MACEDONIA (Capital – Skopje) | Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

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Macedonia: IMPORTANT New Campaign Launch: Save the Dogs at Vardariste Pound, Skopje.

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

ANIMA MUNDI Link:

http://www.demotix.com/users/anima-mundi/profile

Past SAV Posts:

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/2009/09/21/macedonia-mayor-of-skopje-dog-killer-contact-him-and-the-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-please-read-on/

Introduction

We (SAV) have been provided with lots of data and very disturbing videos and photgraphs from our great campaigner friends in Macedonia relating to the dogs which are held and regularly killed at VARDARISTE Pound, Skopje.

For ease of SAV visitor information and visitor actions associated with this campaign, over the next few days we will be publishing several posts, each post detailing one area of the campaign; it is very much hoped that you will visit ALL of the posts and then help us by taking action which will be detailed in the final post – Number 3.

Post 1 details:

video footage obtained of the Vardariste facility. A couple of photographs taken at the facility, showing the conditions in which the dogs are held, are also included.

Post 2 details:

photographs of the Vardariste facility and includes links to PETITIONS for the dogs which it is very much hoped you will add your name and comments to. Facebook links are also included in this post.

Post 3 details:

a SAMPLE LETTER which can be copied and e mailed directly to the Mayor of Skopje and also to the government of Macedonia via an e mail direct link form – the link which will be provided in the post.

Copies of the letter can also be sent to Macedonian Press and other media – again here, all e mail addresses will be given within the post.

Links to MACEDONIAN EMBASSIES / CONSULATES around the World will also be provided, so that you can forward on your own mail / letter to your national embassy if you wish.

So Post 3 is the most important ‘Action’ post which requires your help and support.

It is hoped that Post 3 will be acted on by you only once you have visited Posts 1 and 2, as these provide background video footage links, photographs and petition links showing the terrible conditions in which the dogs at Vardariste facility are held.

Please, please give your devoted attention to this campaign to help the dogs at Vardariste facility in Macedonia.

Thanks – SAV

*** Keep Visiting Us – Posts 1, 2 and 3 to be published over the next few days. ***

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

EU / Balkans: SAV Launch New Petition Asking EU (Enlargement Commissioner Mr. Olli Rehn) To Act In Advance of Balkans States EU Membership (Accession) – Please Read and Sign – Petition Link In Text below

Posted on October 24, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Video Link – Dogcatchers (Shinters) in Nis City, Serbia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rV5hu-uVJI&feature=player_embedded

24/10/09 – Update.

Further to our correspondence with Commissioner Rehn of 19/10/09,

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/

we have now decided to support this with a petition, the full wording of which follows at the end of this post.

The petition finsihes by declaring:

“Signators of this petion request that Commissioner Rehn now fully investigates if there is actually any animal welfare legislation enforcement by Balkans states requiring EU membership prior to them being granted official EU membership. Or is animal welfare legislation implementation simply being ignored.

We request the implementation of ‘democracy’ and the ‘rule of law’ for all animal welfare issues within Balkans states at all times prior to their EU Accession. Where this is not happening, we rquest the EU demands it prior to accession”.

** To sign the petition, simply click on the following link ** :

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

The petition is global, international and open to everyone – please support it.

We would especially though love to see lots of support from existing EU citizens; Commissioner Rehn is supposed to be a representative of the EU citizen, so let him know how EU citizens feel about this issue.

Please finish and comment you leave on the petition with wording like:

“I am an existing EU citizen, and I request that the EU Enlargement Commissioner acts on behalf of EU citizens and Balkans Animals”.

Add Your Voice for Serbian Animals Voice !!! – Sign today.

Please feel free to crosspost.

Many Thanks – SAV.

—————————————————————————————–

PETITION WORDING:

Target: European Union Enlargement Commissioner: Olli Rehn

Sponsored by: Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/

Petition overview:

Several Balkans states are now seeking either full membership (Accession) to the European Union (EU), or are attempting stronger links with the EU.

These include: Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo.

Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) has been campaigning for the improved welfare of Balkans animals for several years. We have extensive experience and data relating to the terrible daily suffering inflicted on animals, despite existing Balkan states national legislation which should legally prevent much of this. There is very little evidence to show political and municipal authority enforcement of animal welfare legislation. – details of this on a ‘nation by nation’ basis can be seen via our site at https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/

In October 2009, SAV wrote to Commissioner Olli Rehn; EU Commissioner for Enlargement, expressing our deep concerns regarding an apparent lack of existing national animal welfare legislation implementation and enforcement by governments throughout the Balkan states.

