Serbia: Smederevo City Pound – The Dog Who’s Eyes Cried Pus

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

 

 

 

Shedding ‘Tears of Pus’ at the Smederevo City Pound – Serbia

 

Please view the following site post and link with regard a full review (including pictures) and reports on the shelter at Smederevo; a facility run by the organisation – JKP “Komunalac”, who provide just 3-4kg of dry food to over 50 dogs at the shelter each day:

http://balkansanimalsuffering.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/serbia-smederevo-dog-pound-update-take-note-eu-the-rule-of-law%e2%80%99-is-not-being-implemented-by-serbia/ 

JKP “Komunalac” operates from Smederevo city and is the public garbage firm.  It has a dogcatching department named zoohygiena “Komunalac” with approximately 3-4 dogcatchers and 3 or 4 senior type managers.

As with almost every city in Serbia, the dogcatchers catch the stray animals and then take them to the city pound – in this case Smederevo city pound. 

JKP “Komunalac” has a contract with one local vet who is doing very well.  There is a neverending business because dog owners continue to throw their unwanted dogs and cats out onto the streets; the dogcatchers catch  the dogs and cats, and the vet then sterilises the animal.  But after the animal has been operated on, it will be moved to an unknown location where nobody will verify if the operation was done badly.

By the Criminal Code law of Serbia, a vet could go to jail for up to 2 years if a bad operation with bad results occur.  But as the government and the authorities have no control and very little interest in the welfare of the animals, there are no procedures in place to document the results of the operations.

The vet also undertakes euthanasia for the city authorities; a procedure which costs around 1000 dinar.  The sterilisation of a male dog costs around 1800 to 2000 dinar, even more if the dog is large, and charges around 4000 dinar for a female sterilisation.  As said earlier, there are no procedures in place to document how good these operations are.

A solution is urgently needed for Smederevo.  Animal welfare contacts around the site feel that a large campaign of letters, mails and faxes aimed at the Mayor of Smederevo is the way forward. – see details at the end of this post.

At the moment the Mayor just ignores anything and everything to deal with the shelter.  But the Mayor is the VERY PERSON who is able to make changes.  So it is essential that the Mayor is deluged with e mails and faxes about the Smederevo city pound and the terrible suffering inflicted on animals in the pound by JKP “Komunalac”.

Trying to help the animals

Euro-P.A.S.  is a German animal welfare organisation who are very much involved with the Smederevo shelter.  You can visit their wen site and see pictures from Smederevo via the following link:

http://www.euro-pas.de/0000009c78098c101/03fb1f9cd712f880d/index.html 

You can see from the photos that thanks to donations already given from supporters, some new wooden shelters have been constructed and are now on site. 

But this is simply not enough; lots more donations are needed to be given to Euro-P.A.S.  to enable them to construct more much needed shelters for the dogs and to provide more food.

The welfare people who are trying to help the dogs at Smederevo could use both lots of extra feed and many additional dog shelters (among other things). 

JKP “Komunalac” who run the shelter are currently providing just 3-4kg of dry food to over 50 dogs at the shelter each day:

Items such as a dog shelter or any food can be ordered / purchased via ‘ZooPlus’ and sent directly to Germany, the EuroPas HQ and collection point.  International Delivery is free for orders above certain costs – please see site link below for shipping costs (if applicable):

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/content/shippingcosts 

EuroPas HQ in Germany will then send the received items (shelters / food etc) directly to Serbia for use by its own workers and officials at the Smederevo pound. 

On the following international ‘ZooPlus’ links, simply scroll down until you see the dog shelter pictures.  Prices are given for anyone wishing to donate a shelter.

(German site)
http://www.zooplus.de/shop/tierbedarf/aktionen/bestseller_2009/fuer_hunde/82533

(English site)
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/specials/dogs/special_offers
(scroll down on both sites to find dog shelters)

(special offers)
http://www.zooplus.de/shop/tierbedarf/aktionen/leckere_futterangebote
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/specials/dogs/special_offers

ZooPlus runs international sites:

Netherlands – http://www.zooplus.nl/

France – http://www.zooplus.fr/

Belgium – http://www.zooplus.be/

Ireland – http://www.zooplus.ie/

Poland – http://www.zooplus.pl/

Italy – http://www.zooplus.it/

Spain – http://www.zooplus.es/

Czech Republic  – http://www.zoohit.cz/

For donations, the following information will be necessary:

Euro-P.A.S. e.V.
Konto 312 599 22
BLZ 700 530 70
Sparkasse Fürstenfeldbruck
IBAN: DE87 7005 3070 0031 2599 22
BIC: BYLADEM1FFB
Verwendungszweck “Toni”

A Euro-P.A.S. party went to Smederevo recently to vaccinate/chip the dogs.  It was very difficult, with frightened dogs kicking out and having to be held down by the team during the process.  One particular dog was noted, a German Shepherd who has been kept in a confined shed without light on a soaking wet floor for over a year now.  The poor animal has wounds all over his body and is unable to even stand. 

 

His eyes wept pus; not tears, as can be seen in the photograph:

We are informed that food is thrown to him by hand; simply to be picked up out of the dirt. 

We are currently aware  that at the present three (3) Criminal Charges have been brought against the company that runs the shelter – “Komunalac”, and as a result of pressure, Komunalac has been forced to at least provide some dry food for the dogs – although this amounts to only 3-4 kgs a day which they appear to think is satisfactory for 50 dogs !

Donations to Euro-P.A.S. are urgently required to help buy extra food; and also for additional shelters for the dogs.

The Mayor of Smederevo needs to be deluged with e mails and faxes about the Smederevo city pound and the terrible suffering inflicted on animals in the pound by JKP “Komunalac”.

If you wish to send messages of complaint and objections to the Mayor of Smederevo, the person who IS ABLE to make changes about all of this, he can be contacted on:

Mayor of Smederevo =    kabinet@smederevo.org.rs

Please also copy your letter (CC) to the community contacts, Smederevo city Municipality at:

 julija@komunalacsd.co.rs,   j.antic@komunalacsd.co.rs,  office@komunalacsd.co.rs

They are all detailed on the public information web site which can be viewed at:   http://www.komunalacsd.co.rs/  

To send a message to JKP “Komunalac” who ‘run and operate the shelter’ , please use the following e mail address:

 XXXXXXXXXX TO BE PROVIDED VERY SOON XXXXXXXXXXX

Take another look at the situation in Smedervo city pound; look at the dog shedding tears of pus from his eyes;  and NOW PLEASE TAKE SOME FORM OF ACTION on behalf of these suffering animals.

 

Thank You – SAV  and BAS.

BAS  = balkansanimalsuffering.wordpress.com

  

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information | Leave a comment »

Serbia: Light in the Tunnel – The Big Problem IS IMPLEMENTING Existing Legislation

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

 

 A follow up article on the ‘new serbian animal welfare’ legislation implementation has now been published on BAS.  Please click on the following link to view the article:

http://balkansanimalsuffering.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/serbia-light-in-the-tunnel-the-bigger-problem-will-be-implementing-it-serbian-animal-welfare-legislation/?preview=true&preview_id=413&preview_nonce=6da3ae002e

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, DOCUMENTS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Greece: Horse Dragged Behind Car for 2km – Protest Sample Letter, Petition etc – Please Act and Demand Justice !

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

On Sunday 3rd January 2010 in the town of Olympia, Greece, a horse was dragged behind a car for 2km before being thrown into a ditch. Still alive and screaming in pain both the horse’s forelegs were broken and it was completely skinned on one side with deep wounds exposing it’s intestines. A vet later destroyed the horse humanely.

People who witnessed the incident reported it to police immediately and the person responsible apparently laughed and boasted about it. We are told by our counterparts in Greece, that police so far have not taken it seriously and have not apprehended the person who openly admits commiting this crime.

