Stray Dogs Thrown Into River Immediately After Sterilization

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Sandra Jensen

Last night animal welfare rescuers and activists were alerted to a horrific situation: four dogs had been thrown into a ravine, the river Zeljeznica. Rescuers rushed to the site, mobilizing all available resources and notifying the police. The terrain was extremely inaccessible, so they called Mountain Rescue Team Sarajevo for help. The Team came with equipment and two trained dog handlers. The rescue mission was successful.
Marianne`s Dog Food Bank offered a safe place for all 4 dogs for the night in one of their shelters, and will be able to keep two of the dogs in the shelter, and another rescuer made sure the other two dogs will be safe.

All four dogs are doing well and were seen by the vet today. The sterilisations incisions look good and there are no signs of illness although they spent time in water.

This was just one rescue mission amongst many. Rescuers in Sarajevo are facing similar experiences every day, doing their best to react, document and prevent illegal actions ordered by authorities all over the town and suburb areas.

If you wish to help these rescues please go to Marianne’s Dog Food Bank website or Facebook group.

Thanks must be made to Mountain Rescue Team Sarajevo and a number of rescuers involved including Marko Jerilovic, Nina Gurda, Caki Bravo, Arijana Ari Arifovic and Amira.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Published on BiH news portal Taco.net 26.09.2014: NAPUŠTENI PSI NEPOSREDNO NAKON STERILIZACIJE BAČENI U RIJEKU

Another aspect of astonishing cruelty to animals occurred at the site of Kijevo, municipality Trnovo, last night late in the evening. Immediately after sterilization / castration four dogs were dumped in river Zeljeznica canyon. Animal rights activists and citizens called the police, as well as the Mountain Rescue Service Sarajevo, whose members pulled out four dogs from extremely inaccessible terrain, river Zeljeznica canyon.

After the rescue action, it was established that the 4 rescued dogs, prior to barbaric act of throwing them into a river were sterlized/castrated and that all 4 of them have white ear tags. Also, one of the rescued dogs is a puppy about four months old, who also has an incision from surgery. Dogs younger than six months can not and must not be sterilized / castrated.

Four rescued dogs were placed in a secure location where they are given the necessary aid, since they were in bad condition.

This case is not just an example of the barbaric attitude towards the abandoned dogs in BiH, but also represents the basest form of violation of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law, Bosnian Veterinary Law and the Criminal Law of Federation BiH and the Criminal Law of Republic of Serpska. Consequently, it will be demanded from the prosecuting authority to identify, prosecute and sanction persons who threw the dogs in the canyon of the river Zeljeznica, as well as the identity of the veterinarian who performed the surgery on the puppy. This implies that mentioned persons, as well as possible abettors, are the ones who ordered and the offenders committed crimes of torture and killing of animals.

All thanks to Mountain Rescue team Sarajevo for the heroic and selfless rescue of four dogs that without their dedication and professionalism could not have been saved.

Also, thanks to citizens and animal rights activists who have located tortured dogs and enabled their placement into safety.

_____________________________________________

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.

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 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.

______________________________________________

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.

Dogs Trust Bosnia Respond to Allegations

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Sandra Jensen

Yesterday on the BiH news portal Taco.net, Dogs Trust BiH published a response to the article authored by Dalida Kozlic, L.L.B, lawyer and activist (Dogs Trust BiH to be Prosecuted for Illegal Activities in Bosnia Herzegovina):

Dogs Trust: Reaction to September 23rd article by Dalida Kozlic

We consider the article written by Dalida Kozlic and published on September 23rd to be unworthy of a special response due to its unprofessional way of presenting serious and contradictory accusations, non-truths and detractions, while failing to produce any evidence.

