Demonstrations Against Massacres of Strays a Success!

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Sandra Jensen

As you know, mass demonstrations against the massacres of stray dogs in Bosnia were held in front of the Parliamentary Assembly in Sarajevo on the 11th November, and also were held in other cities in the country including Mostar.

Huge media attention followed the demonstrations, and documented their aftermath. Approximately 2000 citizens, activists, volunteers, politicians, and guests from Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, and other European countries, attended the demonstrations. On the same day, demonstrations were held in Washington DC, organised by The Tanzie Project.

Many more offered support virtually through social media.

Media coverage of the demonstrations was particularly extensive, including In the days before the demonstrations when many news portals reported about the illegal killing of stray animals and the money laundering behind these activities.

Videos of the demonstrations as well as other media coverage can be seen on following links:

Inicijativa Primjena Zakona o zaštiti životinja- ODMAH – official Facebook page of organisers

federalna.ba portal – video report

Traže obustavu nezakonitog hvatanja, ubijanja i masovnih pokolja pasa

Objavljeno: 11.11.2017 – Seeking the suspension of illegal capture, killing and massive massacres of dogs

Primjenom zakona do rješenja problema pasa lutalica Applying the law to solving the problem of stray dogs

The prime minister of Canton Sarajevo started attacking activists one day after the demonstrations, but activists won’t give up, actually our fight is becoming more organised and we more dedicated than ever.

Our official demands were:

The Protection and Welfare of Animals of Bosnia Herzegovina laws were ratified eight years ago. Since then the authorities of Bosnia Herzegovina have allowed many politically eligible people and companies to own public shelters for stray animals that haven’t been built, registered nor established in accordance with the laws on establishing and conditions that shelters for stray animals must fulfil in Bosnia Herzegovina.

Dogs in those illegal public shelters are not identified or registered and they are killed illegally in notorious ways. Corpses of dead dogs are removed and destroyed in unknown ways in hidden locations.

The latest and the most infamous example is the shelter for stray dogs in Praca which the Government of Canton Sarajevo rented without the legal procedures from a private person and his building company.

There is no system of control for captured dogs nor for the transport of dogs to the shelter or for controlling their numbers in the shelter.

Dogs in Praca live in filthy concrete kennels without food and water, standing and sleeping in their own faeces.

1.000.000 KM (500.000 Euros) is transferred from the budget of Canton Sarajevo for this horror annually.

We demand implementation of the Act on Protection and Welfare of Animals by those who have enacted the law and who are obliged to implement the law.

Our demands are:

Urgent terminating of illegal killing of stray animals in public shelters in Bosnia Herzegovina. The Veterinary Office, Veterinary inspections, Police forces and Prosecutor’s offices must agree to put a stop to what is happening.
Urgent control and closing of all public shelters that do not fulfil the conditions that are provided for by the law and bylaws.
Urgent presence of veterinarians in all shelters. This must be ordered and controlled by the Veterinary Office and Veterinary inspections.
Urgent suspension of the sale of Praca shelter to the Government of Canton Sarajevo from Murai Commerce Company, as well as termination of the contract between the authorities of Canton Sarajevo and Murai Commerce due to the failure of implementation of the law and the contract.
Transparent and legal financing of projects to solve the problem of overpopulation of stray dogs.
Urgent and general termination of all illegal and inhumane catching of stray dogs as well as their killing and placing in unknown locations. Again, this must be fulfilled by the Veterinary Office and Veterinary inspections.
Implementation of legal provisions to allow all citizens and volunteers to visit and monitor all shelters for stray animals.
Urgent action of veterinary inspections in order to control the registration of pets as well as dog breeders.
Urgent penalties for of all people who abandon their pets.

Written by Dalida Kozlic L.L.B
Please show your support of the rescuers by visiting the official Facebook page and ‘liking’ it and sharing the posts, many also have English text. Also please visit the Prihvatilište za životinje Pahulja-Mostar Facebook page and offer your support there.

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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.

Mass Demonstrations Against Massacres of Strays in Bosnia

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Sandra Jensen

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

Mass demonstrations against massacres of stray dogs in Bosnia will be held in front of the Parliamentary Assembly in Sarajevo on November 11th.

Animal rights activists, volunteers and citizens have organised this demonstration in order to show the authorities that stray dogs are not alone and that there are people who fight for their rights.

Official demands are:

There is no system of control for captured dogs nor for the transport of dogs to the shelter or for controlling their numbers in the shelter.

Dogs in Praca live in filthy concrete kennels without food and water, standing and sleeping in their own faeces.

1.000.000 KM (500.000 Euros) is transferred from the budget of Canton Sarajevo for this horror annually.

We demand implementation of the Act on Protection and Welfare of Animals by those who have enacted the law and who are obliged to implement the law.