WHERE TO SEND YOUR PROTEST LETTERS:

Mayor, George Aidonis: aolympia@otenet.gr

Please also CC your email to the following authorities:
infopar@parliament.gr
service@dorg.minenv.gr
kbatz@otenet.gr
dpse@hch.culture.gr
a.gkerekou@parliament.gr
gramproedrou@gnto.gr
a.gkerekou@parliament.gr

The only way I could send emails was on individual lines, but feel free to try the group as my email program is fussy:

Group email:
To: aolympia@otenet.gr
CC: infopar@parliament.gr; service@dorg.minenv.gr; kbatz@otenet.gr; dpse@hch.culture.gr; a.gkerekou@parliament.gr; gramproedrou@gnto.gr; a.gkerekou@parliament.gr

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Mayor Aidonis,

It has come to my attention that another savage act of animal cruelty has created one more animal victim and an additional public outrage. On January 3, 2010, in the town of Olympia, a horse was dragged behind a car for two kilometers. The horse suffered severe bodily trauma, including broken legs, severe lacerations and skinning causing the exposure of his intestines, and multiple organ stress, but despite such significant injuries, he was alive and left to die in a ditch; a veterinary later euthanized him. Although the physical injuries demonstrate the abject cruelty inflicted upon him, no words could adequately describe the fear and terror he certainly felt, and I am shocked to learn that the alleged guilty party has boasted openly of the crime, and that law enforcement has ignored this case. I am therefore writing to respectfully request that you allocate the necessary resources into investigating this crime, arresting the guilty party, and prosecuting the offender in accordance with the most severe penalty.

When I try to imagine what possible motive animal abusers entertain for subjecting their animal victims to such malicious, heinous acts of brutality, I fail, but I am thankful for a lack of cognitive understanding and rationalization. To engage in such vicious behaviour absolutely suggests sociopathic and sadistic tendencies. The person who deliberately and sadistically harmed and killed this horse demonstrates an absolute lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards animals has, disturbingly enough, the ability to show such indifference towards humans. This link between animal and human abuse has been established, and if you excuse this criminal behaviour you would be serving an injustice to both animals and society.

I am hoping that you will take an unyielding position against animal cruelty and apprehend and subsequently hold the offender accountable by applying the maximum penalty. These sentences are typically remarkably inadequate given the gravity and severity of animal abuse, fundamentally inequitable based on an egotistical precept that humans are superior to animals, and I hope this case will cause you to review the legal inadequacies regarding animals and make necessary modifications. Considering animals as lesser beings irrespective of our similarities is fundamentally unethical and inhumane. Humans adopt these false perspectives to validate the cruelties to which animals are subjected, and when we embrace such egotistical viewpoints to provide personal moral forgiveness, we intentionally ignore the intrinsic limitation of such inane assertions: that animals are not commodities but living beings who, like humans, possess sentience and have the capacity to experience emotion and thought, desire lives free from exploitation and suffering, and fear the manifestation of death.

Allowing animal cruelty by permitting it to go unpunished only desensitizes humans to suffering, which inevitably leads to immunity against all cruelty, human and animal. We need to teach our children that our society does not excuse, allow, or enable cruelty against animals or humans, and it is imperative that we demonstrate in both word and action that the human essence of empathy does not exist to excuse maliciousness: it exists to provide compassion and justice to the brutalized and punishment to those who willingly deviate from this capacity. If we do not do our duty to provide this, we harm animals and invite injustice into our society.

I know your time is limited and I want to thank you for your attention and consideration.

YOUR NAME AND COUNTRY HERE>>>>

 

————————————————————————–

PETITION – PLEASE SIGN:

Subject: Greece : horse dragged to his death – please sign , (police did nothing!)  

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/horse-dragged-to-its-death

On Sunday 3rd January 2010 in the town of Olympia, Greece, a horse was dragged behind a car for 2km before being thrown into a ditch. Still alive and screaming in pain both the horse’s forelegs were broken and it was completely skinned on one side with deep wounds exposing it’s intestines. A vet later destroyed the horse humanely. 

People who witnessed the incident reported it to police immediately and the person responsible apparently laughed and boasted about it.

We are told by our counterparts in Greece, that police so far have not taken it seriously and have not apprehended the person who openly admits commiting this crime.  