Over 25 ‘prime’ evidence links from the SAV site were provided to Commissioner Rehn, each of these containing many ‘sub’ links, showing extreme Balkans animal suffering video footage which relate to our concerns. A few examples are shown in the following links –

**WARNING – Graphic Animal Suffering**:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZSXlSH4pEA&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sewZvVbQro0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEfxbysd_Y&feature=channel

We have expressed our concerns to the Commissioner, that even when provided with such evidence, clearly showing extreme animal abuses, nothing with regard investigation and prosecution is being followed up by the Balkans authorities to press charges; to enforce (the) often existing national animal welfare legislation. In Serbia for example, the Public Attorney appears to be dismissing all evidence provided by animal welfare campaigners; instead, they themselves are themselves being accused of “obstructing them (the Public Attorney) from getting on with their legal work”.

In our letter, we have reminded Commissioner Rehn that (on his website) his very own words declare:

“The European Union currently has 27 Member States. The Western Balkan countries, Turkey and Iceland may also join once they meet the conditions for membership. The aim of enlargement is simple: to extend the area of peace, stability, democracy and the rule of law, and prosperity and well-being throughout Europe”.

We draw particular attention to the statement by Commissioner Rehn of – “democracy and the rule of law”, as it is felt that despite Serbian animal welfare campaigners providing large amounts of evidence to Serbian legislators, no action appears to ever be taken by Serbian authorities to apply ‘the rule of law’ – a fundamental condition necessary for EU membership.

If no action (in the form of prosecutions against animal cruelty) is being shown to be taken by Serbian legislators following the production of evidence and documented requests by animal welfare campaigners, then we declare that Serbia is not meeting some of the necessary and fundamental aims of EU enlargement – with regard showing the implementation of both ‘democracy’ (ie. requests by animal welfare campaigners) and the ‘rule of law’ (ie. by not prosecuting perpetrators of causing animal suffering), even when evidence is provided.

As a consequence, Signators of this petion request that Commissioner Rehn now fully investigates if there is actually any animal welfare legislation enforcement by Balkans states requiring EU membership prior to them being granted official EU membership. Or is animal welfare legislation implementation simply being ignored.

Ends

—————————————————————-

** To sign the petition, simply click on the following link ** :

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

The petition is global, international and open to everyone – please support it.

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, SLOVENIA (Capital - Ljubljana), VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

EU: SAV Writes to EU ‘Enlargement’ Commissioner Olli Rehn Regarding Concerns About Balkans Animal Welfare Legislation Enforcement; or Lack Of !

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

19/10/09

SAV has now written to Commissioner Olli Rehn; EU Commissioner for Enlargement, expressing our concerns regarding animal welfare legislation enforcement throughout the Balkans.

Commissioner Rehn Website: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/rehn/index_en.htm

Our four (4) page letter has covered animal welfare issues in the following states:

Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Hertzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro.

Over 25 ‘prime’ links have been provided to Commissioner Rehn, each of these with many ‘sub’ links, showing Balkans animal suffering video footage which details our concerns. A few examples are shown here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZSXlSH4pEA&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sewZvVbQro0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEfxbysd_Y&feature=channel

We have expressed our concerns that even when provided with such video evidence as this, clearly showing those involved in animal abuses, nothing is being done by the authorities to press charges; to enforce the law. With regard Serbia, the Public Attorney would appear to be dismissing all evidence provided. More details are provided in our post:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/serbia-evidence-what-evidence/

We have reminded Commissioner Rehn that (on his website) his very own words declare:

“The European Union currently has 27 Member States. The Western Balkan countries, Turkey and Iceland may also join once they meet the conditions for membership. The aim of enlargement is simple: to extend the area of peace, stability, democracy and the rule of law, and prosperity and well-being throughout Europe”.

We pay particular attention to “democracy and the rule of law”, as it is felt that despite Serbian animal welfare campaigners through their right of ‘democracy’, providing large amounts of evidence to Serbian legislators, no action appears to ever be taken by Serbian authorities to apply ‘the rule of law’.