Our demands are:

Urgent terminating of illegal killing of stray animals in public shelters in Bosnia Herzegovina. The Veterinary Office, Veterinary inspections, Police forces and Prosecutor’s offices must agree to put a stop to what is happening.
Urgent control and closing of all public shelters that do not fulfil the conditions that are provided for by the law and bylaws.
Urgent presence of veterinarians in all shelters. This must be ordered and controlled by the Veterinary Office and Veterinary inspections.
Urgent suspension of the sale of Praca shelter to the Government of Canton Sarajevo from Murai Commerce Company, as well as termination of the contract between the authorities of Canton Sarajevo and Murai Commerce due to the failure of implementation of the law and the contract.
Transparent and legal financing of projects to solve the problem of overpopulation of stray dogs.
Urgent and general termination of all illegal and inhumane catching of stray dogs as well as their killing and placing in unknown locations. Again, this must be fulfilled by the Veterinary Office and Veterinary inspections.
Implementation of legal provisions to allow all citizens and volunteers to visit and monitor all shelters for stray animals.
Urgent action of veterinary inspections in order to control the registration of pets as well as dog breeders.
Urgent penalties for of all people who abandon their pets.

Dear members of the legislative and executive authorities, these are your rules and you are obliged to start their immediate implementation!

HOW TO HELP:

Please support the protest on 11.11. Organise a protest in your own country/town.

Please support the many rescuers and activists. They need everything from moral support to financial help to keep the rescued animals safe or transported out of the country.

Horror Behind Closed Doors of Dog Shelter

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Sandra Jensen

Behind closed doors of a concentration camp for stray dogs

Praca is a shelter for stray dogs in Bosnia, owned by the private company Murai commerce Ltd. Vogosca. This company is owned by Muriz Alic, a businessman very close to the Bosnian authorities.

The shelter was opened in 2012 despite the fact that it was not built in accordance with the provisions of the Bosnian Act on Protection and Welfare of Animals nor the Ordinance on establishing and conditions that shelters for stray animals must fulfil,

This illegal decision and the contract between the owner of Praca and the prime minister of Canton Sarajevo is the reason the shelter was not in fact built in Sarajevo Canton (a canton is an administrative division).

The problem has always been that dogs are caught in Canton Sarajevo but it is the veterinary inspection of Podrinje Canton – not Sarajevo – who is authorised to check the dogs.

Also, it was illegal to sign a contract with the owner of Praca without public contract award procedures.

How many dogs have died in Praca, no one knows.

The Act on Protection Act and Welfare of Animals of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a lex specialis (the main legislation) in the field of treating animals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This law, as well as related by-laws is the main legal framework for all other laws and by-laws that are enacted by the legislative authorities at any level of organization of authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina which regulate the relation, keeping and treatment of animals.

According to provisions these laws every municipality is obliged to establish and finance shelters for stray animals as well as hygienic services, which are obliged to catch and transport stray animals to veterinary stations and shelters.

Two very important ordinances were legislated in 2010: ordinances on establishing shelters and the conditions that shelters for stray animals and hygienic services must fulfil.

Both ordinances provide very strict and humane ways of establishing and maintaining of shelters and hygienic services.

And yet Praca is the biggest horror shelter in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Muriz Alic is one of the politically eligible persons who construct so-called shelters for stray animals. These shelters are in fact concentration camps. False spay/neuter programs are invoiced for, so too food which the animals never receive. Veterinary examinations and treatment, and the means for euthanasia are invoiced for. In fact animals are abused and killed in these shelters. They do not have water, food or suitable accommodation. They freeze in winter and in summer are exposed to extremely high temperatures.

This poor boy shared a pen with 2 other dogs. Sarajevo rescuer Caki Bravo wrote: “Monsters took them both and killed… blood is in box.. his friends were fighting with killers 😦 they were very friendly dogs… This one was hiding from them I guess and because of that he is not killed.”

While all these atrocities happen, local authorities finance people who own these shelters.

We believe thousands of dogs have been killed or have died of hunger and diseases in Praca since 2012. Preliminary information from an “investigation source” tells us that more than 2 million Euros has been allocated for dogs from the budget of Canton Sarajevo, but this money has never been used for food, veterinary care or improving conditions in the shelter. Money has disappeared into the pockets of the authorities of Canton Sarajevo.

Volunteers and activists have been visiting Praca for years. Donations from people outside of Bosnia and the work of the volunteers is the only source of food, veterinary care and rehoming for dogs in the shelter. But the prime minister of Canton Sarajevo Elmedin Dino Konakovic, the most notorious of all persons in this story, has other plans.

P.C. Veterinary station Ltd. Sarajevo, Veterinary Inspection of Canton Sarajevo and the Veterinary faculty of the University of Sarajevo are conducting a project called “Monitoring of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Zoonotic Type of the Population of Stray dogs in Sarajevo“. This project is the instigator of a mass action concerning catching and removal of stray dogs.

The project is valued at 133.000 KM, approximately 68,205.00 Euros. This project provides funding for the euthanasia of 300 dogs, which are assumed to be sick (i.e. without any medical examination). Essentially, in preparing the project, authorities have decided to illegally kill almost all dogs.

According to this project, funds are also provided for 500 dogs to be microchipped, vaccinated and placed in shelters (which are illegal since they do not comply with the laws). There is no clear information what will be done with a further 200 dogs which the project also provides funds for catching.

According to provisions of the animal welfare laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it’s prohibited to kill dogs that can treated and cured by veterinarians. Also, according the provisions, it is strictly prohibited to experiment on stray animals.