—————————————————————————-

ADDITIONAL INFO AND ACTIONS:

he also has a fan page in fb.con leave him a msg here:

http://www.facebook.com/chrisochoidis?ref=mf

this is from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33911998809

Dear all, regarding the horse that was dragged and killed by his owner we are leaving messages at the minister’s page who is the superior of greek police. Here is the link. We demand justice for the dead horse and punishment for the police officers that reported the abuse as an accident. If you feel like it leave your personal message in his page. Thank you.
—————————–

In case this is news to some of you, a few days ago a horse was dragged behind a car for 2km and thrown into a ditch with both forelegs broken, completely skinned on one side with deep wounds exposing its intestines, but still alive and screaming in pain. A vet later destroyed the horse humanely. The person who did this apparently laughed and boasted about it.

We believe the person who did this was a retired policeman and the horse was a pregnant mare.

Thanks for your time and for making a difference.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS | Leave a comment »

Uk: Campaign to Stop China From Introducing Bullfighting – Also Excellent Result in EU Court re ‘Human Rights’ and the Uk Ban on Hunting (an Existing Uk Law)

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) Web Site Link:  www.league.org.uk

Stop China from introducing bullfighting!

The Chinese government plans to introduce bullfighting in the country.

A Spanish matador is already in charge of operations, with a shipment of bulls and cows for breeding planned for as soon as January.

The construction of a bull ring is also due to start in the New Year and be complete by October.

We need to act now!

China may want to support Spanish culture, but would only promote a cruel past time that the vast majority of Europeans abhor and that most Spaniards have no interest in.

STOP THIS EXPORT OF CRUELTY!

Join the League, Animal and CAS International and send an email to the Chinese President by clicking here and urge him to stop these plans.

Bullfighting is bad enough where it is, we can’t allow it to start in other countries.

Thank you for your help and best wishes.

PS  If you would like to donate to our campaigning work, please visit the League Against Cruel Sports website.  All donations will be gratefully received. 

** Also from LACS – Some Really Good News  **   Some Really Good News ** 

Posted: 17 December 2009

In a landmark legal ruling, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Hunting Act does not breach human rights legislation.

The case, brought by the Countryside Alliance and Brian Friend, 70, of Axminster, rested on whether or not the Hunting Act 2004 breached the rights to a private and family life, freedom of association, and protection of property. The court rejected all arguments.

The court rejected arguments that the Hunting Act infringed an individual’s right to a private and family life on the basis that hunting is a public activity and it is not integral to an individual’s identity. The judgment also made clear that the ban on hunting had “not created serious difficulties for earning one’s living”.

Welcoming the ruling, Douglas Batchelor, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports said: “This is a victory for common sense. No-one has the right to chase and kill animals purely for sport. The Hunting Act is a landmark piece of animal welfare legislation and today’s decision sends a clear message to politicians and the hunting community alike that the ban on hunting is here to stay.”

An Ipsos-MORI poll in September found that 75% of the public support the ban on fox hunting, and 84% and 85% support the ban on stag hunting and hare hunting respectively.

Keep It Where It Belongs – Only In the History Books !! 

Photo: M. Johnson – SAV.

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering) | Leave a comment »

Uk (England): Thanks for all your Support – A Christmas Message

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

SAV Christmas

Well, today (19/12) it was going to be a pond clearing day by volunteers at the local Forestry Commission http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/HCOU-5YHJS7   area called ‘Jeskyns’ :

Newsletter Link:  http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-6drl75  

But for some reason; don’t ask why, but just possibly because it was around 4 degrees below Zero, there were too not many volunteers to go into the water; none to be exact.  So, in order to have some fun and celebrate the end of a great year protecting both wildlife and woodland in the area, why not have a Winter Barbeque !

So that is what we did.

Here are a few piccys of the volunteers very cold but very enjoyable few hours out in the Winter sun.

A lot of the time I personally was thinking about the Balkans dogs and cats who are having to survive conditions like we experienced here on an everlasting basis at the moment.  They are not able to fill themselves with food or go into somewhere warm when the need arises.  They are always hungry and they are always cold.  What we experienced today for a few hours is a 24/7 situation for all Balkans strays.

2010 will see SAV continuing to fight for the animals of the Balkans states, especially for the stray and sometimes owned, roaming animals.  The fight will continue to press governments and authorities to undertake humane, No Kill sterilisation, vaccination, microchipping and identification procedures in order that owners of roaming animals can be traced and identified, and by the adoption of programmes towards the humane sterilisation of strays, the ever growing ‘pyramid of stray animals’ is gradually reduced.

