Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

For site SAV

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Dear Madams and Sirs,

Our organisation for the protection of animals owes a shelter for abandoned dogs and cats; being active in all areas of animal protection and knowing the situation in Serbia in all aspects and levels perfectly, we are giving our opinion on the shelter „Backa Topola“.

First of all we would like to inform you that we have taken all cats from the shelter „Backa Topola“, except a white male cat who opened the transporter and escaped. All those cats are de-wormed and protected from all kinds of  parasites, and three of them were let sterilised. We made arrangements for the sterilisation of all other cats and it is going to be organised in the next 10-15 days.  We have done all those things without expecting any help, and if somebody helps, we are going to appreciate it. The cats are put into two shelters: “Jessica” in Belgrade and „Felix“ in Voivodina. Cats are going to be fine there for sure. It is 27 cats all together. We are not able to take over dogs, because we have 240 dogs in our shelter.

Europe and Serbia are overwhelmed by appeals to help dogs in „Backa Topola“. None of the NGO did not take the responsibility for organising the rescuing of dogs in the shelter „Backa Topola“ officially, but all of them are asking for help. Mrs Christine Paskaljevic took 48 dogs,for now, and put them to her shelter, and she is going to let them sterilised and let adopted. She works together with a French organisation for the protection of animals that is financing all Mrs Christine Paskaljevic’s actions, but nothing is official and we do not know anything about the destiny of those dogs.

In our estimates, on the spot from 31.March 2011, there are about 300 dogs. They are fed in the morning, and we hope that they are given some water, but they are left alone for the rest of the day. Every time when somebody visits the shelter, there are some dead dogs.  

We have the information that the City of Backa Topola in the cooperation with the Veterinary Directorate of the Republic of Serbia made arrangements for the next week, to mark (chip) the dogs and vaccinate them against rabies starting on the 5th April 2011. The next step is going to be organising of the castration action for dogs. Veterinary inspectors are going to observe it.  

The point is that the destiny of dogs and the shelter in which they live is unknown and that there is no central body like a crisis center that would make an agenda.

We, Help Animals, think that the only real rescuing of those dogs would be a massive adoption abroad, and after that action, the shelter „Backa Topola“ would have no residents any more. It should not be a problem for EU countries to organise the transport and enough vehicles in a short period, to come and take all dogs.  

A lot of Serbian’s dogs already come to EU countries every week and Serbian organisations for the protection of animals get money for those dogs. The dogs from „Backa Topola“ would come for free and it would be a real humanitarian action. Every other plan would mean the sending of huge donations that dogs are not going even to „feel“.

There was a tragic situation in the shelter „Backa Topola“ during the last 1-2 years  and the shelter should have been closed.

Unfortunately, as far as we know, the help is usually offered in situations when dogs and cats are already losing their lives.

There is no preventive help, and in 90% of cases the help is sent to wrong addresses.

Sincerely

Help Animals
Zlata Korjenic
www.helpanimals.org.rs

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RESCUE BEFORE THE CATS WERE TAKEN TO THE JESSICA AND FELIX SHELTERS:

SECTION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION – more to come soon !

Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia |