane and that all other aspects of the Animal Welfare Law are implemented. Any amount will help, no matter how small.

There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law Activists in BiH are doing their best to educate and collect signatures – they need our support!

Please sign and share the petitions!

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

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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 . 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.

Anti-Kill Law: Latest News

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

There were not enough votes from the Ministers from the Republic of Srpska to legislate the amendments to the Bosnia-Herzegovina Animal Welfare Act today. 19 Ministers were against the kill law, 21 Ministers were for the kill law, but as there was not a majority the law was not changed. Since there was not a majority, new voting will be on 5th December. According to activists, many members of the House of Representatives are angry because of the emails they have received from us. Activists are asking us to be careful with emails. “We need a new approach. We need a new strategy,” they say. It’s possible that angering the Ministers will backfire.

The main news is that the position of those against the amendments is much better now!

But.. “We must not be aggressive with emails,” state the activists.

The activists are all exhausted and need to re-group. Please return for suggestions on the next phase of our campaign!

If you haven’t watched the excellent documentary Kinofil, please do so now – it will help explain why we need to heed what the activists say.

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There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law Activists in BiH are doing their best to educate and collect signatures – they need our support!

Please sign and share the petitions!
Please join the Facebook Event.

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

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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.

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ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – HOW TO HELP, PART FIVE

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

The second reading in Parliament of the amendments to the Animal Welfare Act happens tomorrow, 20th November, 2013. We need to make a big effort to send letters to the ministers who will be in the session. See below for all details!

EDIT NOVEMBER 22ND: Activists are asking us to be careful with emails. “We need a new approach. We need a new strategy,” they say. It’s possible that angering the Ministers will backfire. I TRUST THIS ADVICE AS I KNOW THE MENTALITY OF THESE PEOPLE. SO FOR NOW PLEASE DO NOT SEND EMAILS OR FAXES TO BIH MINISTERS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO EMAIL EU MEPs, Embassies in Sarajevo and the EU Eurogroup/Intergroup, international welfare organisations! DETAILS ON THE ACTION TO TAKE PAGE.

And some bad news:

One man from Sarajevo, contacted one of the activists yesterday and sent her this photo. The activists went immediately to the area but could not find the dog, only bloodstains. It is believed the dog is pregnant. Activists will keep looking for her. This is not a first time dogs are killed at this place...

Regarding the proposed amendments to the law. someone from Bosnia-Herzegovina has put it very well: “But the main issue is how this law will (NOT) be implemented. Bosnia has very high level of coruption and this law will be used for money laundering mainly and animals will NOT be treated with respect NOR will they be “euthanized”, but rather murdered as it is happening in Romania. That is why we are fighting this fight, because those of us who have lived in Bosnia long enough, we know how things there work..(or it’s better to say don’t work).. Animals will be killed in number of inhumane way you can think of, and I guess we are their last line of defence..”

I have been given a new suggestion from one of the activists for letters to try and persuade the authorities to actually implement the Animal Welfare Act and not make changes to it. It’s a good suggestion. Can you spare a few minutes and send a letter as described below to the email addresses listed?

“The group who wants to change the law says they do it because tourists are afraid to come to Bosnia-Herzegovina because of stray dogs and because of this our economy suffers.

So, what about starting the opposite petition/letters by saying that tourists don’t want to come to BiH because they hate to come to a country which has bloody streets and bloody hands, which isn’t humane and doesn’t have humane people who have not learned anything from the previous wars.

Put many adjectives. This is the way for direct attack on economy: our government loves money…

Four types of letters could be sent:

1. One from a potential tourist who is afraid to visit a bloody country

2. Another letter from people from BiH but who do not live in it – saying they can’t imagine to come back into such a bloody country

3. Another letter from foreign workers who are in BiH because of their job -they would not come to BiH but because of their job they have to

4. Another letter from us who live in the country – we don’t want to live here in such a country but we cant leave from it because we don’t have anywhere to go.

The letter should be personal and consist of a lot of feelings about this huge problem, it should be sensitive and emotional.

In addition to sending to the relevant politicians the letters should be sent to the ministry of tourism and to BiH travel agencies.”

Please write your own letter. But here are two drafts you can use and personalise, if you fit into the ‘potential tourist’ category – NOTE THAT THE FIRST LETTER STATES ‘concerned American citizen’ PLEASE ALTER THIS TO FIT YOUR NATIONALITY BEFORE SENDING.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you in hopes that you take what I have to say into consideration when voting regarding Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Animal Welfare Act amendments. Currently, not everyone is aware of the overwhelming situation in BiH concerning stray/street dogs and cats. However, this information is spreading – as I am proof. I have been traumatized by what I have read and learned. If someone told me of the brutal killings, these massacres, I would not have believed it until researching it myself. First I learned about Romania – of which no words can express my disdain. How could civilized people do such horrific acts? Where does it end? I have found myself as much involved as the people living amongst this devastating situation. How can any country that treats it’s defenseless inhabitants like vermin expect that anyone would want to run the risk of spending time there?