One unspayed female (bitch) dog, her male (dog) mate and all of their subsequent offspring, as they mature and if none of them are ever sterilised, will produce between them a staggering 67,000 dogs within the next 6 years.

 

That is just one pair of animals.  Belgrade City in Serbia kills over 9,000 strays each year as part of the ‘control’ programme.  A small drop in the ocean.  A policy of humane, sterilisation and no kill for just one pair as detailed above, would in effect, prevent 67,000 further strays being born onto the streets.

Can the Serbian government not understand this ? – it appears not as they are showing no leadership and management in attempting to reduce stray animal numbers, other than the blinkered view that killing off a percentage of strays on the streets will resolve all of the problem.  It will not.

Cats under the same conditions as the dogs detailed would produce 11,606,077 new cats onto the streets in around 9 years.

 

We have been greeted with some great news from our buddies in India today – read all about it on our post at:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/india-excellent-news-high-court-allows-strays-to-be-fed-as-a-central-reason-to-the-sterlization-and-immunization-scheme-for-controlling-stray-dog-population-numbers-and-preventing-the-spread-of-r/

We hope that this same kind of approach to stray animal understanding and welfare controls could be adopted by Balkans states.  We live in hope that the Balkans government understanding light actually switches on in the near future rather than remain firmly off.

Whatever and whenever, we will continue to be a voice for both Serbian and other Balkans states animals, and we will be presenting evidence and information to the European Union Enlargement / Accession Commission whenever it is felt necessary.  We have very recently supported the call of EU Animal Welfare Intergroup / Eurogroup President Dr. Caroline Lucas in expressing our concerns about the situation at Vardariste holding facility in Macedonia.  The full story and some pictures from our Vardariste photo archive, as well as a copy of Dr. Lucas’ can be seen at the following:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/macedonia-sav-now-supports-eu-eurogroup-for-animals-by-formally-writing-letter-to-eu-commissioners-expressing-concerns-about-conditions-and-animal-suffering-at-vardariste-holding-facility-skopje-ma/

A copy of SAV’s letter to Commissioner Vassiliou and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner  can be viewed by clicking on the following link: 

Commissioner letter Macedonia Dec 2009

The year of 2009 has seen a few ‘highs’ but an awful lot of ‘lows’.  But the lows make us all ever more determined to move forward with new campaigns and actions in 2010.  2009 campaigns, along with other campaigns we are involved in outside of the SAV ‘box’, such as investigating long distance live animal transport in the EU, teach us many things, and we hope that we can group all our experiences, the highs and the lows together, to tackle balkans animal abuse as a more stronger and effective group in the future.

I would like to thank everyone for their involvement, support and hundreds of comments which have been left on the SAV site.  Every one is read fully, I can assure you.  Very limited resources do not allow replies to everyone who comments, but we thank you for them; please keep them coming !

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very enjoyable, cruelty-free Christmas this festive season.  Regards go to all your friends and family.

2010 is a new year, with new problems and hopefully new solutions and campaigns to resolve them.  We are not going anywhere, so we look forward to enjoying your company once again at SAV in the new year of 2010.

SAV Christmas

Regards and thanks

Mark – SAV – Kent, England, Uk.

Think of them this Christmas time –

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »

Macedonia: SAV Now Supports EU Eurogroup for Animals by Formally Writing letter to EU Commissioners Expressing Concerns About Conditions and Animal Suffering at Vardariste Holding Facility, Skopje, Macedonia

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Macedonia

 

SAV are now presenting a formal complaint to the EU Commissioner about the terrible situation for strays in Macedonia.

Vard21

Vard9

Please refer to our recent post regarding Macedonia:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/macedonia-no-change-at-skopje-now-the-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-president-writes-to-the-eu-commissioner-asking-for-actions/

South East area of England Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Dr. Caroline Lucas, http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/   who is also the President of the EU Eurogroup for Animals  http://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/about/about.htm  , wrote a formal to Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, The European Commission, DG Health and Consumers, Brussels, who is responsible for animal welfare issues within the EU.  Carolines letter of 30th November relates to European Parliament / EU Eurogroup animal welfare concerns in both Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina but drawing special attention to the situation regarding stray dogs in Skopje, Macedonia.

