We can now show a sample of the many photographs which were taken in Racha by campaigners last Sunday, the 24^th August.

They show many of the dogs which would have been killed by the hunters, and also a photograph of a dead cat which was allegedly killed by the residents of Racha.

The President of Animal Rights/Welfare organisation “Help Animals” has now written to the authorities in Serbia and also to the primary Editor of television station TV B92 .

At the present time, things are steady in Racha, but campaigners have concerns that despite the action to ban the animal killings last Sunday, the same animals could once again be in danger as Racha citizens could kill any stray animals that they see.

This gives call once again to declare that a No Kill, sterilisation, vaccination and identification programme is undertaken on all stray animals throughout Serbia, not only Racha.

On 25^th August, SAV submitted a five page document to both Mr.Sasha Dragin – Minister of Agriculture, Serbia; and to Mr.Zoran Micovic -Director of Veterinary Department of Serbia, giving a very valid response that No Kill sterilisation programmes are the way forward for Serbia if they, serbia, ever wish to see any long term reduction in stray animal numbers in the future.

Some of the main points of the SAV letter sent to Mr.Sasha Dragin and to Mr.Zoran Micovic are repeated as follows:

“The killing of all the animals in any one region, be it a town, village etc, such as Racha, will always simply create a void (free open space) in that town or village which will suddenly become appealing to all types of animals, be they wild or domestic, currently existing outside of that town or village.  This void in the area now simply acts as a magnet to these ‘peripheral’ existing animals, enticing and encouraging them into the town or village with the hope of finding more food than they currently exist on, with the additional security of not coming under attack (predation) from the other animals in the area – ie. those which have now been killed by the hunters under the current system; it is a ‘win win’ situation for these animals.

 The situation above, the magnet and open invitation to peripheral area animals to now enter into the town or village due to the removal of the pre-existing resident animals, also has additional benefits to these new ‘migrants’ into the towns that those same animals can immediately become ‘Alpha’ dominant males, and enter into reproductive cycles with females of the species which have also been encouraged into the area by lack of predators and the possibility of more food.  In a very short period, a matter of weeks, new young, virile offspring will be produced on the streets due to this mis-calculated method of animal control.  These offspring, once mature, will very rapidly become replacement animals for those which were originally targeted in this mass extermination idea.  In no time at all, the towns and or villages will end up with MORE animals on their streets than they had when the original mass cull was undertaken.  This is not long term effective animal number management, it is a very bad, simplistic approach to an animal number control problems, numbers which will simply increase over time rather than be reduced.  It cannot be put any simpler than that !

 It is also suggested that the reason for the mass killings by the hunters is to remove and eradicate any carrier animals that may be incubating diseases such as Rabies.  The concerns of local people can be understood, but again, this mass kill is not the end of the matter with regard disease control.  But with new migrant animals as detailed above venturing into the town or village from the surrounding areas (suburbs), the situation for the mass transmission (spreading) of animal diseases into a disease-free region until then/now is a very strong possibility.  Disease has no barriers, but under the mass extermination policy of the hunters, such as in Racha, animals which may (unlikely) be carrying disease and already living in the town, are exterminated and then replaced by the other migrant animals entering the town, which may possibly be carrying disease, just possibly.  This Racha hunters mass killing and extermination policy does nothing except to encourage new diseases into areas which may until the killings, be free of a particular disease.  Mass killing of animals is NO SOLUTION to preventing animal disease, it only helps to spread it further, and more efficiently – it cannot be put simpler than that.

So, in summary, the mass killing of animals in any one area just increases the risk and potential of more diseases coming back into that area by the movement of migrant animals into the (killing) area from the outside”. 

***

Owned Dog: simply a dog that someone states is their property or claims a right over – a ‘That’s my dog’ type thing.  But this does not mean that the animal is responsibly owned; it can range from ‘loose’ ownership which often involves irregular feeding and free running of the town / village streets, the very ‘pest’ animal which those in the local population wish to see destroyed, right through to a well cared for, regularly fed, registered and confined animal which cannot roam the streets of the town or village.  Often, these roaming ‘pests’ are actually owned by people, but those who care very little about the welfare of the animal or how many additional animals their un-sterilised ‘pet’ will be putting onto the streets over a period of years”. 

