Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

Over the last few days, night temperatures have been below zero again, so the arrival of the gas delivery truck was more than welcomed yesterday.

Just when we were down to around 5% of the total volume of the gas tank left, heating fuel arrived and all of the kitties’ rooms are warm again!

Thank you all a million times over for coming to our rescue again, this wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for your caring generosity!

15/3/15 –

Serbia: Great News From Felix Shelter – Funds For Second Tank Of Gas Fully Raised In Less Than A Week – Well Done All Those Who Gave !!

Re our very recent appeal for Danica and the cats at Felix for a second tank of gas (or see post immediately below dated 11/3/15 also):

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/03/11/serbia-appeal-for-donations-for-next-tank-of-gas-can-you-help-please/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/02/05/serbia-5215-more-news-from-danica-at-shelter-felix/

http://www youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-felix-cats-stay-warm/319596

Well in less than a week the target amount for the new tank of gas has been met and greatly exceeded ! Fantastic work by all; and big thanks to everyone who donated to raise money for the fuel; especially as a couple of really large donations were given – Thank you all !!

Gas tank 2 3

Here is a message from Danica about the help that she has been provided with:

Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

Dear friends,

Thanks to you all and due to your overwhelming generosity, all of the funds needed for the new tank of heating fuel have been raised in just a couple of days!

By the end of next week, our gas tank will be filled up again and the kitties will be warm and cozy regardless of the state of the weather outside.

Such a huge weight off of our shoulders!

You guys are absolutely amazing!

All of us here have been left speechless by all of your incredible kindness and we’re humbled and honored to have such wonderful friends!

You all rock!

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11/3/15 – New Appeal To Help With Next Tank of Gas

Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

Please share and help if you can!

No matter how hard we’ve tried to raise the funds for one more tank of gas for central heating, we’re still far from reaching the goal.

Wonderful Laura Simpson and her awesome organization The Great Animal Rescue Chase & Harmony Fund have stepped in again and have done as much as they could, but we’re around $1000 US short nonetheless.

The additional problem is that the gas delivery trucks have to travel more than 200 km in both directions in order to deliver us the heating fuel and naturally, the gas company won’t even consider sending it on such a long trip if it’s half empty.

It’s not that cold right now (although it’s not warm either), but we’re expecting a drop in temperature accompanied with strong wind and sleet next week, so we’ll have to switch to electric heaters until we succeed in raising the entire sum of money needed for a full tank of gas.

A significant number of the Felix kitties are 18 -19 years old and they simply can’t handle the kind of cold that young and healthy cats can.
Once again, we’re reaching out to all of you to help us keep the cats warm and comfortable!

Even the smallest donation means a lot as everything adds up and gets us closer to our goal! Our gas tank’s gotten almost empty now and this is really a time sensitive emergency!

To donate please go to:

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-felix-cats-stay-warm/319596

Come on folks – lets get it filled again quickly !! – Thanks, SAV.

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19/2/15 – ‘Utata’ Is Newest Member of SAV Team.

For the last few weeks there has been a lot of thought given here (England) to undertaking a virtual adoption of one of the cats at ‘Felix’ shelter which is run in Serbia by our good friend Danica.

No final choice was made as there are so many appealing faces at the shelter.

Then on Sunday night, more news and photos came through from Danica about some of the cats at the shelter. There was one little lady who immediately grabbed attention; Danica wrote:

Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

‘Utata’ is living a happy life at the shelter, but there’s one little thing missing. She needs a virtual “parent” who will perfect her happiness and show her she’s special by choosing to sponsor her, just her. Is it you?

Utata needs a sponsor ! – Utata is about five years old, I found her as a tiny kitten. She was stubborn and had a mind of her own from the beginning. Although she cuddled with me she was generally distrustful towards people, until some time ago when she has suddenly become cuddly and lovable with everyone. She gets along perfectly with other cats.

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So, that was it – no more messing around and never making a choice; immediately it was decided that little lady Utata was going to be adopted virtually by SAV. On 16/2 we made immediate contact with Danica and informed of the decision. Today, 17/2; we have (via the Felix Blog site), given Danica our first months money to pay for the adoption of the newest member of the SAV yeam.

Utata poses for her picture to be taken

Utata now joins little ‘Twinnsie’ at SOI Dogs; who we also sponsor.

You can see more about Twinnsie on one of our fairly recent posts:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/12/27/thailand-hello-twinnsie/ – or on the following link you can go direct to the video we had from twinnsie this last Christmas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29FaTYldzHU&feature=youtu.be

– it has to be those wonderful big furry ears and those very appealing eyes that won Twinnsie over as our SOI Dogs adoption. She is a beautiful little dog with big, furry ears.