What could that possibly be like…seeing puppies watch their mother beaten to death, so innocently knowing this is what to become of them, passing numerous dogs on the street dead due to lethal injections of bleach or food poisoning – these are horrible sights that I would not want to expose myself or to those I love. From what I’ve read, the citizen’s of Bosnia Herzegovina are struggling from the results of this kind of behavior – poor economy, mental anguish, fear for their future, to name a few. With that said, Bosnia Herzegovina is not on my list of desirable places to visit. I could not financially support a county that disrespects life.

Please, for the sake of all life, do not make amendments to the current laws, but strengthen them and enforce them – for that is the only solution that will reduce and eventually end your over population. You have hundreds of caring civilians willing to help you, I urge you to take advantage of that, work in unity – for the strength of a nation is determined by it’s people. Closing your eyes to these challenges will not solve the problem.

As a concerned American citizen for all living beings, even as far away as America, the pleas of the Bosnia Herzegovinian people are deafening. They cry for justice for the helpless and the needy…be they human or animal – and I join them in their plight. This is not only a European problem, we too, have an overpopulation of stray animals. We’re not perfect but our shelter workers care deeply for our homeless pets, treat them with respect, and work hard to find them loving homes.

You may see me as only one person with these concerns, but I am not alone in my feelings. Please take heed in my words, for I speak for thousands of those that are aware and soon thousands more that will soon be.

Kind Regards,

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Dear Honourable Ministers,

I have always wanted to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina and have great compassion for your people’s suffering in the past wars. But unless the proposed amendments to the Animal Welfare Act are voted against, I will never, ever visit. I have been utterly shocked at the callous treatment of stray animals in your country and will campaign to ensure the world knows that your people, your government has not learned any compassion after the horrific wars you have suffered.

Please know that I am in touch with a number of people in BiH who have documented the conditions in your so-called ‘dog shelters’, and that if these amendments are to go through, the situation will only get worse. The BiH Animal Welfare Act is one of the best in the world, and you can be a guiding light for all countries by upholding and implementing it rather than chipping away at it and continuing to encourage the kind of atrocities that happen on a daily basis in the streets and fields of BiH.

We will mount a worldwide boycott of tourism in your country should these amendments be voted in. Please know that the power of social networking is enormous and we will make every effort to tell the world of what is really happening.

The ONLY long-term way to curb stray animal populations is through trap-neuter-return. Euthanisation in the shelters will do nothing, other than allow for continued illegal activities: inhumane killing, profiteering from public funds, selling of stolen dogs.

Please take heed of my words, for I speak for thousands of those that are aware and soon thousands more that will soon be.

Kind Regards,

WHO TO SEND A LETTER TO:

Ministers who voted before, FOR the amendments:

1. Milorad Zivkovic (SNSD) – milorad.zivkovic@parlament.ba – Fax + 387 33 21 10 28
2. Anto Domazet (SDP) – anto.domazet@parlament.ba
3. Mirza Kusljugic (SDP) – mirza.kusljugic@parlament.ba
4. Mirsad Mesic (SDP) – mirsad.mesic@parlament.ba
5. Nermina Zaimovic – Uzunovic (SDP) –
nermina.zaimovic-uzunovic@parlament.ba
6. Nermina Cemalovic (SDP) – nermina.cemalovic@parlament.ba
7. Slavko Jovicic (SNSD) – slavko-slavuj.jovicic@parlament.ba
8. Drago Kalabic (SNSD) – drago.kalabic@parlament.ba
9. Asim Sarajlic (SDA) – asim.sarajlic@parlament.ba
10. Semsudin Mehmedovic (SDA) – semsudin.mehmedovic@parlament.ba
11. Sefik Dzaferovic (SDA) – sefik.dzaferovic@parlament.ba
12. Salko Sokolovic (SDA) – salko.sokolovic@parlament.ba
13. Petar Kunic (DNS) – petar.kunic@parlament.ba
14. Sasa Bursac (SNSD) – sasa.bursac@parlament.ba
15. Milica Markovic (SNSD) – milica.markovic@parlament.ba
16. Zijad Jagodic (SDA) – zijad.jagodic@parlament.ba
17. Senad Sepic (SDA) – senad.sepic@parlament.ba
18. Mirsad Dugum (SBB) – mirsad.dugum@parlament.ba

E-mail block of the above (better to send individual emails, but if you can’t, use this):

milorad.zivkovic@parlament.ba, anto.domazet@parlament.ba, mirza.kusljugic@parlament.ba, mirsad.mesic@parlament.ba, nermina.zaimovic-uzunovic@parlament.ba, nermina.cemalovic@parlament.ba, slavko-slavuj.jovicic@parlament.ba, drago.kalabic@parlament.ba, asim.sarajlic@parlament.ba, semsudin.mehmedovic@parlament.ba, sefik.dzaferovic@parlament.ba,salko.sokolovic@parlament.ba, petar.kunic@parlament.ba, sasa.bursac@parlament.ba, milica.markovic@parlament.ba, zijad.jagodic@parlament.ba, senad.sepic@parlament.ba, mirsad.dugum@parlament.ba

