Dalida Kozlic L.L.B, lawyer and activist writes:

Before the legislation of the Act for the Protection and Welfare of Animals in 2009, organised groups of hunters killed stray dogs in all cities in Bosnia Herzegovina, even during the middle of the day. It was illegal, but no one wanted to investigate or punish the hunters because they received money from Bosnian municipalities for these atrocities.

The law for the  Protection and Welfare of Animals of Bosnia and Herzegovina was legislated and entered into force by Parliamentary Assembly in 2009. This law is very specific about what methods can be used to catch stray dogs: by hygienic services and these services must use every available and legal method. If these services fail to catch stray dogs using these methods, and if, and only if, these dogs are killing wild animals, then hunters are allowed to kill the dogs, but only in areas 300 metres or more away from houses.

Many hunting organisations ignore the law and still kill stray dogs in villages as well as rural areas in Bosnia even when those dogs are not causing harm to wild animals.

On the 19th November, a group of dogs who had lived in a landfill site in Breza, near Sarajevo, were killed by a group of local hunters.

Citizens of the village Kamenice, found a dead body of a dog that had been fed by local people. There were wounds from a gunshot all over the corpse.

This is not the first time this has happened in this particular landfill site. There are pictures and videos that prove that local hunters kill stray dogs in this village and criminal reports have been filled with Police station in Breza as well as with the Prosecutor’s office of Zenica – Doboj Canton.

The main inspector for hunting organisations has been officially informed about this crime and we are waiting the results of his investigation.

The hunting organisation that is established in Breza is a notorious hunting organisation. Many of its members have been reported and investigated due to killing of stray dogs, torturing of animals, as well as illegal hunting.

Despite the fact that Bosnia Herzegovina has one of the best animal welfare laws in Europe, torture and killing animals is a common occurrence. In adults the offence is punishable by fine or imprisonment, however the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of such crimes very rarely occur. Implementation of the law is obstructed in part because of money laundering activities. However, animal welfare activists will not cease trying to bring perpetrators to justice.

Related posts:

Slaughter of stray dogs at landfill site, Bosnia
Slaughter of stray dogs in Bosanska Krupa, Bosnia
Puppy Flung off Bridge in Sarajevo, Bosnia
Brutal Murder of Dogs in Zenica, Bosnia
Extermination of dogs at Breza Coal Mine, Bosnia
Mass killing of stray dogs in Banovici, Bosnia
Dogs Poisoned in Donji Vakuf, Bosnia
Another Mass Killing of Dogs in Bosnia
Dogs Brutally Slaughtered in Bosnia HerzegovinaPuppy dies after horrific attack in Bosnia Herzegovina
Loved Street Dog Hanged in Gradiska, Bosnia!
Boy steals puppy and hangs it – Prnjavor, Bosnia Herzegovina
Dog’s Skull Deliberately Crushed in Bosnia Herzegovina
Dog Slaughter in Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina
Yet another brutal dog murder in Bosnia Herzegovina
Another Dog Tortured by Wire in Bosnia
DOG TORTURED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA!
More than 40 killed dogs found in garbage dump
Poisoning of Dogs and Cats in Glamoc, Bosnia Herzegovina
Puppy burned alive in Bosnia Herzegovina!
Mass Murder of Dogs in Bosnia Herzegovina
Dog Massacre in Dobosnica, Bosnia Herzegovina
Mass Poisoning of Dogs in Bugojno, Bosnia
Dog Beheaded in Bosnia

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Funds are needed not only to help individual rescues but also to continue our advocacy work in Bosnia Herzegovina, 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.

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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.