We still have to make formal sections for Twinnsie and Utata as part of the team in the ‘About Us’ section on the site; but it will be happening real soon; so keep watching.

Both SOI Dogs (Thailand) and Felix shelter in Serbia have many loving animals who are in urgent need of a sponsor to help them get through their lives, by providing regular food and also by helping to cover any veterinary fees all within the monthly sponsorship cost. Could that sponsor be you ? – Please try and help by adopting an animal – it makes such a huge difference to the teams at the shelters as it provides more financial security for the animals.

Please see the message from John at the SOI Dogs Foundation (Thailand) website – https://www.soidog.org/Default.aspx

or from Danica at Felix Shelter (Serbia) via http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/ – just scroll down until you see ‘cats for virtual adoption’ on the right hand side – http://catshelter-felix.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=72&lang=en

Then make your choice and start your adoption(s) !

I have a very strong feeling you will be seeing more of both Twinnsie and Utata in the coming months. We welcome them both as the latest members to the SAV team.

We will continue to post regular updates on all the other cats at Felix shelter, as well as the dogs with John and the crew at SOI Dogs in Thailand.

Regards for now – Mark.

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15/2/15 – A Few Photographs From the Shelter Felix.

Above – Beauty at its best !

Above – Fiona’s doing great, even though she’s a tripod kitty now! 🙂

A huge thank you to all of you who contributed towards the costs of her surgery and post operative care, thus enabling this beautiful girl to enjoy life again!
http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

Above – One of the climbers coming down

Above – Meditating on the roof

Above – Just a little stretching !

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14/2/15 – Repic Lepic Is Doing Much Better Now !

Another update from our post published on 10/1/15

– Repic Lepic is doing a lot better now; that’s great news !

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/02/10/serbia-repic-lepic-is-seriously-ill-please-help-if-you-can-thank-you/

Repic Lepic is doing a lot better, he’s still skinny and his coat is dull, but his overall condition is improving and he has finally begun to eat on his own.

Many thanks to all of you that responded to our plea for help and haven’t turned your back on us or more precisely, on him 🙂

Regards Danica.

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/

Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

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8/2/15 – Fiona is fine after her paw was amputated

Above – Fiona now after the surgery

Below – immediately after her paw had to be amputated.

Fiona’s doing great, even though she’s a tripod kitty now 🙂 Before it started snowing, she was cheerfully hopping through the yard, scratching cat posts and having fun as if nothing had changed, but now that everything’s white, cold and wet outside, she’s spending most of her time indoors.

A huge thank you to all of you who contributed towards the costs of her surgery and post operative care, thus enabling this beautiful girl to enjoy life again!

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

Yet another snowstorm has hit us yesterday. It’s a heavy, wet snow that never stays around for a long time because it’s just not cold enough.

Although the actual outside temperature is around 0 degrees Celsius, the “feels like” temperature is much lower. The stinging wind that brought us the snow chills you right to the bone and most of the kitties are tucked up in their nicely heated rooms; the radiators have suddenly become everyone’s favorite snoozing spots.

However, some of them are sneezing and having eye discharge, it seems to happen every winter, so please, if you can, help us provide them with high quality food and vitamin supplements to make them stronger for what lies ahead.

This year’s cold season is evidently far from finished.

Thank you all in advance!

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

Regards and thanks – Danica.

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/
Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com

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4/2/15 – ‘Freddie’ – Plays and Sleeps.

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/
Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

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Both the following from 18/1/15

Utterly sad and totally heartbreaking, but we should’ve seen it coming 😦

Our wonderful, sparkling, loving boy Tak, the only survivor out of the three kittens that arrived from a construction site in Belgrade in September has FIP. It’s a fatal and incurable viral disease which has already killed his sister Tok, and now thinking of it, it’s highly probable that the non-effusive (dry) form of FIP claimed the life of his brother Tik.

It seems all of them were doomed from the start…
We don’t really know if these three cuties were blood related, as we’ve received confusing and contradictory information about them for months, but at least one of them, if not all, were probably born to a mother who was a carrier of coronavirus.

It’s impossible to say if Tak, Tik and Tok got infected from her or from each other and if genetic or husbandry factors were involved. But the sad reality is that all of them got sick with a horrible disease with a virtual 100% mortality rate for which not only that there is no diagnostic test, but also no effective treatment.

FIP is still mysterious and the only thing that’s known for sure is that it usually starts in little kittens and strikes suddenly, weeks, months or years after the initial infection.