In addition, by law, only the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina is obliged to control diseases amongst the population of all animal species in the country and only the Veterinary Office can conduct projects of control, prevention and suppression of such diseases.

The Act for the Protection and Welfare of Animals is the main legislation concerning treatment of animals in Bosnia. Authorities of one canton (administrative division) must implement this law and it is a criminal offence to finance activities that are done in accordance with illegal decisions of lower level authorities.

It is important to emphasise that 68,205.00 Euros is allocated for this one project, a project that is used as a ‘reason’ for the mass removal of stray dogs from the streets of Sarajevo. Hundreds of thousands of Euros are allocated for the hygienic services as well as for shelters – both of which are not running in accordance with the laws – and these funds will be laundered through these hygienic services and shelters which deal inhumanely with the animals. These hygienic services and shelters receive funding for food, medications, treatment, and the catching of stray animals, but the animals do not receive any of this.

The official report says that 2000 dogs have arrived in Praca since 2016, yet 200 dogs is the number in the shelter now.

Activists take and re-home as many dogs as it is possible but still it is not known what has happened to more than 1000 dogs from Praca.

On the 4th October World Animal Protection Day activists arrived and brought 500 kg of food to Praca. They found part of kennels covered in blood and dogs had disappeared.

It was confirmed that veterinarians of Cantonal Veterinary Station ltd. of Canton Sarajevo killed the dogs by direct order of the director Almir Dzankovic.

Cantonal Veterinary station Ltd. is essentially a dog slaughter house, so too the public company veterinary station Novi Grad ltd., by Lokom. These veterinary stations are financed by Government of Canton Sarajevo.

When activists found out that dogs had disappeared, they reported the case to the Bosnian Podrinje Proscuteros’s office. The investigation is being conducted.

The quick reaction of activists stopped the plans to kill more dogs in Praca. But dogs are suffering in awful conditions there.

More than 50 activists were in Praca last Sunday. When they arrived, they saw police there. Someone, and that someone surely was the owner of Praca and his coordinator, told the police that they organised an unorthorised demonstration. I explained to the police officer that according to Ordinance of establishing of shelters and conditions that shelters for stray animals must fulfill, everyone is allowed to visit the shelter every day and that the coordinator (Hamdo Alic) had wanted to cause problems because there were so many of us. When we entered into Praca, we saw horror that activists had been seeing for months…

Hamdo Alic threatened the journalist of Zurnal who was recording dead bodies that had been found in the shelter. Hamdo Alic said he had a gun and he would kill all activists.

The activists will not give up. They are preparing amass demonstration on the 11th November. They will need all possible help to organise a high level protest. Media and newspapers are covering this story daily. Activists they need support from embassies and foreign medias.

We are in possession of an official document signed by the main prosecutor of Canton Sarajevo, Dalida Burzic, who stated the following: “…funds that had been allocated for dogs, were stolen without any doubt, and the question remains where dogs have disappeared to…” The number of this case is T 09 KTP 0072282 16 2.

The government of Canton Sarajevo is planning to buy Praca shelter from Muriz Alic and his company. This is illegal since the government of Canton can’t own a public company in another canton. Praca isn’t placed in Canton Sarajevo. This means that the plan is to kill all dogs that are placed in the shelter and it has been confirmed from many sources.

Dalida Kozlic L.L.B, lawyer and activist

Media coverage of the crisis:

Dnevni Avaz article: the truth always finds the way to the public. Thank you to Bajramovic Alen. Interview with Dalida Kozlic concerning the killing of stray dogs in Sarajevo and the criminality and corruption behind the abuse of dogs in public shelters.

Other articles:

http://www.zurnal.info/novost/20724/tri-i-po-miliona-za-masovno-ubijanje-pasa

http://avaz.ba/vijesti/bih/309463/azil-za-napustene-pse-sa-podrucja-ks-u-praci-opcinsko-vijece-najavljuje-aktivisti-traze-zatvaranje-dok-vlasnik-ocekuje-prodaju-azila

https://ba.voanews.com/a/4058363.html

http://zurnal.info/novost/20719/krvavi-boksovi-izmet-lesevi-i-stakori

https://www.facebook.com/studiowashington/videos/10155471944731084/?hc_ref=ARTMr9x38kWE2zyMwfB6qT5liLqMyAh3y2_IxYDxCwQQBa9ptS1tkIXGQoXErMSEF08

https://www.facebook.com/studiowashington/videos/10155470849086084/?hc_ref=ARTq4dWJ6KhbGYU8bSrXtrwyhvRRpVZLmu5Eo0WiSXC4wLSMXpbnECruwLZVk60XMio

http://zurnal.info/novost/20593/ko-ce-odgovarati-za-visemilionsko-pranje-novca

https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/grobnice-u-praci-tri-i-po-miliona-za-masovno-ubijanje-pasa-video

http://ba.n1info.com/a219539/Vijesti/Vijesti/Azil-za-pse-u-Praci.html

HOW TO HELP:

Please join the protest on 11.11. Organise a protest in your own country/town.