If no action (prosecutions) is being shown to be taken by Serbian legislators, then possibly Serbia is not meeting one of the aims of EU enlargement with regard both democracy and the rule of law.

Applying ‘the rule of law’ would mean identifying (from the videos) and prosecuting those involved with animal abuses.

We are not publishing a copy of the information provided to Commissioner Rehn, as we feel that this is private between him and European citizens representing Serbian Animals Voice with this evidence.

We have requested that Commissioner Rehn now investigates animal welfare legislation enforcement by Balkans states requiring EU membership, and have asked why (from what we are informed by the Serbian Public Attorney and the police), they as nations are allegedly NOT enforcing their own national legislation when it comes to issues of animal welfare.

Ie. not applying the ‘rule of law’, a fundamental condition which needs to be shown to be applied nationally by nations wishing to become future members of the EU.

We now await Commissioner Rehns responses on this important point of animal welfare legislation within the Balkans.

Once we have been provided with a response from Commissioner Rehn, will we then decide our future route of action.

Above – SERBIA

Above – MACEDONIA

CROATIA –

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/animal-friends-croatia-prepare-reports-about-the-benkovac-situation/

BOSNIA and HERTZEGOVINA

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/2319/

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

Serbia: Loznica City Pound Death Camp – Why Does the Government Not Act Re Leskovac City Policy ? – and Why Not the European Union With A Policy For Stray Animal Welfare ?

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Here you will find many photographs of the current situation at the City pound death camp, Loznica, located in Serbia.

These pictures show just a selection of the thousands of animals killed every year by the government and its authorities, as they do in all Serbian towns and cities.

And where are the photograsphs of all the CATS (Feline) which are rounded up by the authorities ? – they are not shown because all the cats are killed immediately after their capture. The Serbian government and authorities do not place cats into their pounds; they kill them immediately.

Leskovac City policy could be used by the Serbian government and authorities as a typical example of the way forward for animal population control. A model city without animal killings; which could set the standard for all Serbian municipalities. Leskovac City is an example that this policy of humane animal welfare could be adopted throughout Serbia; but we are witnessing no further evidence of any attempts to do it.

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/serbia-leskovac-city-makes-fantastic-model-authority-to-no-kill-animal-control-programmes/

As with Leskovac City, only by public education programmes, adopting a policy of responsible animal ownership by pet owners, by sterilising animals from the municipal budget, hence reducing drastically the reproduction pyramids that we have always shown, and giving every animal a microchip identification tag, to enable irresponsible owners to be traced, will results in a reduction of animal numbers, and a saving of municpal budgets ever be achieved.

Financially targetting irresponsible pet owners who do not have their pet sterilised, but still turn them out onto the streets every day to reproduce and again ADD to the reproduction pyramids, is a must.

Pet owners must be responsible owners; not be owners who continually add to the reproduction pyramids simply because they do not care what their animal (pet) gets up to when they turn it out every day onto the streets.

By controlling pet and stray animal numbers, municpalities will find rewards in their budgetary allocations. Large Shinter teams will not be required to round up animals – a financial saving; money that can be redirected into covering costs for sterilisation of animals in cities.

Only when the Serbian government really takes action and makes all Serbian cities and towns run along the same policies of those at Leskovac City, will the government ever see any return for the money it is currently wasting by pouring it into the bottomless barrel that supports their ‘Kill’ policy.

There is currently NO DIFFERENCE between the government / municipality policy within any Balkans states – one of continually killing animals in any location rather than making attemps to reduce animal numbers by:

Sterilisation
Responsible ownership education
Vaccination against disease(s)
Microchipping – to enable irresponsible pet owners to be identified and prosecuted.
Microchipping – to establish a database to monitor animal numbers.

Balkans states which have a policy of avoiding the above, and who continue wasting budgets on continual animal killing include:

Macedonia: Skopje, Prilep, etc;
Serbia: Loznica, Subotica, Nish, Belgrade , Novi Sad,Sombor, Bor Kragujevac etc;
Bosnia and Hercegovina: Sarajevo, Brcko Districkt, Tuzla ,Banja Luka,etc; Croatia: Zagreb , Osijek , Split,Benkovac etc;
Monte Negro: Podgorica, HercegNovi , Boka Kotorska etc.