A copy of Caroline’s letter to Commissioner Vassiliou can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

Brussels letter stray dogs and cats

To provide additional support to the letter (dated 30th November) to the Commissioner by Dr. Lucas, SAV have now also written a formal letter, complete with the supply of 12 photographs of the conditions in which animals are being kept to the following:

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou –   http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/vassiliou/index_en.htm

and also Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner  –   http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/ferrero-waldner/

expressing our concerns about many issues relating to the animal holding / death facility at Vardariste, Skopje.

A copy of SAV’s letter to Commissioner Vassiliou and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner  can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

Commissioner letter Macedonia Dec 2009

Within the letter, we have informed the Commissioner(s) that a formal petition has also been established by SAV to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, asking him to seriously review the lack of action being taken by many Balkans states regarding animal welfare legislation implementation prior to allowing these same states EU accession (membership).

We will keep you informed of any response(s) which either we or Dr. Lucas at the EU Eurogroup for Animals have returned from the Commissioners.

Commissioner Olli Rehn Petition Link: 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/EU-Investigate-Balkans-Animal-Welfare 

Vard14

Past SAV post links relating to the Vardariste, Skopje holding centre and the suffering of all animals which go there:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/macedonia-exposed-the-alleged-wonderful-conditions-at-vardariste-animal-pound-via-eu-funding-of-10000-euros-a-year-we-demand-eu-intervention-now-to-stop-this-terrible-abuse-of-animals-par/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/macedonia-actions-for-vardariste-pound-skopje-campaign-%e2%80%93-part-3-of-3/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/macedonia-vardariste-pound-skopje-campaign-%e2%80%93-part-2-of-3/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/macedonia-vardariste-pound-skopje-campaign-part-1-of-3/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/macedonia-important-new-campaign-launch-save-the-dogs-at-vardariste-pound-skopje/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/eu-sav-writes-to-eu-enlargement-commissioner-olli-rehn-regarding-concerns-about-balkans-animal-welfare-legislation-enforcement-or-lack-of/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/macedonia-update-vardariste-pound-111009-sav-formally-writes-to-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-requesting-investigation-into-conditions-at-and-eu-funding-of-same/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/take-action-now-for-dogs-in-skopje-macedonia-video-footage-and-oipa-action-links/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/macedonia-mayor-of-skopje-declares-all-dogs-must-be-killed-please-read-and-send-sample-letter-supplied-also-2-petitions/

Filed under: BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA (Capital - Sarajevo), CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, CROATIA (Capital - Zagreb), GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, MACEDONIA (Capital - Skopje), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Macedonia: No Change at Skopje – Now the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup President Writes to the EU Commissioner Asking for Actions

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Macedonia

 

 

 

There appears to be very little, if any change to the situation in Macedonia.

Demonstrations have been taking place outside of the offices of the Mayor and the Republic authorities.  These have been demonstrations against the killing of stray dogs and cats in Vardariste, Macedonia.

Video Link:   http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=185321080679 

SAV have been sent the following message from an activist in Macedonia. 

Their identity will not be given.

The message reads:

————————————————————————–

I’m writing to you because I know that you are the person who is trying to help the stray dogs in Skopje, holding facility Vardariste, and that you are doing your best to stop the massacre in our city.

I’m not sure that you get all report about situation of abandoned dogs in Skopje, but it’s because we are too busy, hoping we’ll finaly succeed to solve the problem by our own. Obviousely it’s not possible.
 
 Unfortunately, despite a little progress, the things are not changing, the dogs are killing brutally everyday.. So I’m writing to you, hoping that you won’t forget us and hoping you could help.

Aid holding facility is still opened just for six hour weekly, cooperation with organisations for animal protection is not existing. Entrance in this holding facility  is still not allowed for volunteers, we cant’t take pictures of dogs in there.
 
 Contract with two volunteers has expired and now they don’t allow  us to sign a new contract, not to talk about transparency, which is poor.
Mortality in aid station is officially about 60 percents -unofficially about 90%, the dogs are despairing everyday.  Public informations about aid station are hidden. Although we requested informations, they sent us a undefined answer, so we complained to allow free access to public informations.