Not present in Parliament:

Bozo Ljubic (HDZ) – bozo.ljubic@parlament.ba Fax + 387 33 28 44 43
Azra Hadziahmetovic (SBiH) – azra.hadziahmetovic@parlament.ba Fax: +387 33 226 841
Ismeta Dervoz (SBB) – ismeta.dervoz@parlament.ba
Mladen Ivanovic (SRzB) –
mladen.ivankovic-lijanovic@parlament.ba
Zvonko Jurisic (HSP) – zvonko.jurisic@parlament.ba
Vesna Krstovic (PDP) – vesna.krstovic-spremo@parlament.ba
Sasa Magazinovic (SDP) – sasa.magazinovic@parlament.ba Fax: +387 33563-918
Danijela Martinovic (SDP) – danijela.martinovic@parlament.ba
Amir Fazlic (SDA) – amir.fazlic@parlament.ba
Aleksandra Pandurevic (SDS) – aleksandra.pandurevic@parlament.ba
Nermin Puric (DNZ) – nermin.puric@parlament.ba

Abstained:

Denis Becirovic (SDP) – denis.becirovic@parlament.ba
Fax + 387 33 28 44 56

E-mail block of the above (better to send individual emails, but if you can’t, use this):

bozo.ljubic@parlament.ba, azra.hadziahmetovic@parlament.ba, ismeta.dervoz@parlament.ba, mladen.ivankovic-lijanovic@parlament.ba, zvonko.jurisic@parlament.ba, vesna.krstovic-spremo@parlament.ba, sasa.magazinovic@parlament.ba,danijela.martinovic@parlament.ba, amir.fazlic@parlament.ba, aleksandra.pandurevic@parlament.ba, nermin.puric@parlament.ba, denis.becirovic@parlament.ba

OTHERS:

Mr. Zlatko Lagumdžija
Minister of Foreign Affairs
fax: + 387 33 444 766
Fax: +387 33227156
E-mail: info_mvpbih@mvp.gov.ba

Deputy Minister: Ana Trišić-Babić
fax: ++ 387 33 221-779
fax: ++ 387 281-303

President of the SDP Party
Jasenko Selimovic
predsjednik@sdp.ba

Jasenko Selimovic is also
Chairman of SDP caucus at Parliament
jasenko.selimovic@sdp.ba
Fax:+387 33563-913

General Secretary SDP
Email – generalni.sekretar@sdp.ba
Fax:+387 33563-901

President of the Central Committee of SDP BiH:
Pudarić Svetozar
Fax:+387 33563-934
E-mail:
predsjednik-glavnog-odbora@sdp.ba

Office of International Cooperation SDP BiH
Head Office:
Sasa Magazinović
Fax: +387 33563-918
E-mail:
international.department@sdp.ba

Caucus of SDP BiH members: Saša Magazinović (Chair of the Caucus), Danijela Martinović (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Denis Bećirović, Nermina Ćemalović, Anto Domazet, Mladen Ivanković – Lijanović, Mirza Kušljugić, Mirsad Mešić, Nermina Zaimović – Uzunović
fax: + 387 33 71 37 40
e-mail: klubsdp@parlament.ba

Caucus of SNSD members: Drago Kalabić (Chair of the Caucus), Lazar Prodanović (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Saša Bursać, Slavko Jovičić, Petar Kunić, Dušanka Majkić, Milica Marković, Boško Tomić, Milorad Živković
fax: + 387 33 22 68 41
e-mail: klubsnsd@parlament.ba

Caucus of SDA members: Asim Sarajlić (Chair of the Caucus), Šemsudin Mehmedović (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Šefik Džaferović, Amir Fazlić, Zijad Jagodić, Salko Sokolović, Senad Šepić
fax: + 387 33 71 37 21
e-mail: klubsda@parlament.ba

Caucus of SDS members: Mladen Bosić (Chair of the Caucus), Darko Babalj (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Borislav Bojić, Vesna Krstović – Spremo, Aleksandra Pandurević
fax: + 387 33 22 68 41
e-mail: klubsds@parlament.ba

Caucus of SBB BiH members: Mirsad Đugum (Chair of the Caucus), Ismeta Dervoz (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Adnan Bašić, Emir Kabil
fax: + 387 33 28 60 51
e-mail: klubsbbbih@parlament.ba

Caucus of HDZ members: Mato Franjičević (Chair of the Caucus), Niko Lozančić (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Dragan Vrankić
fax: + 387 33 28 44 43
e-mail: klubhdz@parlament.ba

Mixed caucus of members from peoples parties: Božo Ljubić (Chair of the Caucus), Zvonko Jurišić (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Nermin Purić
kontakt telefon: + 387 33 28 44 91
fax: + 387 33 28 60 90
e-mail: mklubns@parlament.ba

Secretary of the House of Peoples, Marin Vukoja
Fax + 387 33 28 60 56
marin.vukoja@parlament.ba