Please support the many rescuers and activists. They need everything from moral support to financial help to keep the rescued animals safe or transported out of the country.
We are part of the solution / Mi smo dio rješenja – Facebook group

Below are the addresses to write to for the company who have a contract for Praca. Please be polite.

The head of Sarajevo canton district (who ordered the round up of dogs last year, during the Sarajevo film festival to clear 7000 dogs from the streets) premijer@vlada.ks.gov.ba
Head of company running Praca – murai.komerc@gmail.com
Head of local council – premijer@vlada.ks.gov.ba
The mayor of Sarejevo – grad@sarajevo.ba
Vet who killed the dogs – stup@vetstanicasa.ba
British Embassy in Sarejevo – britemb@bih.net.ba
Bosnian Embassy in London – embassy@bhembassy.co.uk
Bosnian Embassy in Berlin – mail@botschaftbh.de
Dogs Trust – international@dogstrust.org
Dogs Trust Bosnia FB page – message this page: https://www.facebook.com/DogsTrustBiH/
IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) – info@ifaw.org
Network For Animals – info@networkforanimals.org
World Animal Protection – info@worldanimalprotection.org

Please sign the Petition (in Bosnian) to find UK look for: Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo

Other ways to help can be found HERE.

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Three Dogs Saved – But Does the Pope Care?

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

Thanks to the power of social media, our previous blog “Pope’s Visit to Sarajevo Means Death for Dogs” has been viewed over 2000 times. Thanks also to the power of social media, the fundraiser posted on that blog for “Caki” Bravo has nearly reached its goal. Caki is one of the rescuers involved in desperately trying to save dogs from the dog catchers who were removing dogs in preparation for the Pope’s visit yesterday.

Caki was out on the streets yesterday, along with Edina Pasic of Andjeo Sarajevo and others, trying to save dogs who they have fed for years.

Three dogs that we know of were saved…
This elderly female dog above was always with a friendly male dog in the area. Sadly people saw dog catchers taking him and so she was the only one in the area that was left. She was rescued and taken to safety.

This is survivor number two .. a lovely female dog who would make a perfect pet, but never rescued since there was always another dog in greater need who was injured or suffering. She appeared late at night after the killing started, she was shaken and scared.

And this is the third dog, a skinny, lonely big male that was the only survivor of his pack it seems. He is screaming to be a target of the dog catchers because of his size. He is friendly but we think he was smart enough to fear those men. Really lovely calm big male…

All three dogs are now under Edina Pasic’s name in pension. She desperately needs help to keep them safe until we can find forever homes for them.

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Dalida Kozlic, a young, unemployed lawyer who is instrumental in the fact that Bosnia even has an animal welfare law, has been ad closeup vising the rescuers on what to do about these illegal activities. We’ve helped Caki, now we need to help Dalida and Edina. Between them they have nearly 200 dogs they have rescued from the streets, dogs who would have been killed or worse. Bosnia has been documented to have one of the highest records of animal abuse in the world. Dalida has been making enquiries to find out if the dog from the awful picture to the right is still alive and if so, if it can be rescued:

If you can’t donate, can you share? This is Dalida’s YouCaring:
This is Edina’s YouCaring:
If you prefer to donate directly via Paypal, you can donate as per the instructions at the bottom of this page, just be sure to mark which rescuer you would like your donation to go to.

Does the Pope even know what happened in his ‘honour’? We don’t know. We very much doubt he was informed of the hundreds or thousands of messages sent to his twitter feed and via e-mails sent to the Vatican (unfortunately most of the e-mail addresses we found don’t seem to be working).

But we are sure he would be horrified. Don’t forget Pope Francis blessed a service dog of a visually impaired journalist and had a homeless dog attend his birthday:

Please keep up your posts to the Pope’s twitter feed. Please keep sharing this blog. Please keep helping the rescuers struggling so hard on the ground in Bosnia. Perhaps word will somehow get to His Holiness and a real difference can be made, not just to a terrifyingly small number of strays….. for this sweet dog’s sake, please let us all try to make a difference….

And if you can offer a home to one of these dogs, please contact us at info@awabosnia.org.

Please read related articles/blogs on this site for more information:

Pope’s Visit to Sarajevo Means Death for Dogs
Sarajevo Demonstrations Against Illegal Dog Catchers
Former Military Base in Sarajevo involved in dog killing?
“DOG-CATCHERS” OF SARAJEVO CAUGHT IN ACTION!
AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO
2014: What is happening to the strays of Bosnia Herzegovina?
Animal Advocates Assaulted in Sarajevo
Bosnia: Let’s Respect Animals and their Right to Life
Veterinary Office of Bosnia: is it possible to solve the problem of stray dogs?
The “Aggressive” Dogs of Sarajevo
The Campaign Begins With a Slaughter: You will kill the dogs, but what will you do with the beasts?
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
BOSNIA: kill and slaughter until the dog is no more…
Bosnia Killing Dogs – No Different to Romania!
ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – NOW WHAT?

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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. 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.

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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. Even just one dollar or one euro will help make a difference.

Pope’s Visit to Sarajevo Means Death for Dogs

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

JUNE 7 UPDATE HERE: Three Dogs Saved – But Does the Pope Care?