Without an intention to further engage in discussion, we would like to state the following:
• The role of Foundation Dogs Trust BH (DTBH) has always been clear – to help authorities to comprehensively, not partially, implement the law on protection and welfare of animals and resolve the problem of stray dogs in a systematic and sustainable way.
• DTBH did not officially support any decision of Canton of Sarajevo Government and it does not have an established partnership with Public Enterprise “Rad,” and if a partnership is created, it will be exclusively tied to the implementation of the law; meaning the formation of a hygiene service, which is mandated by the existing law. Regardless of Rad’s activities prior to 2009 that were in accordance with the previous law, presently this services can be activated only as a hygiene service based on the current law. The Veterinary Inspection of Canton Sarajevo, which previously ordered transformation of “Rad” into a hygiene service, will oversee the process of reactivating “Rad” to ensure that the order is followed lawfully.
• As a charitable organization, DTBH does not dictate anything to anyone and it does not interfere with governance; the initiative originated within the government and they accepted our earlier offered assistance. DTBG will participate in this and all other initiatives within its capacity as long as these initiatives fit within the framework of the law.
• DTBH has financed only its own legal activities in partnership with relevant institutions. These same activities are implemented by other international and local organizations. Everything that DTBH does is in accordance with BiH law, and as a leading world organization of this kind, its activities are congruent with the highest standards for animal welfare.
• Mass sterilization is mandated by law and it is being implemented lawfully and in accordance with the highest standards for animal welfare. Other participants include only registered veterinary facilities and their licensed staff who work under the oversight of national and international inspectors.
• DTBH will respond to the government’s appeals for conversation on the implementation of the law and the resolution of the stray dog problem, and we cannot control who else the host invites to participate in the conversations.
• DTBH has not in any way been a part of the formation of the county hygiene services N. Grad – Lokom. The county previously participated in our mass sterilization actions during which dog catchers from all counties were trained. Those same dog trainers refused to return borrowed dog catching equipment, essentially stealing it.
• DTBH has the right like everyone else to conduct a survey of dogs and publish its findings. DTBH utilized the newest methods and engaged a local organization and Veterinary University students, who were trained by the Office of Veterinary BiH, to conduct counting of the dogs.
• DTBH is not leading any campaign against building of shelters, on the contrary, it is soliciting the authorities to build shelters in accordance with the law.

To see the original article above, please go to: Dogs Trust: REAKCIJA NA ČLANAK IZ 23.9. AUTORA DALIDE KOZLIĆ

Dog’s Trust UK has further made the following statement to us:

“Sadly it came to light recently that there have been a number of dog attacks in Sarajevo. Since this news broke, Dogs Trust has renewed conversations with Minister Petrovic to deal with the city’s dogs and will continue to liaise with him and his team to ensure the best outcome for the dogs and people of Sarajevo. The suggestions to return to a world in which dogs are simply caught and killed is not a viable option and one that Dogs Trust would not support. Instead we continue to call for the full implementation of the catch, neuter and release scheme already envisioned by the 2009 animal welfare law. The team in Sarajevo are working incredibly hard to make this happen.

We would never turn a blind eye to abuse or cruelty. The suggestion is frankly absurd – our sole reason for existing is to protect the welfare of dogs. If anyone has evidence of people catching and killing dogs illegally whoever they may be then we would welcome any evidence they have and put considerable pressure on the local authorities to investigate animal cruelty cases.

Things are incredibly hard, but there are good people out there who are working for a better future. This is an incredibly important moment for animal welfare in Bosnia and I would encourage people to come together rather than spend time on allegations based on rumour or hearsay without any evidence to support them.

If people would like to learn more about the work that we actually do in Bosnia then I would encourage them to visit our website: www.dogstrust.ba.

Dalida Kozlic has stated to us that she has already forwarded evidence of malpractice but nothing has been done. She will continue her documentation and investigations on these matters.

Petitions:
BOSNIA! IMPLEMENT HUMANE STRAY-DOG AND CAT POPULATION CONTROL AND TREATMENT
Stop massive killing of dogs in Sarajevo
Petition to save Bosnia’s stray dogs! Please sign!
Also see the petitions on the Petitions page.

_____________________________________________

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Dogs Trust BiH to be Prosecuted for Illegal Activities in Bosnia Herzegovina

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Sandra Jensen

Article published on the Bosnia Herzegovina news portal Taco.net today, authored by Dalida Kozlic, L.L.B, lawyer and activist:
DOGS TRUST UČESTVUJE U UDARU NA USTAVNI POREDAK BIH, KAO I ORGANIZOVANOM KRIMINALU

English Translation:

DOGS TRUST IS INVOLVED IN ATTACK ON CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER OF BIH AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

The role of Dogs Trust Foundation has been clarified during the current events concerning the illegal decision of the Government of Sarajevo Canton to form a dog catching service with Public Enterprise (P. E.) “Rad” Sarajevo.