Staša Košarac (Speaker of the House of Peoples)
Fax + 387 33 71 37 60
stasa.kosarac@parlament.ba

Ph. D Dragan Čović (Speaker of the House of Peoples)
Fax + 387 33 65 43 57
dragan.covic@parlament.ba

Sulejman Tihić (Speaker of the House of Peoples)
Fax + 387 33 71 37 11
sulejman.tihic@parlament.ba

Bosniak People Caucus: Halid Genjac (Chair of the Caucus), Hasan Bećirović (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Mehmed Bradarić, Nermina Kapetanović, Sulejman Tihić
Fax: + 387 33 22 68 41
E-mail: klubdbn@parlament.ba

Croat People Caucus: Borjana Krišto (Chair of the Caucus), Martin Raguž (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Dragan Čović, Stjepan Krešić, Krunoslav Vrdoljak
Fax: + 387 33 22 68 41
E-mail: klubdhn@parlament.ba

Serb People Caucus: Staša Košarac (Chair of the Caucus), Dragutin Rodić (Deputy Chair of the Caucus), Mladen Ivanić, Krstan Simić, Ognjen Tadić
Fax: + 387 33 22 68 41
E-mail: klubdsn@parlament.ba

BiH Council of Ministers
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations
fax: + 387 33 220 091
+387 33 445 911
e-mail: kab.ministra@mvteo.gov.ba
info@mvteo.gov.ba

E-mail block of the above (better to send individual emails, but if you can’t, use this):

kab.ministra@mvteo.gov.ba, info@mvteo.gov.ba, klubdsn@parlament.ba, klubdhn@parlament.ba,
klubdbn@parlament.ba, sulejman.tihic@parlament.ba, dragan.covic@parlament.ba,

stasa.kosarac@parlament.ba, marin.vukoja@parlament.ba, mklubns@parlament.ba, klubhdz@parlament.ba,

klubsbbbih@parlament.ba, klubsds@parlament.ba, klubsda@parlament.ba,

klubsnsd@parlament.ba, klubsdp@parlament.ba, international.department@sdp.ba,

predsjednik-glavnog-odbora@sdp.ba,

generalni.sekretar@sdp.ba,

jasenko.selimovic@sdp.ba, info_mvpbih@mvp.gov.ba

COMPLETE E-EMAIL BLOCK OF ALL THE ABOVE:

milorad.zivkovic@parlament.ba, anto.domazet@parlament.ba, mirza.kusljugic@parlament.ba, mirsad.mesic@parlament.ba, nermina.zaimovic-uzunovic@parlament.ba, nermina.cemalovic@parlament.ba, slavko-slavuj.jovicic@parlament.ba, drago.kalabic@parlament.ba, asim.sarajlic@parlament.ba, semsudin.mehmedovic@parlament.ba, sefik.dzaferovic@parlament.ba,salko.sokolovic@parlament.ba, petar.kunic@parlament.ba, sasa.bursac@parlament.ba, milica.markovic@parlament.ba, zijad.jagodic@parlament.ba, senad.sepic@parlament.ba, mirsad.dugum@parlament.ba, kab.ministra@mvteo.gov.ba, info@mvteo.gov.ba, klubdsn@parlament.ba, klubdhn@parlament.ba, klubdbn@parlament.ba, sulejman.tihic@parlament.ba, dragan.covic@parlament.ba, stasa.kosarac@parlament.ba, marin.vukoja@parlament.ba, mklubns@parlament.ba, klubhdz@parlament.ba, klubsbbbih@parlament.ba, klubsds@parlament.ba, klubsda@parlament.ba, klubsnsd@parlament.ba, klubsdp@parlament.ba, international.department@sdp.ba, predsjednik-glavnog-odbora@sdp.ba, generalni.sekretar@sdp.ba, jasenko.selimovic@sdp.ba, info_mvpbih@mvp.gov.ba, bozo.ljubic@parlament.ba, azra.hadziahmetovic@parlament.ba, ismeta.dervoz@parlament.ba, mladen.ivankovic-lijanovic@parlament.ba, zvonko.jurisic@parlament.ba, vesna.krstovic-spremo@parlament.ba, sasa.magazinovic@parlament.ba,danijela.martinovic@parlament.ba, amir.fazlic@parlament.ba, aleksandra.pandurevic@parlament.ba, nermin.puric@parlament.ba, denis.becirovic@parlament.ba

The following Ministers previously voted against changes of the law:

1.Beriz Belkic (SBiH)
2. Adnan Basic (SBB)
3. Emil Kabil (SBB)
4. Bosko Tomic (SNSD)
5. Lazar Prodanovic (SNSD)
6. Dusanka Majkic (SNSD)
7. Mato Franjicevic (HDZ)
8. Niko Lozancic (HDZ)
9. Dragan Vrankic (HDZ)
10. Mladen Bosic (SDS)
11. Borislav Bojic (SDS)
12. Darko Babalj (SDS)

In the next post I will list some Tourist Agencies to send the letter to.

