For Malena it was too late, R.I.P.

We have just heard terrible news from the volunteers of SAPA Zenica, animal welfare NGO in Zenica, Bosnia. At least ten dogs have died of poisoning, several are on death’s door. Please read their letter below, read it to honour the lives of the dogs who have been killed, and read it to support the volunteers and children and people who loved and cared for these dogs.

“Dear friends of SAPA Zenica, friends of dogs, of all abandoned animals,

I am writing this with a heavy heart and tears. I am writing because I have to write it and because I have to find the strength for all those ones whose voice we are for many years, for those who expect us to stand up and never give up no matter how hard and painful it is, for those whom we must protect, for all those abandoned animals, who were deprived of love, and care and home and who live their lives on the street, being tortured, murdered, caught and poisoned.

Today I write about the dogs of Zenica, where for days dogs are being systematically and covertly poisoned and murdered. Some of these dogs we knew for many many years, they were old Zenica dogs, mascots of their neighbourhood and friends of many children. For some dogs are still fighting for their lives. I am writing this while my chest and heart feels like exploding, it hurts so much and the fear and sadness I feel can hardly put in words.

More than 15 dogs in just a couple of days were monstrously poisoned in one neighbourhood in Zenica, four more are on vet treatment and we fight for their lives and they are, since yesterday, on infusions and mediations and still fighting. More than 10 dogs have died.

We reported the case to the Police, the Prosecutors office, Cantonal Vet Inspection, and we will issue a press release. We wrote on local FB pages and alerted all people to watch and check the status of dogs and their health and we distributed telephone numbers of the vets. Threats of poisoning were received some time ago, anonymous threats, that dogs in the neighbourhood would be poisoned, there are indications what group of people would do this and we shared this with police. For years we live in fear, panic, and discomfort, surrounded by people who hate animals, dogs in particular, people who fail to understand the root of the problem, but we endured somehow. We live surrounded by everyday threats and insults and everyday the hurting of our animals. But we always knew we had to endure for them for those we fight for.

In the album I attach there are photos of nearly all of those who were murdered and died, some are missing. And some photos were taken while they were still alive. As I write this I received new information about one more beloved dog poisoned, one more mascot of the neighbourhood, our sweet good Jaran… the vet is on the way.

I want to write about the dog called Zijo-Vucko, who was poisoned on 15 August, we never found him, he probably hid somewhere and died alone. Many children grew up with Zijo-vucko, as he was mascot of Babina rijeka in Zenica for many years, he was always smiling, never learned how to properly bark, was a playful teddy bear. His photos are with two kids, see he was always smiling.

I write of Blacky whose photos I did not make, she was an old smart girl, she closed her eyes on Monday. We though on Sunday that she was hit by a car and arranged all for her transport to Sarajevo on Monday, but it became all too clear that it was poisoning, but now we understand her symptoms, and all pieces of the puzzle are there, she was lying on the ground could not walk, and in her eyes she was looking at us and saying goodbye. Now that I look back at that day, she truly was saying goodbye but we did not see it.

Maza was another old 9 years old girl who died on 17 August, and was poisoned on 16 August. I saw her last time on Sunday 14 August and told our friend Banjamin that we should cut her hair on her tail. I will never see her again, and never have a chance to cuddle her or to cut hair on her tail. 9 years she lived on the street and was almost domestic and loved by all, never again shall Maza be wagging her tail and walking slowly towards us for her portion of daily love and cuddling. 9 years we cherish.

More dogs died on Monday and Tuesday this week, another girl Zuta was lying dead in the bushes the whole day before we found her.

Black-whitey was found dead on the street, another puppy was found in agony with blood coming out of his mouth. On 11 and 12 August two more beloved dogs died, one was just found dead and another one our Jedini was put to sleep to prevent agony of internal bleeding. He was not alone, he died in our arms.

I want to write about them to honour them so they are never ever forgotten. I need to scream and to raise my voice loud, loudest I can, for them as we owe to them. I am sorry we could not save them from horrible people from evil and malice, I hope we will deserve a place in heaven together with you.

We still fight for life of Sreckica who is Sarajevo Clinic, and for lives of Bingo, Lily and Kiki who are on infusion and receiving vitamin K, C, antibiotics. They are fighting. There were all much loved dogs, friends of many families and their children. And now we start to fight for our Jaran.

Zenica will never be the same.

We deal with an invisible enemy, everybody is silent, we will keep exerting pressure on the police and prosecutors office to run proper investigations, but it is hard without proper witnesses.

I feel numb, I am crying as i write this, and i feel parts of me are dying. To face this evil and to feel powerless. But then, we have to be strong and fight and have strength to stop this madness and this evil for our dogs, dogs we had as friends for so many many years. We must not be defeated and we must show that no evil can go unpunished.

Please share this and help spread the word of the crime in Zenica, crime on innocent dogs, crimes of most monstrous killing by poisoning. Speak for us and share. Speak for the dogs in Zenica, dogs who for so many years were living on the streets. Evil people live amongst us, we must stop them and this evil. We have the courage to speak up, plse help us, help us in the name of Vucko, Zuta, Crno Bijeli, Blecky, Maza, bebi, Curica, Jedini, malena and all others.

And please help us keep safe Jaran, Bingo, Lily, Kiki, Sreckica – happy, if they live to survive this poisoning we have to keep them safe. They still need medical attention and medication and we will provide this for all of them we pray it is not late and we pray their bodies are strong enough to endure.

If you can help us help them we would be so grateful. Kiki, Bingo, Crna, Srećkice, Jarane i hope that we can again and soon run together in this world.”

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Puppy burned alive in Bosnia Herzegovina!
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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.