In all towns and cities throughout Balkans states, dogs and cats are continually being killed by governments who have no forward sight or planning. Governments who appear to enjoy wasting public money rather than investing the same money into sterilisation, vaccination and microchipping identification programmes, all of which would help them to reduce animal numbers whilst at the same time help them identify (by the microchips) irresponsible owners who are adding to the the pouplation pyramids by NOT having their animals sterilised.

Our campaigning continues regardless; and will, until government policy is changed to a national ‘No Kill’ policy.

We will continue to show video and photographic evidence of the daily suffering of animals within Balkans states by governments who are shortsighted and lack any long term animal welfare planning.

And we will continue to request that a very reluctant European Union (EU) actually moves forward also, undertakes what its citizens request, and actaully introduces Euro-wide legislation for the potection of pet and stray animals.

The EU is in a position where it could largely eliminate the future European ‘problems’ in some member states of stray animal numbers by introducing pet and stray animal welfare legislation very soon / immediately.

Filed under: BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA (Capital - Sarajevo), CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, CROATIA (Capital - Zagreb), GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, MACEDONIA (Capital - Skopje), PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, SLOVENIA (Capital - Ljubljana) | Leave a comment »

Macedonia: UPDATE – Vardariste Pound; 11/10/09 – SAV Formally Writes to EU Animal Welfare Intergroup Requesting Investigation Into Conditions At, and EU Funding of Same.

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

Macedonia – Previous SAV posts:

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/2009/10/08/macedonia-eyewitness-report-of-skopje-macedonia-wants-eu-membership-but-the-eu-does-not-want-them-whilst-animal-abuse-and-suffering-continues-now-we-ask-the-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-and-mep/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/macedonia-mayor-of-skopje-dog-killer-contact-him-and-the-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-please-read-on/

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

LATEST ***

11/10/09 – SAV have today presented a letter to the President of the European Union Animal Welfare Intergroup relating to the disgusting current animal pound situation at Vardariste, Macedonia, along with the EU funding at this time to the municipality of 100,000 Euros each year.

Links to all SAV have been provided as evidence, along with photographs taken within the pound on 05/09/09.

A copy of the letter provided to the EU Intergroup can be seen by clicking on the following link:

Caroline Lucas Letter – Macedonia

Note – we ask that the the policy currently being adopted at Leskovac City in Serbia:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/serbia-leskovac-city-makes-fantastic-model-authority-to-no-kill-animal-control-programmes/

be used as a future animal population management programme by all municipalities and governments within Balkans states.

SAV.

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

Macedonia: Exposed – the Alleged ‘Wonderful Conditions’ at Vardariste Animal Pound – via EU Funding of 100,000 Euros A Year. We Demand EU Intervention Now to Stop This Terrible Abuse of Animals, Partly Funded from EU Budgets

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Past SAV posts relating to this case:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/macedonia-mayor-of-skopje-dog-killer-contact-him-and-the-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-please-read-on/

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

LATEST ***

Despite all out attempts by the authorities at the Vardariste street dog pound to stop photographs being taken, we have managed to obtain some from various contacts and sources. The photographs can be seen below in this post.

Macedonian volunteers have been doing what they can, trying to save the dogs at Vardariste. We now have disturbing reports from them on conditions. The volunteers feel that only internationals, in particular the EU, namely the Animal Welfare Intergroup, can help change the terrible conditions at Vardariste.

Volunteers have been threatened if they continue recounting the goings on, as the workers/sanitarnaya inspecktsia are clearly afraid of the EU finding out.

IT IS OUR INTENTION TO ENSURE THAT THE EU DOES FIND OUT ABOUT THE SITUATION IN VARDARISTE / SKOPJE, AND MACEDONIA IN GENERAL.

Vested interests are very likely in Vardariste, as they are in much of the Balkans.

A capture, spade and release programme is supposed to be happening, but actually money is probably being made in a typical Eastern European fashion:

1 by selling off the Eukanabia Dog Food meant for the dogs at the pound at half price.

2 if they kill all the dogs (since the government wants all street dogs killed) which stilll has an EU funded budget of 100,000 Euros a year for Vardariste, then it is very possible that the majority of the EU provided money could end up elsewhere. We call it ‘corruption’; what do others call it ?