Just a week ago, Tak seemed to be a happy, cheerful, energetic kitty boy with no problems in the world. Without warning he began to slow down, became lethargic and his belly looked slightly swollen, but none of us wanted to see what the vet confirmed – that he too has FIP. He’s been under treatment ever since, he’s being given IV fluids, antibiotics and is being force fed as we’re hoping to make him as comfortable as possible and trying to achieve at least temporary palliation of the clinical signs.

Things couldn’t look darker at the moment and the prognosis couldn’t be worse, but maybe a miracle will happen tomorrow…

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

SAV Comment:

Please help Danica and all of the cats this winter if you can by looking at our other post of today You can also see directly below (in ‘Shelters’ Page) , which has a video of feeding time for you to enjoy

– Thank you.

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/01/18/serbia-18115-can-you-help-keep-the-cats-fed-this-winter/

Our real winter has begun a week ago. After a couple of sunny and rather mild days for this time of year, a bitterly cold blast arrived and we were caught in its icy grip, with temperatures plummeting to 10 degrees Celsius below zero.

Although the central heating was on day and night and despite the fact that all of the kitties had grown really thick winter coats, they were eating astonishing amounts of food and the last food delivery literally disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Actually, kitties are always eating more than usual during the cold season and even though the weather isn’t so hard on us these days, it’s becoming harder and harder to keep all of the Felix residents properly fed. This winter is predicted to be brutal and it’s highly probable the worst is yet to come, so even deeper freezes are sure to be coming our way and the first big snowstorm can easily cut us off from the rest of the world.

We simply must have ample food reserves in case this happens and we get snowed in just like we did twice last year.

All of you know that we don’t usually ask for help to buy the cats’ food, but we can’t possibly feed a three digit number of kitties on our own.

If you can donate even a little, please do so, because everything adds up and it really means a lot!
http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqIItXVRX9M

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4/1/15

SAV Comment – As Danica says below; not the start to a new year that anyone wants. But saying this, we know that as you can see, little Tik finally got to know love, warmth and a tummy full of food, all thanks to Danica who has to be admired by us all for her dedication to helping felines in Serbia.

Below we are showing some pictures of Tik when being cared for by Felix shelter.

Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

We all strongly hoped that this year would not begin with heartbreak but sadly, our wonderful and audacious little Tik gave up the ultimate struggle for life.

He was just too small and too weak and he ultimately came to the point where his exhausted body simply couldn’t carry on. Possibly he got tired of fighting a desperate but apparently hopeless fight that seemed to last forever, and it was easier for him to just let go.

He fought the hardest he could, we did everything we could, but sometimes not even everything is good enough.

Fly free now, my sweet little angel, I know we’ll meet again one day 😦

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/
Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

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We wish you a joyous and wonderful new year filled with abundance, joy and treasured moments.

May 2015 be your best year yet!

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Please share and help if you can!

Fiona arrived at the shelter about four years ago. She was one of 17 strays which had been living in a joint yard in my hometown where their caretaker was feeding them and taking care of them the best she could. That is until a cat hating neighbor hired two brutes to round up all of the cats, put them into bags, take them away and probably kill them.

All 17 cats found their safe haven here at the shelter and have been living nice, quiet and safe lives ever since, Fiona among them. She wasn’t exactly people friendly, understandably, but she’s mellowed a little over the years.

A few days ago she started to behave strangely, she was somehow too quiet and it turned out she had seriously hurt her left hind leg. Nobody has any idea what had happened, but her paw was smashed and the vet had no other choice but to amputate, which was done two days ago.

The costs of surgery and postoperative treatment will be huge, around the 250 euro mark (a little more than $300 USD) and with so many kitties to take care of, we simply can’t pay them off on our own.

Please, help this gorgeous girl who’s already been through so much!

Tripod cats can have full, quality lives and she will have that for sure, once she adjusts to walking on three legs.

Whatever you are able to give really means a lot for her!

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/milance.felixmace

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19/12/14

Little Tok Is Very Sick.

Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

Little Tok is not doing well and sadly it seems we’re losing her.

She’s still eating and cuddling, she likes to be held, but she is getting weaker by the day. Her fur has become bristly, she is at least two times smaller than her healthy litter mates and knowing that FIP is a terminal diagnosis, all of us doubt there’s much hope left.

We’ve already tried everything we could possibly do to make her feel better, to no avail and now it’s just a matter of days, maybe even hours until she lets go.

We never gave up, she’s been trying so hard and the very best she could for weeks, but it looks like she simply lacks the strength to fight anymore.

At least she got to know how it feels to be pampered, fed and loved, if only for a short time.