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There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law Activists in BiH are doing their best to educate and collect signatures – they need our support!

Please sign and share the petitions!

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – HOW TO HELP, PART FOUR

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

Thanks to donations activists have been hard at work collecting signatures and campaigning. They have once again put up posters all over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Translation of the poster above: They do not have voting rights, but we do! For politicians supporting killing: no votes. Do you know what will happen if the new Law is passed. They will take us from the streets to death camps. Do not be accomplices because they are using your money to fund the killings. Stop manipulations and stealing.

Dogs Trust BiH has created up a petition, which if you sign sends an automatic email to politicians ahead of the vote on the 20th November asking them to stop the bill and rather work with them to reduce the numbers of dogs abandoned onto the street and left to suffer.

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE WIDELY: DOGS TRUST PETITION

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law Activists in BiH are doing their best to educate and collect signatures – they need our support!

Please sign and share the petitions!

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

Anti-Kill Law: Latest News

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

Bad news. The Legal – Constitutional Committee of the House of Representatives has refused to adopt any amendments that would mitigate the amendments the SDP party has advocated: amendments that will result in mass killing of strays.

Two votes were for these mitigating amendments, three against and there were two abstentions. We do not know who abstained.

The next step is a second reading on the 20th of November and then voting in the following B&H Parliament session – probably 15 days after the second reading, we don’t know.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is one step closer to what is happening in Romania.

Klix.ba article: Constitutional Commission rejected amendments against euthanasia of stray dogs

This has happened regardless of numerous appeals and letters, including a letter to the BiH authorities from Andrea Zanoni, the Italian MEP and vice-president of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare and Conservation of Animals to the European Parliament, (see his letter here) and a media appeal, co-ordinated by Dogs Trust and activists, from BiH celebrities, including one of the most popular and best football players from Bosnia Herzegovina, Edin Džeko, who said: “Solving the problem YES, killing NO!“

Please do not give up. Please continue to send letters as requested in the other posts (see the list of related posts below, but particularly this one for the latest request for letters). If you know a journalist, please contact them to see if they might do a story on what is happening. Below is a list of email addresses of international media, and you can send an email to them but it’s unlikely they will do a story without a direct connection with someone. But we can but try. There are draft letters to use in the other posts.

voanews@voanews.com, editor@medialens.org, peter.beaumont@observer.co.uk, bill.neely@itn.co.uk, jonathan.munro@itn.co.uk, e.macaskill@guardian.co.uk, ian.black@guardian.co.uk, paul.johnson@guardian.co.uk, alan.rusbridger@guardian.co.uk, mike.wooldridge@bbc.co.uk, steve.herrmann@bbc.co.uk, Craig.oliver@bbc.co.uk, peter.horrocks@bbc.co.uk, helenboaden.complaints@bbc.co.uk, fncspecials@foxnews.com, fns@foxnews.com, newswatch@foxnews.com, foxreport@foxnews.com, foxreport@foxnews.com, jer@foxnews.com, yourquestions@foxnews.com, viewerservices@foxnews.com, editor@mediaguardian.co.uk, Special@foxnews.com, FOXaroundtheworld@foxnews.com, rick.davis@turner.com, jim.walton@turner.com, 48hours@cbsnews.com, bpc@cbsnews.com, evening@cbsnews.com, pma@cbsnews.com, grain@cbsnews.com, 360@cnn.com, candy.crowley@turner.com, jeanne.meserve@turner.com, info@bbc.co.uk, news@bbc.co.uk, info@rai.it, mail@rai.it, news@rai.it, editor@foxnews.com, info@foxnews.com, mail@foxnews.com, news@foxnews.com, marije.cornelissen@europarl.europa.eu, esther.delange@europarl.europa.eu, bas.eickhout@europarl.europa.eu, lucas.hartong@europarl.europa.eu, kartikatamara.liotard@europarl.europa.eu, judith.merkies@europarl.europa.eu, judith.sargentini@europarl.europa.eu, lambert.vannistelrooij@europarl.europa.eu, gerben-jan.gerbrandy@europarl.europa.eu, letters@nytimes.com

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There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law Activists in BiH are doing their best to educate and collect signatures – they need our support!

Please sign and share the petitions

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – HOW TO HELP, PART THREE

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

I have been asked by the lead activists in Bosnia-Herzegovina to request that the following letters be written and sent by Friday the 15th of November or earlier (the Constitutional-Legal Committee of the House of Representatives in BiH will initiate debate on the proposed law and submit any amendments on the 14th November).

Letters need to be sent from UK, EU and USA to your UK/USA Embassies in Sarajevo requesting action from their side in persuading the BiH Parliament not to vote in the new amendments to the Animal Welfare Act. We need to have as many letters as possible sent to the embassies by Friday. I know some of you have already done this, but please, do it again.

Below is one draft letter. Please sign it, and please personalise it if you can, or use parts of it to create your own. It would be much better if they receive different letters rather than the same ones!