June 5:
The notorious “dog catchers” of Sarajevo have been systematically ‘cleaning’ the stray dogs from the streets of the city in preparation for Pope Francis’s visit tomorrow. Many of the strays are dogs that our rescuers have cared for and fed for months, if not years.

Activists were able to photograph the dog catchers in action: 11330509_10205652040173918_1540326357_n “During his one-day visit, Pope Francis will meet with the Bosnian bishops, members of the presidency and the representatives of other religious communities in the country. The visit is likely to bring large number of Catholics to the Bosnia’s capital, some estimating that around 100,000 people will come from the neighbouring countries. Preparations for the visit have already begun, and they will include not only religious, political and ceremonial, but also substantial security arrangements.” And… killing dogs.

Pope Francis adopted his papal name in honour of the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi, and recently sparked an animal rights debate when he said “One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ… Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.”

In March 2013 Pope Francis “…blessed a golden Lab, the service dog of a visually impaired Italian journalist. Last December, on his 77th birthday, he invited four homeless men and one homeless dog to his birthday breakfast at the Vatican.”

We are certain that the Pope would be appalled and horrified at what is happening in Sarajevo in HIS honour, and indeed at what is happening to animals in the country of Bosnia Herzegovina in general. You know what this is, you only need to scroll through these blogs. Rescuers and advocates are out on the streets doing whatever they can to save dogs. You can help them by donating to keep their rescues save in pension until they find forever homes for them. One such rescuer is Caki Bravo, who was instrumental in helping animals during the awful flooding of last year. You can help Caki by going here: https://www.youcaring.com/CakiBravoRescues

We are begging for a call to action:

The Pope has a twitter account: please tweet to the account asking him to tell the Bosnian authorities to STOP removing the dogs from the streets: https://twitter.com/pontifex

Also you can contact the Vatican’s press office at av@pccs.va – and a list of Vatican email addresses is here: http://www.vaticanhistory.de/vat/html/vatikan_e-mail-adressen.html Please send emails, and feel free to use any photographs from this blog to send to them.

You can also copy and paste this list of email addresses into one email: cultdiv@ccdds.va, vati335@csaints.va, cepsegretaria@evangel.va, vati059@ccscrlife.va, pcjustpax@justpeace.va, corunum@corunum.va, office@migrants.va, cultura@cultr.va, pccs@vatican.va, pcomm.arch@arcsacra.va, eucharistcongress@org.va, asv@asv.va, academy.sciences@acdscience.va, scavi@fsp.va, ornet@ossrom.va, tipvat@tipografia.va, lev@publish.va, sedoc@vatiradio.va, ctv@ctv.va, accreditamenti@pressva.va, vis@pressva-vis.va

JUNE 7 UPDATE HERE: Three Dogs Saved – But Does the Pope Care?
JUNE 11 UPDATE HERE: Aftermath of the Pope’s visit: Police Harassment of Bosnian Activists
Please read related articles/blogs on this site for more information:

Sarajevo Demonstrations Against Illegal Dog Catchers
Former Military Base in Sarajevo involved in dog killing?
“DOG-CATCHERS” OF SARAJEVO CAUGHT IN ACTION!
AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO
2014: What is happening to the strays of Bosnia Herzegovina?
Animal Advocates Assaulted in Sarajevo
Bosnia: Let’s Respect Animals and their Right to Life
Veterinary Office of Bosnia: is it possible to solve the problem of stray dogs?
The “Aggressive” Dogs of Sarajevo
The Campaign Begins With a Slaughter: You will kill the dogs, but what will you do with the beasts?
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
BOSNIA: kill and slaughter until the dog is no more…
Bosnia Killing Dogs – No Different to Romania!
ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – NOW WHAT?

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DONATIONS

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.

______________________________________________

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.

Official Investigation Ordered into Donji Vakuf Dog Poisoning

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

Written by Dalida Kozlic L.L.B, lawyer and activist, Breza, BiH

More than 50 stray dogs and cats, as well as pets, have been poisoned in Donji Vakuf since the beginning of March. Bodies of dead animals can be found on the streets of Donji Vakuf almost every day. The dogs were poisoned on city streets, in the doorways of buildings, in the city parks. The Veterinary Station of Donji Vakuf has confirmed that poison was used to kill the dogs, given the symptoms. The veterinary station stated that half the dogs killed had been sterilised in a local campaign. The criminal report against an unknown offender or more offenders was filed as a result of committing the criminal offences of torturing and killing of animals as well as provoking general danger on the 12th March.

I presented material evidence as part of the criminal report. The Prosecutor’s office of Canton Central Bosnia has ordered an official investigation of this case.