***
 

“Points to be considered to reduce animal numbers and to also improve animal welfare conditions include:

Responsible animal ownership places responsibility on owners to provide sufficient care for their animals, including food, water, health care and social interaction necessary to maintain an acceptable level of health and well-being  for the animal.  Owners also have a responsibility to minimise the potential risk their dog may pose to the general public or to other animals; ie. the spreading of both animal numbers through offspring and the spread of animal borne diseases..  In some countries this is a legal requirement.

Where are the roaming dogs exactly coming from ? – are they roaming dogs or are they actually Owned dogs ? – what are the sources of these dogs and why do these sources exists ?

– Any management strategy needs to aim to reduce the future unwanted roaming population by targeting the primary sources and undertaking No Kill sterilisation management.

What are the main welfare issues faced by these dogs ?

Who has responsibility for the control of the roaming dog population ? – this normally falls in the remit of the Agriculture department, with local authorities undertaking activities at a local level.  NGO’s can help in providing an element of population management, but they MUST BE SUPPORTED by a responsible authority or government in order for anything to work.

Public pressure can be a big factor in dog control and management.  It is necessary to listen to the concerns and opinions of local communities and local authorities in order to ensure any control policies work.  It is also necessary to educate the population about the advantages of No kill programmes. Including sterilisation and the limitations of disease spread.

In an ideal situation it will be the responsibility of the government authority to gather stakeholders for a consultation / committee.  As this will not happen in Serbia, NGO’s can help to create a working group and feed back information / findings to the relevant authorities”.

With the host of evidence, complaints and positive suggestions for undertaking a No Kill programme, campaigners hope that the new Veterinary Director of Serbia, Mr. Micovic, will agree with our No kill proposals and introduce legislation and a national programme across Serbia to implement same and humanely reduce stray animal numbers for the future.

Hunters killing animals for fun in just a few locations is NOT an effective stray animal number management strategy; No Kill Sterilisation, Vaccination, Microchipping and Identification IS.

We wait with interest to see which way the authorities move in.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

** Racha Update – Sunday 24^th August **

Early this morning, campaigners were present in Racha.

During the early morning, information came through from these campaigners that the planned killings for today have been stopped.  This was excellent news for us all, but we now have to be very careful over the coming days as it is very possible that those who were not able to shoot and kill the animals today may attempt to poison the animals in the coming days.

Reports from campaigners say that there are around 15 male dogs and 15 male cats on the streets in Racha.  So allowing for the norm of 15 minutes to sterilise each animal, ALL of these male dogs and male cats could be sterilised within 7 to 8 hours.  As a result, the males would not father new litters of puppies and kittens to be born and populate the streets of Racha.

Many people in Serbia are asking why is it that the authorities cannot understand this very simple and logical reasoning ?.  If even one or two animals escape and survive being killed by the hunters during one of these planned culls, by not being sterilised, these animals will then have the ability to produce very many more offspring in the future, which is what nobody wants.  This means that in the future there would be more killing, more males escaping the killing, producing more offspring etc, etc, etc.  It is not rocket science but the authorities do not seem to be able to understand that by sterilising all the (male) animals in the area to start with, then there is NO possibility of future generation street animal offspring being produced.

And as stated, this whole procedure of sterilisation for all male animals could be done in one DAY   !

The only sensible and logical way therefore for progress of controlling animal numbers in villages and towns such as Racha, is for a ‘No Kill’ sterilisation strategy to be implemented, and the positive way forward for this to happen is well known – the authorities  must collaborate with NGO’s  who know the correct and lawful way to controlling animal numbers.

The authorities policy of killing animals forever more is no solution to this animal population ‘problem’ they have – No Kill sterilisation is the only way to reduce animal numbers long term for the future.

Thank You to everyone who has responded so quickly about the situation in Racha, sending e mails etc.  The place is being monitored to see if any action (such as poisoning) is taken against the animals, details of which have now been recorded.  If it is found to be the case that animals have been poisoned or killed in any other way, then the campaign as seen this past weekend, which has included informing all MEP’s of the situation, will be continued for as long as necessary until a no kill strategy is accepted and undertaken by the ministry and authorities.  Official charges as per those undertaken over the last few days will be reviewed and undertaken again in future if considered necessary.