It appears that the Dogs Trust Foundation is interested in everything except the welfare and protection of stray dogs. According to Ahmed Đipa PR of P. E. “Rad”, as well as by admission of the staff of Dogs Trust BiH, the foundation finances and trains dog catchers of the company P. E. “Rad”. Also, Dogs Trust has provided the equipment for this illegal dog catching service. Dogs Trust has publicly supported the decision of Government of Canton Sarajevo on the forming of the illegal dog catching service, P. E. “Rad”.

The Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina came into force in April 2009. The Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina forbids any form of torture to animals, and obliges the local governments (cities and municipalities) to provide shelter for stray animals.
On 18.05.2009, the Veterinary Inspection Sarajevo Canton adopted the Decision No. 07-06 – 24 – CS – 295 ordering P. E. “Rad” to align their work with the regulations of the Law on the animal protection and welfare of BiH (Official. Gazette 9.25). In the said decision it was stated that P. E. “Rad” does not have permission to work because its activities and catching of stray dogs was illegal and contrary to provisions of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the decision had been issued, P. E. “Rad” ceased their activities.

However, the Government of Canton Sarajevo is being drawn into illegal activities, because the foreign organisation Dogs Trust has provided money for these illegal activities.

Authorities in Canton Sarajevo should not and must not permit this rich foundation, which has intentions contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Code of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Animal Protection and Welfare Act, to dictate the policy of the local government.

By financing and training of an illegal dog catching service, Dogs Trust participates in the preparation and execution of a series of crimes.

Since the foundation Dogs Trust has directly supported illegal activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the question is whether the decision of the Government of Canton Sarajevo on forming of the illegal dog catching service has been enacted by an initiative of the government or because of pressure from Dogs Trust, which has been carrying out illegal activities in Canton Sarajevo for two years, all with the aim of implementing its illegal policies and questionable financial operations, which must be the subject of investigative actions by the prosecuting authority.

Dogs Trust insists upon partial implementation of Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina and they encourage Bosnian authorities in criminal activities by providing a cover for certain activities under the guise of law enforcement. Dogs Trust participates in many criminal activities in the Sarajevo Canton. Mass spay/neuter campaigns have been organised without any respect for the legal system of Bosnia. Establishing of shelters for stray animals and a database (microchip) registration of dogs and cats are legal obligations. Local authorities are obliged to build shelters for stray animals in accordance with the Animal Protection and Welfare Act as well as ensure compliance with regulations which stipulate acceptable living conditions of stray animals housed in public shelters. Also, it is the legal obligation of local authorities is to establish hygienic services which are obliged to collect lost and stray animals and move them to local shelters, in accordance with Animal Protection and Welfare Act, and this service must also comply with legal requirements stipulating establishment of such service and conditions which the service must fulfill to be recognized legally.

There are not any legal shelter and hygienic services in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CNR (catch-neuter-return) method is not a legal obligation in BiH, but it is a legal possibility- a provisional rule until the full scope of services for abandoned animals are established. Until animal shelters are actually established (as described in Article 28 of the Act, by the bodies defined by this Act), veterinary stations can, in cooperation with the competent municipal bodies, perform spay and neuter and mark abandoned animals, specifically stray dogs, and release them back to their natural habitats, with the goal being to stabilise the stray animal population by controlling their reproduction within the shortest possible period. Since the mass spay/neuter campaigns have been implemented without legal permissions and procedures, but through public tenders for participation in these actions, the activities of Dogs Trust are de facto an experimentation on domestic animals.

Choosing veterinary stations that perform spay/neuter campaign is carried out without the permission of the relevant veterinary institutions. The legal system in Bosnia does not approve of any institutional power of the NGO in Bosnia, i.e., NGOs cannot interfere in the powers of government, as Dogs Trust is doing. Dogs Trust tries to play the role of rescuer in the Sarajevo Canton, ignoring the provisions of Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina and suggests that the BiH authorities act contrary to their own statutory provisions.