Commission obligated aid station to give us corresponding info, but we still don’t have it.   We also requested explanation for big number of euthanasia.

Now we are finishing production of amendments for existing laws for animal well-being, which are in coordination with european law practice.

Also, we are working on law for prohibition of animal euthanasia.

 Since the majority in the City Council and the Parliament is from ruling party it is very hard for us to loby for a support of this law among the greater number of people’s representatives.

The same situation is with program for solving problem with for growing street dogs population. The program has been made by head of an veterinary master and we are supporting it. It’s basic is CNR strategy and it need to be supported in Assembly of Skopje City.

So, we’re appealing You for help us to make a pressure on Assembly by members of European parliament.

We belive that can be very important and significant. We’re, also, appealing You to help us make contacts with people that can provide any kind of help.  Macedonia, as an state which aspires to become EU member, has to accept sugestions. I belive you know that one of condition that Macedonica has to realize to become EU member is european animal protect law.

We are trying to influence on people choise, we are dooing a lot of campaign (adopt, don’t buy), we involved a public persons, actors, musicians, we offer any kind of help for the people who will adopt stray dog  but the effect is minimal, it will took us a long period to influence and to change the mentality.

We preveousely believed that RSPCA are trying to help the dog, but obviously they are only truing to help the government to “solve” the problem! 

Thank you very much, any kind of help and sugestion is very important for us in fighting for animal rights..

Sincerly,
Xxxxxxx  –   animal protection activist

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But hopefully things are also moving forward in the EU with regard Macedonia.  Due to large number of letters sent to her by Uk constituents, South East area of England Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Dr. Caroline Lucas, http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/   who is also Leader of the Uk Green Party – http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news  and also the President of the EU Eurogroup for Animals  http://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/about/about.htm  , has now written a formal letter to Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, The European Commission,

DG Health and Consumers, Brussels, who is responsible for animal welfare issues within the EU, regarding European Parliament / EU Eurogroup animal welfare concerns in both Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina but drawing special attention to the situation regarding stray dogs in Skopje, Macedonia.

 

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A copy of Caroline’s letter to Commissioner Vassiliou can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

Brussels letter stray dogs and cats

Note that in her letter Caroline states:

“These reports are extremely worrying.  They have been brought to my attention by very large numbers of people, both constituents and others, demonstrating how concerned many EU citizens are about the welfare of pets and strays. 

I recognise that the Commission has limited influence on this issue, especially in countries outside the EU. However, as Macedonia is recognised as a candidate for EU membership, and Bosnia-Herzegovina is a potential candidate country, I would like to ask the Commission to ensure that improved animal welfare standards are integral to ongoing dialogues with these two countries”.

The EU all-party Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals

The all-party Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals was created in 1983 in the European Parliament to discuss European and international animal welfare and conservation issues and, where appropriate, take initiatives which can lead to legislation.

Attended by representatives from most political groups and nationalities, this influential Intergroup provides a forum for MEPs for debate and for initiating action for a wide range of animal welfare and conservation issues.
The Intergroup meets every month during the European Parliament Plenary sessions in Strasbourg.
 
Future actions:

Very soon, SAV will also be writing formally to Commissioner Vassiliou in support of Carloine Lucas’ letter asking her to give priority to Balkans states animal welfare issues, especially regarding the facility for strays at Skopje, Macedonia.  As can be seen from the mail sent by the Macedonian activist (copy above), the situation for Macedonian animals is terrible and we need the EU to ensure the best animal welfare policies are introduced prior to Macedonian membership (accession) of the EU.

We will be asking SAV supporters to also write to Commissioner Vassiliou asking her to take immediate action for the strays in Skopje, and elsewhere in the Balkans states.  The current situation at Skopje is unacceptable, and SAV with help from its supporters (many being EU citizens) can put pressure on the EU with regard Balkans state(s) EU membership.

 

Filed under: BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA (Capital - Sarajevo), CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, CROATIA (Capital - Zagreb), GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, LETTERS, MACEDONIA (Capital - Skopje), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SUPPORTERS, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »

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