Criminal activities of the illegal and notorious group of dog catchers of P. C. “Lokom” Ltd. Novi Grad are being investigated. Unfortunately, due to the slow judicial system dog catchers are still active in Sarajevo. It is obvious that huge legal and media campaign has influenced on judicial authorities to start investigating this criminal group, but it is important to try to influence the Bosnian judicial authorities to forbid the activities of dog catchers. Because of this, it is important for all concerned to contact embassies of foreign countries and to ask them to support our battle against this group of dog catchers. It is not just a battle against dog killers; it is a battle against the corrupt system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Also, demonstrations held against illegal dog catchers of P. C. „Lokom“ Ltd. Novi Grad Sarajevo in front of the headquarters of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo on the 4th of April had a huge media impact. Most of the Bosnian media followed the demonstrations and published the demands of demonstrators. After two years of media darkness and dirty campaigning against stray dogs, rescuers and activists persuaded media publicity to speak about the illegal mass killings of stray animals in Sarajevo as well as in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

HOW TO HELP

Find the Bosnia-Herzegovina Embassy in your own country:
http://embassy-finder.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina_embassies

Note: it is effective to write to your MEP and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Embassy in your own country in addition to your country’s representative in Bosnia:

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

Please read related articles/blogs on this site for more information:

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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. 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.

______________________________________________

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.

Sarajevo Demonstrations Against Illegal Dog Catchers

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

Written by Dalida Kozlic L.L.B, lawyer and activist, Breza, BiH

Demonstrations against illegal dog catchers of P. C. „Lokom“ Ltd. Novi Grad Sarajevo were held in front of the headquarters of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo on 4th April between 1 p. m. until 3 p.m.

More than 300 activists, rescuers and citizens were present during the demonstrations. Journalists followed the demonstrations and have published the demands of rescuers and citizens.

The aim of the demonstration was to express displeasure at the illegal and criminal activities of dog catchers who have been killing stray dogs and stealing money from the budget in Canton Sarajevo for two years.

A notorious and illegal group of dog catchers was established in the municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo on 30th May of 2013. This so-called “Hygienic service” was not established and registered in accordance with the article 29 of Animal Protection and Welfare Act as well as Ordinance on establishing and conditions that hygienic services must fulfil. Since then, thousands of stray dogs have been killed in Sarajevo. The worst thing is that they have the support of the Inspectorate of Veterinary Inspection of Canton Sarajevo and the Administration of Police of Canton Sarajevo. The paradox is that the veterinary inspection and the police, who are obliged to stop and punish illegal dog catchers, support them and protect their illegal activities. Stray dogs, which are caught by dog catchers, are placed in former military building “Safet Zajko” in Sarajevo. Mustafa Mrkulic, a veterinarian, dispatches the dogs in the veterinary station that is established and owned by the municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo.

This illegal hygienic service invoices food, medications, veterinary services, placement, fuel, catching for dead dogs. Evidence for this was presented to Bosnian police officers and prosecutors. The Prosecutor’s office of Canton Sarajevo has started investigating allegations and evidences that Dalida Kozlic had presented in many criminal reports against illegal dog catchers. It is one of the worst violations of the Criminal Code in Bosnian history.

During the demonstrations citizens have demanded that authorities implement the Act on Protection and Welfare of Animals of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would lead to solving of the problem of stray animals in a humane and legal way.

The Bosnian Act on Protection and Welfare of Animals is one of the best in Europe but no one is interested in implementing it. Corrupt authorities are often involved in illegal killing of stray and wild animals in their money laundering activities. Stray animals are victims of notorious torture. Politically eligible persons construct so-called shelters for stray animals, which are essentially concentration camps, and they invoice false spay/neuter programs, for food that is never be given to animals, for veterinary examinations and treatment, and at the end for the means for euthanasia. In reality, the stray animals are tortured, and killed in worst possible ways, by methods which the medieval Inquisition would be envious. It is illegal and represents a series of violations of Criminal law as well as Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Also the demonstrations were symbolic because the 4^th April is the International day of stray animals. Many citizens brought pictures and candles for all stray dogs that have been killed by illegal dog catchers.

See also: Sarajevo: Dogs Have the Right to Live on Journalists for Animals

News articles on BiH portals:
Sarajevo: Ispred Općine Novi Grad protest protiv nelegalnog ubijanja pasa
Sarajevo: Protest protiv ubijanja pasa

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Please read related articles/blogs on this site for more information:

Former Military Base in Sarajevo involved in dog killing?
“DOG-CATCHERS” OF SARAJEVO CAUGHT IN ACTION!
AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO
2014: What is happening to the strays of Bosnia Herzegovina?
Animal Advocates Assaulted in Sarajevo
Bosnia: Let’s Respect Animals and their Right to Life
Veterinary Office of Bosnia: is it possible to solve the problem of stray dogs?
The “Aggressive” Dogs of Sarajevo
The Campaign Begins With a Slaughter: You will kill the dogs, but what will you do with the beasts?
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
BOSNIA: kill and slaughter until the dog is no more…
Bosnia Killing Dogs – No Different to Romania!
ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – NOW WHAT?

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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.

The Silence of Dogs

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

By Dalida Kozlic L.L.B, lawyer and activist, Breza, BiH

It was a long time ago when people used to love dogs in Bosnia… Dogs as well as other animals have always been victims of an evil system and evil people in Bosnia, but “ordinary” people used to protect them, used to say that it was wrong to torture and kill animals, they used to cry when they saw injured, tortured and killed animal, they used to cry…

Now… Everything is different. I live in one of the most corrupt countries in the world, the country where killers and criminals live normally. People are not afraid of killers, rapers, abusers, robbers, corrupt politicians, doctors, professors. People are only afraid of dogs. Bosnian people have forgotten the war, they have forgotten how it looks and feels to be hungry, thirsty and abandoned. Frustrations are not focused on the people who are responsible for the fact that fifty-percent of our citizens are unemployed, for the fact that old people eat rubbish from containers, that criminals who enjoy living a normal life.

Frustrations instead are focused only on the homeless, hungry, thirsty and tortured animals, and especially on stray dogs. Dogs are considered to be devils in Bosnia. Bosnian people are cowards who are afraid to fight against a corrupt and evil system. Instead of fighting for a normal life, people have chosen to fight against those who do not have homes and who do not have a voice to fight for their own rights or a means to defend themselves.

Bosnia is a country of paradoxes. People and authorities only talk about a united country and how a united country is the most important issue for Bosnian people, but when the Act for the Protection and Welfare of Animals is to be implemented, people and authorities have no interest. People talk about justice, but when they must file a criminal report against offenders who commit the criminal offence of torturing and killing of animals, they do not care if justice is served, and in fact they do not want justice. People are not interested in the fact that animal abusers also kill and torture people.

Animal rights activists are also victims. They fight for Bosnian laws, but people say that they are not normal and the police chase them because they want to “protect Bosnian laws.” Another Bosnian paradox!

Do you know how difficult it is to fight against dog catchers? Do you know how difficult it is to watch helpless dogs caught by criminals and fight for their freedom? Do you know how a frightened dog looks like?

Dogs know everything. They know who an evil person is; they know what the real fear is… Every dogs wants a home and a lovely family. What do they have in Bosnia? They have people who feed them and try to save them from dog catchers, and they have fear…

No one knows when the dog catchers will come. In other parts of Bosnia no one knows when evil killers will come with rifles and kill dogs. No one knows who will kill an innocent dog because the news media say that dogs are dangerous. It is illegal, but people do not care… who cares for laws…

What can we see when “THEY” arrive? We see extreme violence against those who do not have the voice and who do not have any weapon to use to stop their butchery. Butchers use all illegal and notorious methods to catch and kill dogs. Stray animals are victims of torture. Politically eligible persons construct so-called shelters for stray animals, which have the function of concentration camps. The stray animals are tortured and killed in worst possible ways, with methods the medieval Inquisition would be envious of. Animals are beaten, cut, clubbed, raped or tortured in many other horrific ways. Animals do not have water, food, accommodation, they freeze or they are exposed to extremely high temperatures. Also, animals are killed with wires, glass shreds, poison and also firearms. It is illegal and represents a series of violations of Criminal law as well as Animal Protection and Welfare Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but no one cares…

Do you know what we see in eyes of tortured animals? We see fear, pain and suffering, but also we see something that no one can explain. They have look which says, “My world is destroyed”, “I have been betrayed”. There are no words to explain the pain in their eyes. There are no words to explain how tortured dogs behave, how frightened they are, but only tortured animals know what they feel in their souls.

That is Bosnia, a place where helpless animals are victims of collective frustration… a place where dogs are not humans’ best friends… a place where dogs have become enemies of people, a place where is normal to see a river of blood on the street and hear screams of innocent souls…

It was a long time ago when dogs used to be happy with people in Bosnia. Only the silence of dogs has remained in Bosnia.

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URGENT: Dalida Kozlic faces prosecution on 19 March 2015 for enforcing the laws of the country. She will be accused of preventing dog catchers from carrying out the brutal and illegal seizure and slaughter of stray dogs on the streets of Sarajevo. Dalida’s father faces similar charges. they could be fined from €250 up to €2500, even though the law is on their side. Please donate to the YouCaring Fundraiser to help Dalida:
Please support Dalida in endless battle for Bosnian strays! Or if you prefer you can help Dalida with a direct donation via Paypal to: eldar.kozlic1@gmail.com

Please read related articles/blogs on this site for more information:

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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.

Former Military Base in Sarajevo involved in dog killing?

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

The strays of Sarajevo….

Published yesterday in the BiH print newspaper and today in the online portal Dnevni Avaz, English translation below:

Activists for the rights of animals have filed criminal reports against 18 employees of “Lokom” who acting as ‘dog catchers’, illegally killing stray dogs in the former military base of “Safet Zajko”

Employees of the public company “Lokom” Ltd. in Novi Grad Sarajevo catch and kills stray dogs in the former military object “Safet Zajko” every day, claims animal rights activist Dalida Kozlić.

According to her statement, due to the criminal offence of torture and unlawful killing of animals, she has filed criminal reports against four companies and 18 individuals including the mayor of the municipality of Novi Grad, Semir Efendić (SDA political party).

Illegal dog pound

“The public must know that this hygiene service that is illegally formed within P. C. “Lokom”. It is not licensed and registered by the court for an activity of removal of stray dogs. Despite this fact, these illegally acting dog catchers of “Lokom” have been catching and killing stray dogs for almost two years. We know that a legal shelter for stray animals is not formed by the municipality of Novi Grad, but the municipality has formed an illegal pound in the former military object “Safet Zajko”. Dogs are killed in the veterinary station “Novi Grad” Ltd., which is located in Reljevo and in the former military base “Safet Zajko,”” says Kozlić.