Some email addresses of Embassies are below the letter.

Dear Sir, Madam,

As I’m sure you are aware, Bosnia Herzegovina is planning amendments to their Animal Welfare Act, amendments which will have dire consequences for stray dogs and cats. The proposal for these changes has already been legislated in the first reading in House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. 18 representatives were for changes of the Law, and 12 representatives were against changes of the Law. 11 representatives were not present at the session of House of Representatives.

I request that you strongly urge the BiH government not to change the law but rather to start enforcing it. The current BiH Animal Welfare Act is excellent, it is just not enforced.

The Legal – Constitutional Committee of the House of Representatives in Bosnia Herzegovina shall initiate debate on the proposed law and submit amendments on the 14th November. The second reading of the proposed changes is scheduled for 20th November, so time is short.

So far, only the Italian Government has intervened on behalf of the stray dogs of BiH. The Italian Ambassador in Bosnia, Mr Ruggero Corrias, asked BiH politicians to start enforcing the existing law, not to amend it. (Please see: http://www.lastampa.it/2013/10/24/societa/lazampa/bosnia-italia-chiede-al-parlamento-di-non-uccidere-i-cani-randagi-1wZsHQNIoyP6Rr1e0aKywI/pagina.html.)

I ask you to follow the Italian example.

If proposed changes become effective, euthanasia would be performed within 15 days from a stray dog’s arrival in a shelter. While this may sound like an effective way to deal with a burgeoning stray animal population, typically in BiH, ‘euthanasia’ is performed by clubbing, injections of bleach, and other similarly torturous methods. Of course, there are more humane, internationally acceptable and proven methods to control the stray dog population, in particular Trap-Neuter-Return. International animal welfare groups have been assisting in Bosnia Herzegovina as well as in other countries in the region, to control the street dog population, and there are many examples of success. For example Dogs Trust completed a sterilisation program in June 2013, sterilizing 3000 dogs. If the new amendments to the Animal Welfare Act are implemented, it’s highly likely these 3000 dogs will be taken to shelters and ‘euthanised’.

Also, please note that funds poured into government shelters are commonly misused, with none of the funds actually going to the care of the dogs.

Right now Praca Shelter in Sarajevo is undergoing investigation regarding how funds – BAM 1,000,000.00 (€500,000 or $ 700,000) – were actually used (recent visits to this shelter once again show absolutely horrific conditions). It is common knowledge amongst animal activists in Bosnia Herzegovina that public shelters are used for money laundering. If the proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Law are implemented, it will simply mean it is easier for the shelters to continue an influx of dogs, killing them in the cheapest way possible (not humanely) and using the funds elsewhere, not for the dogs.

The existing Animal Welfare and Protection Act of Bosnia-Herzegovina is, as I mentioned before, fact a good and enforceable law. The only reason the law is not being enforced is because certain political and professional circles do not want to do it. (For a full translation of the existing law, please download this PDF https://inmemoryofvucko.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/lawonanimal-protectionbosniaherzegovina.pdf)

The current law makes euthanising stray dogs illegal, – except a) when the animal cannot be cured and keeping it alive would only cause unnecessary pain and further suffering; b) the animal has reached such an old age, its vital bodily functions are terminating; c) the animal suffers from an incurable and/or infectious disease, or such a disease can represent a threat to humans; d) the animal is dangerous; e) the animal is in agony. (The truth is, currently dogs are ‘euthanised’ randomly and seriously disregarding the above laws, and in highly inhumane ways as mentioned above: clubbing, injections of bleach, starvation, burning, buried alive.)

In addition, the current Animal Protection and Welfare Act states that every city and town has to build shelters for stray animals. All shelters for stray animals have to provide a NO KILL policy and adequate care, including veterinary care for the animals housed there. Again, the truth is that the conditions in most public shelters are horrific, with dogs being left for days without water, food or care of any kind. There is documented evidence of this.

What is crucial to relate to the BiH authorities regarding the proposed amendments to the law is that “Catch & kill” or “catch & incarcerate” policies have failed in numerous other countries. Cities that have successfully managed and curbed their stray animal population were those that opted for a “catch & return” policy. Studies on management of stray dog and cat population are unanimous in that euthanisation is NOT the most effective way to control populations. Euthanasia deals only with the symptoms and not the cause of the problem. It is expensive, inhumane and will not provide a permanent solution. Studies have shown that TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and CNR (Catch-Neuter-Return) programmes are far more effective (and far more humane) than euthanasia to reduce the street animal population.

A change to the law will also mean extraordinary wastage of funds and time involved in previous spay-neuter programs of strays, most notably that of the UK Dogs Trust program mentioned above.