Representatives of the Dogs Trust attended the press conference at which, among others, was addressed Muriz Alic, the owner of the (generously labeled as, but practically an internment camp) “shelter” for abandoned animals in Praca, whose work and business is under investigation by the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office in Sarajevo Canton. These representatives confirmed that they are not interested issue of camps for abandoned animals, rather that they are interested in pressing the authorities to enter into activities. Activities which are illegal.

Daily complaints from veterinarians and people who bring dogs to the veterinary stations to be spayed/neutered unambiguously indicate that Dogs Trust and employees of Dogs Trust demand that sick, injured and old dogs are euthanized during the actual mass spay/neuter campaign.This assertion is supported by material evidence.

In accordance with the provisions of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina, only an authorised official veterinarian may order the euthanasia of animals.

By ordering of euthanasia, Dogs Trust not only interferes in the competences of authorised official veterinarians, but commits a criminal offence under Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (torture and killing of animals), as well as incitement to commit a criminal offence.

Dogs Trust is also directly involved in the formation of the hygienic service of P. E. “Lokom” Novi Grad Sarajevo, which is an illegal service. This hygienic service was directly formed under the patronage of coordinators of Dogs Trust in 2013. Dogs Trust has trained dog catchers employed in this hygienic service and there were material evidences that Dogs Trust provided equipment for their illegal activities.

Mustafa Mrkulic, a veterinarian, who is the most famous killer of stray dogs in Sarajevo, has participated in many mass spay/neuter campaigns organised by Dogs Trust.

Also Dogs Trust publicly announced that there are over 11 000 stray dogs on the streets of Sarajevo Canton, without having any grounds, or authority to make such a claim.. Only the State Veterinary Office is authorised to count and publish data on the number of stray dogs on the streets of Sarajevo Canton as well as the whole of Bosnia. This is one in a series of moves that shows that Dogs Trust not only do not respect the laws of the country in which it operates, but also directly obstructs the work of the state institutions.

By disseminating illegal and ill-informed information about the number of stray dogs on the streets of Sarajevo Canton, this organization has caused panic among the citizens of Sarajevo. Of course, by doing so, they provided an “argument” for some of the media which have been leading the campaign against the abandoned animals for more than 2 years. This aggressive campaign against establishing and construction of lawful animal shelters in Bosnia, which is a legal obligation of government, is (if not directly organized, than actively supported) by Dogs Trust and it directly contributes to an atmosphere that there is no solution to reduce the population of stray dogs.

Now, Dogs Trust positioned themselves as the only organization which offers solutions – which are in direct violation of the laws and regulations of the country in which they operate.

Criminal charges will be filed and evidence submitted to the competent prosecutor’s office regarding all Dogs Trust illegal activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina; against individuals working for and management of Dogs Trust BiH and against Dogs Trust as a legal entity.

To see the original article please go here.

.
Petitions:
BOSNIA! IMPLEMENT HUMANE STRAY-DOG AND CAT POPULATION CONTROL AND TREATMENT
Stop massive killing of dogs in Sarajevo
Petition to save Bosnia’s stray dogs! Please sign!
Also see the petitions on the Petitions page.

Related media:

_____________________________________________

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Stray Dogs of Sarajevo to be Killed in Election Ploy

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Sandra Jensen

General elections will be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 12, 2014. As always, election ploys to garner votes are underway.

One of these ploys is to address the problem of the stray dog population in Sarajevo Canton. It is a problem. There are far too many strays in Sarajevo, as there are throughout Bosnia Herzegovina. But instead of applying what is a very good law on the Protection and Welfare of Animals of BiH, a law that includes the provision for ongoing spay neuter campaigns and of adequate shelters, the politicians decide, just before elections, to highlight an issue with dog bites and make a grand show of offering solutions by setting up a dog catching service and pouring funds into this service. In fact they have stated it will cost annually 680,000KM (340,000 Euros or 450,000 USD) to implement this service, and they have already allocated 88,000KM (45,000 Euros or 58,000 USD) for the cost of nine employees designated to this service, which includes a ‘hotline’ for citizens to report dog bites.