So very sorry, little sweetie.

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/
Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

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19/12/14

Look what we have here !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAlKxCsGFJE

We’ve just been pleasantly surprised with early Christmas gifts, a box full of awesome catnip toys!

The kitties are still a bit confused and don’t know exactly what they’re supposed to do with them, it’s been ages since the last time they smelled catnip, but they’re very interested and will soon find out how magnificent their gifts really are!

Thank you so much, Claire! These are probably the most wonderful gifts the Felix kitties will receive this Christmas!

Purrs and wet nose kisses heading your way

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/

Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

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14/12/14

Hi all;

Before anything we must ask you please to ensure that you have signed the petition for Sasha and his dogs.

Full info at the petition which can be found at:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/399/617/989/450-dogs-to-be-evicted-on-christmas-day-massive-international-protest/

Please crosspost to anyone and everyone that you know – we have very limited time on this.

Now, here is the main issue of this post; a message from Danica that the first gas has arrived at the shelter.

Danica writes:

The first tank of gas purchased this winter has arrived at last, thanks to the amazing Laura Simpson, The Great Animal Rescue Chase & Harmony Fund, and the simply outstanding support of our friends!

Although the days are dark and gloomy, with freezing rain and a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, there’s luckily no snow yet and the gas delivery truck pulled into the shelter with no problems at all.

Our gas tank has been filled up with 1500 liters of gas, and the central heating is finally on. All of the kitties are enjoying the warmth of their home and will continue doing so over the next two and a half months! 🙂

Thank you just doesn’t seem enough to express our gratitude to all of you who have all pulled together and generously contributed towards the costs of the heating fuel!

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/
Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

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10/12/14

We’ll order heating fuel tomorrow and the gas delivery truck should be pulling into the shelter on Saturday.

No more shivering and freezing here over the next two and a half months! We hope we’ll soon be able to cheer your hearts with the new photos of Felix kitties sitting, lying and sleeping on the pleasantly warm radiators.
PayPal button: http://catshelter-felix.com/ and http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

We should’ve posted an update on Shalimar sooner, but with so many things going on and a frantic struggle to raise funds for the first tank of gas for central heating needed this winter, we simply weren’t able to inform you about everything, no matter how much we wanted to. Well, after a few weeks of receiving drugs firstly by injection, then orally, combined with topical treatments of his eye with antibiotic ointments and eye drops, our gorgeous blue eyed boy (photo above) is doing just fine.

PayPal button: http://catshelter-felix.com/ and http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

Morgan’s (photo above) feeling a lot better, we finally manage to keep his cute little face clean and clear of discharges.

A huge thank you to all of you who have helped him so far!
http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

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MORGAN

Watch the video of Morgan here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avkp8fqZdTY&feature=youtu.be

Despite the very serious problems he has, Morgan is fighting with all of his might. His eyes look terrible, the skin around his eyes is already irritated due to the topical treatments he’s been having for months. His nasal blood vessels keep bursting whenever he sneezes, his cute little face is smudged with blood, but he eats, purrs and cuddles and his desire to live is tremendous. He continues being under treatment which has already lasted forever and everyone is doing everything that can possibly be done to help him.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

TOK

Little Tok is holding on, she is still eating RC Recovery canned food and she’s begun to eat dry cat food as well. Her belly is still swollen and she is being given Lasix among other drugs. She is sweet and nice, enjoys attention, loves to be cuddled and even though she’s not out of the woods yet, hopefully these are signs that she’s getting better.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

TIK

Tik has improved significantly, he doesn’t have a fever anymore but he’s still being given antibiotics through injections. He sleeps a lot, I’m guessing this weather makes him sleepy but he is also eating and playing and he’s already mastered walking on three legs.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

PayPal button is on our blog:

and our website:

Webshop:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/12/serbia-felix-shelter-winter-is-just-round-the-corner-please-donate-to-keep-us-warm-with-full-tummies/

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

Some past SAV posts associated with Felix:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/25/serbia-251114-felix-news/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/24/serbia-241114-quick-overview-of-some-of-the-latest-at-felix-shelter/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/20/serbia-201114-latest-news-and-photos-from-shelter-felix/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/12/serbia-latest-121114-from-shelter-felix/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/08/serbia-latest-from-felix-shelter-roof-repair-work-almost-completed-and-great-it-looks/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/30/serbia-whats-in-that-box-and-that-one-felix-kitties-get-presents/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/07/serbia-felix-shelter-babies-tiktak-and-tok/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/06/serbia-introducing-freddie-at-felix-shelter/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/09/07/serbia-7914-andy-and-molly-new-residents-at-felix-cat-shelter-donations-are-welcome-thank-you/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/07/15/serbia-shelter-felix-thank-you-for-your-donations-to-date-but-there-is-still-a-long-way-to-go-to-cover-all-costs/

Please try and help with a donation – thank you.