For example, if it costs 300 macedonian to inject a dog (ie. to kill it) with soap or whatever and 1400 Maced to spade and release, then one can draw one’s own conclusions.

There is a 100,000 Euros EU budget a year allocation (according to information we have been given) for Vardariste, but there is nothing there only starving dogs that are killed.

And as the dogs at the pound keep disappearing (ie. are killed off), to be replaced by new ones, they are all held in appalling, overcrowded cages. SAV have witnesses who can attest to this should legal action need to be taken in the future.

It is understood that the current death rate for the Vardariste pound is 97%.

The incredible thing which actually happens is the lies and more lies which keep being told at Vardariste pound itself and in the government controlled press about the ‘wonderful conditions’ at the facility.

Judge for yourself the alleged ‘wonderful conditions’ at Vardariste pound, by looking at the following photographs.

More disturbing is the fact that most people cannot go in and feed the dogs now as the head of Vardariste has closed it to visitors on Saturdays between 9-12.

Now it is only opened for adoption on Fridays between 9-12 when everyone is working.

So dogs are rounded up and go into the pound; the food which is supposed to be for them is sold off at half price as a corruption scam; the pound is closed to visitors now on a Saturday and only opened for 3 hours on a Friday when everyone is at work.

It would appear to us that the situation at Vardariste is almost like that of a ‘death camp’ – with no chance of dogs ever being adopted by people. Instead they are held in cages, not fed, killed off and then replaced by yet more dogs captured from the streets.

All seems perfect for the Vardariste authorities, especially as they are being funded to the tune of 100,000 Euros a year by the European Union.

The EU Animal welfare Intergroup and the EU Parliament in general now needs to intervene and stop this funding as a primary concern. This may need to be done in the form of an EU delegation visit to the alleged ‘wonderful conditions’ at Vardariste pound, to ascertain exactly what is being done with the EU budget funding and to inspect the condition of animals at the pounds; including the numbers of adoptions.

We feel strongly that orders need to be given to and legal action needs to be taken by the EU against the authorities of Vardariste, including the Mayor who we have exposed in past SAV posts – see the links at the start of this article.

SAV are today, 09/10/09, providing a full copy of this post to the President of the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup, requesting that immediate and effective action is taken within the EU Parliament to question what is actually being doone with the EU funded budget of 100,000 Euros a year for Vardariste.

We also request that you, especially EU citizens, provide a copy of this article to your own national MEPs, again demanding that investigations be undertaken by the EU into their funding of Vardariste.

If (EU and Non EU) supporters wish to take direct, independent action for the dogs, then letters can be writen and mailed directly to:

Major of the city of Skopje,

Mr. Koce Trajanovski :gradonacalnik@skopje.gov.mk

Prime Minister of R. Macedonia,

Nikola Gruevski http://www.vlada.mk/?q=contact

When we have more information, which may include a response from EU Parliamentary contacts, we will update this site to reflect happenings.

Finally, if the authorities of Vardariste legally object to what is being stated /declared in this post, then we feel that we have enough witnesses who have personal experiences of the situation at Vardariste pound to present a detailed and valid representation to any authorities should it be necessary.

Regards SAV.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, MACEDONIA (Capital - Skopje), PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SHELTER - Information | 2 Comments »

Macedonia: Eyewitness Report of Skopje. Macedonia Wants EU Membership, but the EU Does Not Want Them Whilst Animal Abuse and Suffering Continues. Now We Ask the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup, and MEPs to ACT !

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

“They have received threats to stop their activities.

At this point they believe on intervention from the EU can help”.

—————————————————————————

Dear Friends of Animals,

I am a British American citizen working with the European Union in Kosovo but spending the weekends in Skopje.

As an animal lover I have become involved in the efforts by local Macedonian animal rights campaigners to stop the dog massacres at Vardariste which I have visited three times bringing with me 100 Euros worth of dog and puppy food to feed the starving dogs and 60 Euros the second time. The third time I went with the President of the Macedonian Animal Welfare Society Nena Ivanovska.

I am appalled at conditions there. The dogs are not fed and killed. Heart of the animals activists told me that dogs disappear weekly ( or even more often) ie. they are starved and killed. For example, when I visited on Saturday 12 September I carefully noted all the dogs in the cages as I fed all of them on plastic plates.

A staff member of Vardariste, as Heart of the Animals volunteers had warned me they would, followed me around and warned me “no photos”.

The next Saturday , 19 September ALL the 100 or so dogs except 3 small dogs were replaced with new dogs. One of the 3 survivors, a small white one-eyed dog whose lost eye was infected was still there walking around freely with her puppies. I told the Heart volunteer with whom I came to tell the facility vet Dima over the phone to give her some medication for the eye when he came to Vardariste that afternoon.

When I returned the next day Sunday with the President of the Macedonian Animal Welfare Society just to see what conditions were like there on a Sunday the facility was “closed” and the two cages that had been full of dogs the previous day (only these 2 cages were visible from the entrance) were empty. Also the one eyed white dog who had been freely walking around was nowhere to be seen. I asked a volunteer who would be visiting in the next day or two to ask about the white dog. But noone knew anything and she was unable to find her.

The point is that the dogs are killed and there is noone to defend them. The facility was only opened to visitors from 9-12 on Fridays (when everyone works) and until a few weeks ago from 9-12 on Saturday. So now no one can go in Vardariste from about 2 weeks ago allowed two volunteers to go in Vardariste from 9-5 but they are not allowed to give food or water to the starving dogs. They are reporting that dogs disappear daily.

As a foreigner I am outraged at what is going on. Macedonia is about to join the EU but they are clearly in violation of animal welfare laws.

I would like to add that one of the staff in an effort to “show” how humaneVardariste is on my first visit showed me 40 kg plus bags of Eukanabia in their offices to feed the dogs but it is never given to the dogs. (The food I understand is sold off at half price on the side.) There was not a single grain of food in any of the cages when I went there. And this state of affairs has been going on a while as it was reported to me by animal activists (together with photos) before I visited Vardariste.

The point is that Vardariste this is supposed to be a centre for acapture, spade and release programme but even spaded dogs with yellow tags are being captured and killed. Tiny litters of puppies are also being killed. The 20 plus I saw on my first visit appeared sick and diseased which is confirmed by an activist that is trying to get puppies adopted from Vardariste for Puppy Adoption Day in early October: she told me all the puppies are sickly.

The volunteers are helpless.

They have received threats to stop their activities. At this point they believe on intervention from the EU can help.

Please do what you can to stop the dog massacres at Vardariste in Skope.

Alex

Concerned British citizen with EU MIssion in Kosovo

—————————————————————————–

SAV Comment:

This post is being forwarded directly to the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup, requesting, no demanding, that serious action is now taken with the Macedonian authorities.

Even to the point that until changes are made, attempts will be made to prevent Macedonian EU membership.

We ask all EU citizens especially to contact their MEP, sending this report above as a request to keep Macedonia OUT of the EU.

Previous SAV posts on this issue:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/macedonia-mayor-of-skopje-dog-killer-contact-him-and-the-eu-animal-welfare-intergroup-please-read-on/

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

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

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Macedonia: IMPORTANT New Campaign Launch: Save the Dogs at Vardariste Pound, Skopje.

EU / Balkans: SAV Launch New Petition Asking EU (Enlargement Commissioner Mr. Olli Rehn) To Act In Advance of Balkans States EU Membership (Accession) – Please Read and Sign – Petition Link In Text below

EU: SAV Writes to EU ‘Enlargement’ Commissioner Olli Rehn Regarding Concerns About Balkans Animal Welfare Legislation Enforcement; or Lack Of !

Serbia: Loznica City Pound Death Camp – Why Does the Government Not Act Re Leskovac City Policy ? – and Why Not the European Union With A Policy For Stray Animal Welfare ?

Macedonia: UPDATE – Vardariste Pound; 11/10/09 – SAV Formally Writes to EU Animal Welfare Intergroup Requesting Investigation Into Conditions At, and EU Funding of Same.

Macedonia: Exposed – the Alleged ‘Wonderful Conditions’ at Vardariste Animal Pound – via EU Funding of 100,000 Euros A Year. We Demand EU Intervention Now to Stop This Terrible Abuse of Animals, Partly Funded from EU Budgets

Macedonia: Eyewitness Report of Skopje. Macedonia Wants EU Membership, but the EU Does Not Want Them Whilst Animal Abuse and Suffering Continues. Now We Ask the EU Animal Welfare Intergroup, and MEPs to ACT !

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Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)