Zlatko Petrović, Minister of Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection states that the number of dogs bites this year is 600. But nowhere is it stated what dogs make up this number and in what circumstances. Dog fighting is illegal but rife in Bosnia Herzegovina. Do any of these bites happen during these fights? And do any of these bites occur from owned dogs? Or from dogs suffering during abuse, or even in during normal veterinary procedures?

During my recent visit to Bosnia, I encountered numerous strays. Every single one of them either came up for a cuddle, or hurried away timidly. I spent considerable time with a supposedly aggressive pack of stray dogs. The two eight year old boys from Germany I was travelling with hugged these ‘aggressive’ dogs closely without mishap.

“Aggressive” stray dogs…Note also that P. E. “Rad”, a company hired for dog catching and disposal of corpses, was in fact shut down in 2009 by the Veterinary Inspection of Canton Sarajevo, because its methods were illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act. Is it likely that their methods will have changed?

Also, the figure allocated as being necessary for the service to proceed must be considered in another context: P.E. Lokom, the public utility (‘hygiene’) service (established by the municipality) that will work in conjunction with P. E. Rad, has a shortfall in its budget this year of nearly 500,000KM.

“Is it conceivable that a shortfall will be covered fully, or to a large extent from 680.000 KM ‘estimated annual operating costs’ aimed to fund the “dangerous dogs special team?” This being Bosnia, sure,” states Zoltan Milic, consultant economist in International Trade and Development.

Of Lokom’s operational and budget procedures, Milic says, “How do they generate income? I don’t know. According to Sarajevo Canton Novi Grad’s municipal budget – Novi Grad established P.E. Lokom, to “manage and operate” facilities owned by the municipality on their behalf – the municipal direct transfer to Lokom is 250.000 KM with an additional ‘transfer to hygienic services with veterinary services within Lokom enterprise’ of 110.000 KM. Out of this 110K, 35.000KM was for ‘costs of care of sheltered animals’ and an additional 30.000KM was redirected from the funds previously earmarked to Cantonal Veterinary Services for spaying and neutering.”

Note that P.E. Lokom has no dealings whatsoever with any dog shelters or spay neuter programs…

Animal activist and rescuer Ivana Tomic from Tuzla says this about the stray dog population: “A solution exists, far cheaper than 680.000KM if we take into account that these funds are available to only ONE canton, but the solutions can’t be realized overnight. This entire charade that I am watching, discussions regarding the hatred and aggression toward the four-legged beings that have bigger hearts than many of the people who I know including some that I am related to, is nothing other than hiding evidence of wasted funds that have disappeared without a trace, which were allocated for the solution of the stray dog problem.”

Existing shelters in Canton Sarajevo are so poorly maintained dogs are better off on the streets if it were not for the efforts of activists – if they are allowed to help out, which frequently they are not.

In Gladno Polje public shelter in Sarajevo, housing around 200 dogs, there was no running water on the day I visited. In the pens, the stench of fear, illness and excrement was literally unbearable.

One of the activists helping at Gladno Pojle says: “The only thing the shelter pays for is water, since there hasn’t been any electricity in the building for over a year, because of the damage to the roof of the building, which is leaking every time it rains.”

For photographs and videos of Gladno Polje public shelter from a recent visit, please go here. In this blog do a search on ‘shelters’ and you will find out more about the ‘horror’ shelters of Bosnia Herzegovina.

Please also note director and film animator Vesko Kadic’s public letter made in 2013 to the mayor of Sarajevo just prior to the elections. (Translation is here.) It clearly shows that the current situation is exactly the same as last year and that absolutely no progress is made on implementing the animal welfare law. Instead, government ministers seek to secure their position and their lifestyle.