Everyone on the campaign side is prepared to continue with these issues/campaigns for as long as is necessary.

Thanks to everyone for your excellent support over these past few days.  We now wait to see what the next move will be in Racha.

Questions have to be asked about Rabies.  Are animals in regions just being labelled as having rabies so that a mass kill can be undertaken without the need for better management programmes ?, or do all the animals being killed actually have rabies ?

Possibly the authorities could provide evidence to the NGO’s to support their attitude that all animals are rabies carriers.  If there is nothing to hide, then the NGO’s look forward to being supplied with the written evidence to support the claims from the authorities.

Please keep checking for future updates and actions which may be necessary.

Thank You for your very rapid support – which may be needed again soon.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Sunday 24^th August – Hunters and police have allegedly planned that on Sunday 24^th in Racha a kind of ‘stampede’ will be arranged.  Hunters and police will allegedly drive groups of dogs and cats into a herd type situation by shooting their guns.  Another group of police and hunters will be waiting to kill all the terrified animals as they run by.

Slavica at EPAR on Friday 22^nd has sent an official charge to the Ministry of Police in Belgrade and to the Police station in Kragujevac and Racha, and also to the Public Attorney General of Serbia – Mrs. Gordana Milosevic Stojanovic  in Belgrade, because in agreement to police laws, the police have an official obligation to PREVENT crime if they have information about where and when it will happen.  The police already know about the planned killings on Sunday in advance, as it appears they are involved directly.  They should be acting in agreement with Serbian law and preventing the Sunday killings, but it appears that there is allegedly a collaboration between the police and the hunters to work together and allow the killing of the animals.

EPAR have asked in their charge to the Ministry that the police must disarm the hunters, as they are a non-official group who are walking through towns and villages shooting weapons.  The dead bodies of killed animals will probably be left for predators to take as food – which is certainly one way of expanding the spread of rabies, is any of the animals left are infected, rather than containing it !

What is planned to be undertaken does not agree with scientific evidence, or to the laws of the Serbian constitution.  It would appear that the only word that can describe what will be going on is ANARCHY.

More news to come when we have additional information.

E mails of complaint please to:

kabinet@minpolj.sr.gov.yu   and also   micovicz@minpolj.sr.gov.yu

Copy to Mr. Neil Parish at the EU in Brussels – neilparishmep@btinternet.com  and  neil.parish@europarl.europa.eu

Also please copy to all your national MEP’s, using the following link to find their contact details:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do

– just click on any country to get a full listing.

Telephone calls to the Director of Veterinary.Department.of Serbia, Mr. Zoran Micovic, can be made on:

00 381  63 6 09 603   and   00 381 64 868 00 00

He can speak English.

The Serbian authorities, Government and Ministry must be informed that this killing at Racha will not go un noticed, and that the EU, which Serbia wishes to become a member of, will be informed via all their MEP’s about what is being allowed to happen.

A requirement of accession to the EU is that a nation must show that is enforcing its own national legislation.  Serbia appears to be failing this right at the start by allowing this to happen in Racha.  Please remind your MEP’s of this non compliance by Serbia.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »

Mobile phone numbers for the Director of Vet. Dep.  of Serbia, Mr. Zoran Micovic are:

SAV have been informed today that hunters and policemen in Racha; a village in the municipality of Kragujevac, are shooting both dogs and cats on the streets of Racha, and foxes in the surrounding areas of the village, in some alleged attempt to stop and eradicate rabies in the area.

Allegedly, some eight 8 cats have been killed by the use of a mallet.

Please contact your MEPs through the link given below, with the request that until this kind of action allegedly being undertaken in Racha; is halted, Serbia should remain a non-EU member.

To find details of your national MEPs, please click on your country on the following link; you will then be provided with a national list.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do?language=EN

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/groupAndCountry.do?language=EN 

E mail contact details we have at present for Mr. Dragin and Mr. Micovic are as follows; these will be changed, updated or added to as things move along.

Mr.Sasha Dragin- Minister of Agriculture kabinet@minpolj.sr.gov.yu

Mr.Zoran Micovic -Director of Veterinary Department of Serbia micovicz@minpolj.sr.gov.yu

We now call on Mr. Dragin and Mr. Micovic to provide us with a response as to why this has been allowed in direct contravention of serbian animal welfare legislation.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »