SAV Comment – Seems like a great idea.  Especially if an additive could be put in the food also to effectively sterilise the animal.  We understand that this type of sterilisation procedure is currently being trialled in some parts of Romania.  If Turkey and Romania can take action, then why not Serbia ? – this method below solves 2 issues; it recycles plastic waste (which we all want) and encourages the public to do it, and at the same time it helps to feed the stray animals of the city.

Will Serbia attempt something like this or is corruption in Serbian authorities still meaning that the only way they make corrupt money is to continue capturing and killing stray dogs ? – like a Medieval approach !

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/pugedon-vending-machine_n_5606494

This Genius Machine Feeds Stray Dogs In Exchange For Recycled Bottles

One innovative company has created a vending machine that’s dispensing help for both the environment and our furry friends.

The Turkish company Pugedon recently introduced a vending machine in Istanbul that releases food and water for the city’s stray dogs in exchange for recycled plastic bottles, Big Think reported. Once someone deposits their bottle at the top, food is released at the bottom. The Pugedon Smart Recycling Boxes operate at no charge to the city, and the recycled bottles cover the cost of the food.

The simple machine will provide a steady source of sustenance to the animals, who often rely on the area’s residents to feed them. It’s also bringing some positive change to a place where the fate of stray animals has not always been a happy one.

Turkey is known for its large numbers of stray animals roaming its urban areas. The city of Istanbul alone is home to more than 150,000 stray dogs and cats, according to Deutsche Welle. While some welcome their company, others complain that the animals are sources of disease and danger.

These complaints have led the Turkish government to draft a law which would require thousands of stray dogs to be transported to a “wildlife park,” removing the animals from the urban environment which they have adapted to, Deutsche Welle reports. Dogs have also allegedly been the targets of poisoning campaigns, according to the Associated Press.

The Pugedon vending machines aim to give these stray animals a brighter future, while also encouraging its users to get in a healthy recycling habit.

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Although the Serbian system promotes the Shinters (dogcatchers) to its citizens as the only way to keep them safe; when you look a little deeper you find there are lots of other solutions to orally sterilising stray animals:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=w_afWoL8AYr0gQaXtqegCQ&q=can+stray+dogs+be+sterilsed+orally&oq=can+stray+dogs+be+sterilsed+orally&gs_l=psy-ab.3…7200.22029.0.22687.34.31.0.3.3.0.434.4487.8j16j5j0j1.30.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.29.3919…0j46j0i131k1j0i46k1j0i22i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i160k1j33i21k1.0.x52ZqpPNOqo

A government Ministry and the vets and associates that advise it, should really be using public funds to research and develop strategies for the long term reduction of stray animal numbers – and by this we mean a ‘No Kill’ approach.

As the Serbian government and its authorities never seem to publish or provide details of these alternative ‘No Kill’ methods; one has to ask if the continual rounding up and killing of stray dogs (for a dividend) is the financially viable way for some, rather than resolving citizens concerns regarding the number of strays on the streets.

A decent government would look at all methods of reducing stray numbers over time; as per the oral sterilisation methods given in the above link.  As we have always said, the continual killing of strays never resolves the stray population ‘problem’; (after all these years, and if it was effective as the government tell their citizens; would this method have not shown dramatic results by now ? – we suggest they look at the above graphic – an additional 67,000 dogs from one pair in 6 years – we have been campaigning on this for 12 years; and there are more than 1 pair of dogs in Serbia !) as other strays enter a ‘cleaned’ area – filling the void left by catch and kill methods.

Simple but effective oral sterilisation should be addressed much more by the Serbian government.  If we can find the above through a simple web search, why cant they ?

Where is all the ‘continual kill’ policy money going ? – into misleading the public by telling them that this is the only way we, the government, suggest.

Not true; there are now alternatives as you can read above.

Will the Serbian authorities look at alternatives to resolving the stray numbers issue ? – NO; we are making money just fine thanks  – Status Quo !

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