It’s important also to note that deliberate animal abuse is rife in Bosnia Herzegovina, and many international animal welfare organizations (Animal Kind International, for example) cite Bosnia Herzegovina as the country with the most instances of horrific animal cruelty and suffering. There is the famous case in Ilidža in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, where two men put a rocket explosive firework into a young German Shepherd’s mouth and duct-taped his jaws shut, setting the rocket alight. The firework caused horrific injuries to the dog’s face, but did not kill him. He wandered about for five days before being finally rescued by animal welfare volunteers The dog had to be euthanized. Nearly 200,000 people signed these petitions asking the Bosnian and Herzegovinian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, but nothing was done. There has been a recent, similar atrocity, involving a young puppy.

There is clear evidence now that people who take pleasure in harming animals are also a potential danger to other people, especially children.

Any change to the Animal Protection and Welfare Act allowing ‘euthanisation’ of healthy dogs in shelters will certainly send a message to the populace that killing of dogs and cats is acceptable in all circumstances.

Millions of citizens care deeply about animal welfare and are sickened to see constant reports of horrific animal cruelty. European citizens look to the EU to help improve animal welfare across Europe. Countries seeking to acquire EU membership need to demonstrate certain standards of animal care. Bosnia and Herzegovina are seeking admission, as you know.

As you will be aware, the European Union provides the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with many millions of euros worth of financial aid each year. I believe the allocation for 2012 was around €107.8m. My understanding of the provisos attached to these aid packages is that there is a requirement for the recipient country to abide by EU laws which would include the laws related to animal welfare. The Commission has stated that aligning national animal welfare legislation with EU law is a prerequisite for EU membership.

The issue of the proposed changes to the law must be addressed in the coming days. I would urge you please to raise the above issues with your representatives in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in particular we urge you to help ensure that the Bosnia Herzegovina authorities implement internationally agreed-upon guiding principles on humane stray dog population control, and that resources be allocated to ensure such principles are followed: briefly, that the existing Animal Welfare Act be implemented rather than chipped away at, allowing for continued animal abuse.

Many thanks for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

_____________________

WHERE TO SEND THE LETTER
Listing of some Embassies in Bosnia-Herzegovina:

American Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: bhopa@state.gov, consularservicesba@state.gov

Australian Consulate in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: mirsada@prismresearch.ba

Austrian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sarajewo-ob@bmeia.gv.at

Belgian Consulate in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: Sarajevo@diplobel.fed.be
Belgian Embassy: sarajevo@diplobel.fed.be

British Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: ConsularEnquiries.sarajevo@fco.gov.uk
Canadian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: bpest@international.gc.ca (note, this is in Hungary, seems that there isn’t a specific CDN embassy in Bosnia)

Croatian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: croemb.sarajevo@mvpei.hr

Czech Embassy in Saravejo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sarajevo@embassy.mzv.cz

Danish Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sjjamb@um.dk

Embassy of Finland is situated in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Email: sanomat.lju@formin.fi

French Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sarajevo.consulaire@diplomatie.gouv.fr

German Embassy is in Sarajevo
E-Mail: info@sarajewo.diplo.de

Italian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: amb.sarajevo@esteri.it

Japanese Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: japanbih@sx.mofa.go.jp

Dutch Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: sar@minbuza.nl, sar-ca@minbuza.nl

Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: emb.sarajevo@mfa.no

Slovenian Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: vsa@gov.si, kbl@gov.si

Swedish Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: ambassaden.sarajevo-visum@foreign.ministry.se

Find your Embassy in Bosnia-Herzegovina:
http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/bosnia-and-herzegovina

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As stated in other posts, the activists need our support with donations to help them in the next days to campaign. Even if the law goes through, there is much they can do: all shelters need to be closely monitored to try to ensure that any ‘euthanisation’ is humane and that all other aspects of the Animal Welfare Law are implemented. Any amount will help, no matter how small.

There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law Activists in BiH are doing their best to educate and collect signatures – they need our support!

Please sign and share the petitions

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

A CRY FOR HELP: Why It’s Critical The BiH Animal Welfare Law Is Not Changed

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

“Those who are silent, their silence makes them accomplices to evil.”

The documentary ‘KINOFIL‘ was made by Damir Janeček in 2010. It has been banned in Bosnia-Herzegovina as it shows the truth of what has been happening for strays. If the proposed amendments to the Animal Welfare Act are voted in, what you see in the film below is how it will be once again in Bosnia-Herzegovina, essentially legalising the torture and massacre of dogs.

As described by Damir: “This film is a cry for help, an attempt to stop the suffering and pain of innocent animals that have been inflicted in Bosnia and Herzegovina for years.”
(Kinofil – Damir Janecek Facebook page)

Please watch the film — in particular you will understand better the horrendous situation for animal activists in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Yes there are very difficult images to watch, but even if you close your eyes for these, there is much else that is important to see and understand, for example the situation with vets in the country and why some rescues die because they are not given adequate or soon-enough treatment.

Please do not turn away, please watch: it is on this page – http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/13112/Kinofil-or-Savers-of-Life

The documentary largely follows the activities of animal activist Velja Ivanišević and his animal welfare organisation, SOS, the Association of Citizens for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals. SOS was the first animal welfare organization in BiH, founded 1998 by Mr. Ivanišević and his wife Silva. The activities of SOS are now minimized since its founders left Sarajevo 2 years ago because of pressure from BiH officials and death treats by some citizens, specially after Kinofil was filmed.

Activists still use the detailed research and documentation collected by Mr. Ivanišević. As one activist says: “Velja tried to prevent cruelty to animals, report animal abuse to police and the media in the time before Facebook and before the Animal Welfare Act was implemented. I miss Velja so much because he was the teacher. Everything is harder and more complicated when you are in a position to be a teacher.“

Please note that the killing of stray dogs and cats has always been a criminal offence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such actions represented a violation of the Criminal Act, and yet no one has ever been charged.

Information on how to help the activists is in ACTION TO TAKE and also, please click on the the links below to ‘related posts’, there are detailed instructions and draft letters to send. Essentially we are asking you to write letters to the BiH authorities, to EU MEPs, to the EU Eurogroup and to Bosnia-Herzegovina Embassies to demand that the Animal Welfare Act be implemented, rather than chipping away at it by allowing amendments that encourage atrocities strays have had to suffer for years.

Please take 30 minutes out of your day to help the strays of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Further amendments to the law can be proposed by 7th November and the second reading of the proposed changes is scheduled for 20th November.

If proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act become effective, euthanasia would be allowed to be performed within 15 days from a stray dog’s arrival in a shelter. While this may sound like an effective way to deal with a burgeoning stray animal population, typically in BiH ‘euthanasia’ is performed by clubbing, injections of bleach, and other similarly torturous methods. Of course, there are more humane, internationally acceptable and proven methods to control the stray dog population, in particular Trap-Neuter-Return.

Dogs Trust completed a sterilisation program in June 2013, sterilizing 3000 dogs. Also there have been government funded sterilisations programs implemented in BiH. If the new amendments to the Animal Welfare Act are implemented, it’s highly likely these dogs will be taken to ‘shelters’ and ‘euthanised’, a complete waste of money. Also, please note that funds poured into government shelters are commonly misused, with none of the funds actually going to the care of the dogs.

Right now Praca Shelter in Sarajevo is undergoing investigation regarding how funds – BAM 1,000,000.00 (€500,000 or $ 700,000) – were used (recent visits to this shelter once again show absolutely horrific conditions). It is common knowledge amongst animal activists in Bosnia Herzegovina that public shelters are used for money laundering.

If the proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Law are implemented, it will simply mean it is easier for the “shelters” to continue an influx of dogs, killing them in the cheapest way possible (not humanely) and using the funds elsewhere, not for the dogs; it will mean a continued cover-up of how dogs are actually treated in these shelters and will give the ‘green light’ for generalised abuse of strays in the country.

___________

As stated in other posts, the activists need our support with donations to help them in the next days to campaign. Any amount will help, no matter how small. There is a YouCaring fundraiser especially for this: https://www.youcaring.com/kill-law.

Also, please sign and share the petitions.

RELATED POSTS ON THIS BLOG:

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – HOW TO HELP, PART TWO

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Sandra Jensen

The EU Eurogroup is meeting tomorrow, 6th November. If you haven’t already sent an email to all the Eurogroup members about the proposed amendments to the BiH animal welfare law please do so now! The 7th is the date of the second sitting of this law, there is no time to lose. Details of the meeting:

Putting Animal Welfare at the heart of the European elections
Eurogroup for Animals
Wednesday, 6 November 2013 from 11:00 to 13:00 (GMT)
Brussels, Belgium

Eurogroup members to write to:

Vice Presidents:

You can also write to the Italian members, but change the letter below to thank them for making a public stand against the amendments:

Cristiana Muscardini (EPP – Italy)
cristiana.muscardini@europarl.europa.eu
Andrea Zanoni (ALDE – Italy)
andrea.zanoni@europarl.europa.eu

Draft letter, please address each member by name and sign it with your name. Please personalise if possible:

Dear

As I’m sure you are aware, Bosnia Herzegovina is planning amendments to their Animal Welfare Act, amendments which will have dire consequences for stray dogs and cats. The proposal for these changes has already been legislated in the first reading in House of Representatives of Parliamentary Assembly. 18 representatives were for changes of the Law, and 12 representatives were against changes of the Law. 11 representatives were not present at the session of House of Representatives.

Further amendments can be proposed by 7th November, 2013.

The Legal – Constitutional Committee of the House of Representatives shall initiate debate on the proposed law and submit amendments on the 14th November. The second reading of the proposed changes is scheduled for 20th November, so time is short.

I request that you strongly urge the BiH government not to change the law but rather to start enforcing it. The current BiH Animal Welfare Act is excellent, it is just not enforced.

I ask you to follow the Italian example.

The world is watching Bosnia Herzegovina. Please join with Italy and animal welfare advocates to publicly condemn BiH’s proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act and demand that they enforce the provisions of the law.

With Kind Regards,

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IN MEMORY OF VUČKO

raising awareness and funds to stop animal suffering in Sarajevo and Bosnia-Herzegovina

Monthly Archives: November 2013

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