Dalida Kozlic

She adds she has tried to find out where in the municipality of Novi Grad “Lokom” disposes the corpses of the dogs. She was informed it was a “business secret”.

The public company “Rad”, which has a license to remove, transport and disposal of dog corpses, have confirmed their workers take the corpses from the former military base “Safet Zajko”.

“Bodies are driven to the landfill in Buca Potok and we throw them in special pits and cover them with lime and other special sanitation substances that do not endanger the environment,” confirmed the public company “Rad”.

Without Comment

We have tried to get information from “Lokom”, whose director is Ramiz Durakovic (SDA), about what their teams are doing with captured animals and where they are transported. However, instead of answering, the management has referred us to the Veterinary Station of Novi Grad, who allegedly is in charge of these questions.

Veterinary inspection and its reaction

Reports about the killing of stray dogs in the military base “Safet Zajko” were received by inspectors of Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs.

“We have had several complaints regarding legality of the hygienic service that works at this company. However, during our control we did not notice any irregularities,” the institution stated.

End of Article
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Activists and animal lovers in Sarajevo are desperate. One activist has made a YouTube imploring animal lovers everywhere to please call their embassy in Bosnia and put public pressure on the government to stop what is happening to the strays:

More details on how to contact your embassy are on this post: AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO

You can also email Semir Efendic, Mayor of Novi Grad Sarajevo Municipality: ngsa@bih.net.ba.

Please read related articles/blogs on this site for more information:

“DOG-CATCHERS” OF SARAJEVO CAUGHT IN ACTION!
AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO
2014: What is happening to the strays of Bosnia Herzegovina?
Animal Advocates Assaulted in Sarajevo
Bosnia: Let’s Respect Animals and their Right to Life
Veterinary Office of Bosnia: is it possible to solve the problem of stray dogs?
The “Aggressive” Dogs of Sarajevo
The Campaign Begins With a Slaughter: You will kill the dogs, but what will you do with the beasts?
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
BOSNIA: kill and slaughter until the dog is no more…
Bosnia Killing Dogs – No Different to Romania!
ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – NOW WHAT?

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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.

“DOG-CATCHERS” OF SARAJEVO CAUGHT IN ACTION!

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Sandra Jensen

Videos have emerged of illegal dog catchers operating in Sarajevo, Bosnia. There is an ongoing illegal campaign to exterminate stray dogs in Sarajevo. The dog catching operations are being overseen by Semir Efendic, Mayor of Novi Grad Sarajevo Municipality. We are asking everyone to email him and demand an end to this illegal and inhumane extermination of stray dogs. His email is ngsa@bih.net.ba. Or tweet at @novigrad2012. The following video shows these infamous “dog catchers” of Sarajevo at work, using a blow dart….

Only an official veterinarian is allowed to use blow dart and to sedate animals. These men in the video are not veterinarians. In addition, when a dog is sedated by a vet who uses a blow dart, there is no reason to use another syringe. A man who had been taking care of the dog in the video filled an official request to get his dog. There has been no response. It is mostly likely this poor dog was killed with the second injection. And finally, it is a fact that even a legal hygienic service (Lokum, who is the service catching these dogs. is not legal) is not allowed to use blow and to sedate animals. For more information and a breakdown of the video into separate parts and an explanation, please see Journalists for Animals.

Since this video has been published, the representative of the British foundation Dogs Trust issued a statement to the media. The statement says that Dogs Trust will withhold its support to Canton Sarajevo in resolving the problem of stray dogs if the overseeing institutions sanction continuing violations of the law.

Please read the last blog on this site for details and how to STOP THIS HORROR!: AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO

Related articles:

AUTHORISED SLAUGHTER OF DOGS IN SARAJEVO
2014: What is happening to the strays of Bosnia Herzegovina?
Animal Advocates Assaulted in Sarajevo
Bosnia: Let’s Respect Animals and their Right to Life
Veterinary Office of Bosnia: is it possible to solve the problem of stray dogs?
The “Aggressive” Dogs of Sarajevo
The Campaign Begins With a Slaughter: You will kill the dogs, but what will you do with the beasts?
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
BOSNIA: kill and slaughter until the dog is no more…
Bosnia Killing Dogs – No Different to Romania!
ANTI KILL-LAW FIGHT – NOW WHAT?

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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.

IN MEMORY OF VUČKO

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

Category Archives: Protests

Demonstrations Against Massacres of Strays a Success!

Primjenom zakona do rješenja problema pasa lutalica Applying the law to solving the problem of stray dogs

Mass Demonstrations Against Massacres of Strays in Bosnia

Horror Behind Closed Doors of Dog Shelter

Three Dogs Saved – But Does the Pope Care?

Pope’s Visit to Sarajevo Means Death for Dogs

Official Investigation Ordered into Donji Vakuf Dog Poisoning

Sarajevo Demonstrations Against Illegal Dog Catchers

The Silence of Dogs

Former Military Base in Sarajevo involved in dog killing?

“DOG-CATCHERS” OF SARAJEVO CAUGHT IN ACTION!