For an idea on the BiH government approach, please read the Ambassador’s Notes: Embassy Sarajevo Views from U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where David Barth, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina and COL Scott Miller, U.S. Defense Attaché state:

“At the donor conference held in July, the international community pledged over 800 million Euros in assistance for the flood-affected areas. More than 100 million Euros of this money has already been spent or programmed by the international community in the immediate aftermath of the humanitarian disaster and now in the recovery effort. However, international institutions have offered more than half a billion Euros in assistance to the government of BiH for purposes of flood relief and recovery. Little to none has reached citizens or municipalities in need. Four months after the initial floods, politicians throughout BiH have no real plans, or even serious ideas, to offer for recovery. Flood victims have seen little to nothing except for empty promises and excuses from their leaders. These same leaders instead quickly apply international assistance to fill their coffers to cover existing budget shortfalls that are the result of their policies, with little directed for flood response.”

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 and that this dog catching and killing spree stops.

Many activists and rescuers are keeping vigil on the streets at night, and not only in Sarajevo.

A rescuer from a town north in central Bosnia Herzegovina who takes care of the strays in her area says: “The dogs here are also in danger, it is not just Sarajevo killing strays, they started to do it here 10 days ago, maybe two weeks ago, but I never thought it will be for real. Now I’m spending every night outside, or going around three or four times, to make sure my pack will be ok, we lost “just” two of them. I have to watch my dogs, and all together – I’m so tired, but I have to be sure that my dogs will survive. My pack will not be killed as long as i can spend my nights outside, but it can’t be forever, I have to move them.

Stray dogs are frequently gunned down in Bosnia Herzegovina, and the Sarajevo government’s new policy, widely reported in the media can only give encouragement to more killing. See today’s news item concerning two men with guns killing stray dogs in Kozarska Dubica, a town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina. This horror was witnessed by primary school children. “It happened at the very entrance of the school, the sight of a large number of children.” (English translation here)

Another “aggressive” stray dog, in Sarajevo:

HOW TO HELP: currently activists need funds for legal proceedings and also to keep their rescues safely off the streets in pensions. If you can help, donation details are at the bottom of this page. Also please sign the following petitions:

_____________________________________________

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Stop the Killing of Strays in Sarajevo

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Sandra Jensen

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?

1378539_639842482705076_1690898482_n 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.

1379839_10202471748897297_1525466443_n 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

_____________________________________________

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.

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.

______________________________________________

Bosnia: Sarajevo set to become the next Bucharest

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Sandra Jensen

The Sarajevo Canton government met in assembly today and a decision was made to reactivate the dog catching service to remove the stray dogs from the streets of Sarajevo.

While this decision might on the surface seem benign, the question must be asked: what methods will be used to catch the dogs? What will be done with the stray dogs once caught? Where will these dogs be removed to? And what then will be done with them?

If you have read this blog you will know that the public shelters are entirely inhumane with documentation of dog corpses lying amongst living dogs, dogs crammed into tiny cages without food or water or veterinary care and that ‘euthanasia’ is usually undertaken by brutal means as the legal methods are too costly to perform. The decision made today will in theory be to remove dogs that are aggressive, ill or dogs too old to survive on the streets. It is the experience of the activists in Bosnia Herzegovina that these decisions are used as an excuse to kill as many strays as possible, regardless of disposition or health.

“Those dogcatchers are killers, real killers.They used to kill strays in the most horrible ways. After the Animal Protection and Welfare Act had been enacted, their activities were forbidden. Today the Government of Canton Sarajevo issued decision and ordered Ministry of physical planing and environment to form that service today. It is against our constitution. This decision is unconstitutional and illegal since local governments must not issue decisions that are contrary to state acts. This company/service is illegal since it is a killing company and their work is forbidden,” says Dalida Kozlic L.L.B.

Dogs Trust BiH will start a mass sterilisation project on September the 15th. Another question to ask is will there will be any dogs left to sterilise?

For more details please read today’s post on Journalists for Animals: Bosnia: Sarajevo set to become the next Bucharest.

_____________________________________________

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.

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.

______________________________________________

IN MEMORY OF VUČKO

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

Monthly Archives: September 2014

Stray Dogs Thrown Into River Immediately After Sterilization

Dogs Trust Bosnia Respond to Allegations

Dogs Trust BiH to be Prosecuted for Illegal Activities in Bosnia Herzegovina

Stray Dogs of Sarajevo to be Killed in Election Ploy

Stop the Killing of Strays in Sarajevo

Bosnia: Sarajevo set to become the next Bucharest