PayPal button is on our blog:

and our website:

Webshop:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/12/serbia-felix-shelter-winter-is-just-round-the-corner-please-donate-to-keep-us-warm-with-full-tummies/

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

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https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.841686519187995.1073741890.109342202422434&type=1

Harmony fund donate – – http://harmonyfund.org/donate

The Harmony Fund

The Harmony Fund offers a lifeline to so called “underdog” animal rescue squads across the planet. Our partners are the small but incredibly courageous and effective animal rescue teams who operate in parts of the world where funding is very hard to come by. Our supporters are helping us to dramatically impact the capacity of these rescue teams to touch thousands upon thousands of animals who might otherwise be unreachable.

Gratitude and respect are at the cornerstone of our relationship with our supporters. We do not expose our supporters to graphic photos of animal suffering or distribute dire forecasts about animal suffering. Instead we focus on a spirit of joy and determination as we pursue essential operations to provide food, veterinary medicine, shelter and protection from cruelty for animals worldwide.

Danica Mirkovic cares for over a hundred rescued cats, all taken from the streets of Serbia. Most of them have experienced great physical trauma. They know what its like to be cold, really cold, and most face chronic health vulnerability due to their former life. Do you think we can surprise this sanctuary with a delivery of fuel? PLEASE READ DANICA’s PLEA:

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“We’re in a deep crisis. We’re desperately trying to raise $2,300 for the first tank of gas needed for the heat. We’re freezing in the meantime. We have no money to purchase heating fuel, and according to the weather forecast, a severe drop in temperature, violent winds and icy rains are coming in this week.

If we don’t succeed in raising the funds for the first tank of gas before snow comes, it’s possible that the gas truck won’t be able to push its way through because the snow usually makes most of the roads in this region impassable.

Harmony Fund was the first organization that has ever helped us significantly and frankly, I have no idea who else to turn to. When the snow starts to fly, we’ll be cut off from the rest of the world just like we’ve been every single winter so far. Without proper heating, it’s questionable how many kitties will manage to survive the upcoming long, cold months and live to see another spring. It’s a dire emergency and without your help, I doubt there’s much hope for any of us here” – Danica Mirkovic, Felix Cat Shelter
__________________________________

All donations today will be earmarked for keeping the cats warm. We’ll post an update tonight to let you know how much has been raised for the cats. Thank you and please SHARE.

DONATE HERE:http://harmonyfund.org/donate

tok recovery

3/12/14

The situation for the cats at shelter Felix is getting critical – please help with a donation to supply Winter heating if you can.

Danica writes:

Honestly, things have never been worse. We’re desperately trying to raise 1.800 euros for the first tank of gas for central heating and we’re freezing in the meantime.

We have no money to purchase heating fuel and according to the weather forecast, a severe drop in temperature, violent winds and icy rains are coming in this week.

I have to admit I’m worried sick about all of the sick kitties that are currently freezing inside the house. The cats’ rooms in both parts of the yard are a bit warmer and the kitties are snuggling together to heat each other up but without proper heating, even those which are still healthy will get sick in no time flat.

It has never happened before, we usually begin to raise funds for the first tank of gas for central heating in early autumn but this year’s phase of shelter repairs has lasted forever and sadly this is the result.

And what’s even worse, if we don’t succeed in raising the funds for the first tank of gas before snow comes, it’s possible that the gas truck won’t be able to push its way through because the snow usually makes most of the roads in this region impassable.

I wish I had better news, but the overall situation is pretty dire.

Please give anything you can, no matter how small. Do you know anyone or any organisation that can make a bigger donation to help keep the cats warm ?

Danica has worked so very hard to get the shelter into excellent shape; as you can see from many of our previous post. But all the cost of the work has taken its toll – this is a shelter after all which relies on donations to survive and does NOT get anything in the way of support from the government.

All of this hard work must not be undertaken in vain – funds are urgently needed to keep the cats warm this winter.

Please give anything that you or others you may know, can.

Thank you.

PayPal button is on our blog:

http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

and our website:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

Webshop:

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/catshelterfelix

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

Some past (recent) posts associated with Felix and showing their excellent work for the stray cats:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/25/serbia-251114-felix-news/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/24/serbia-241114-quick-overview-of-some-of-the-latest-at-felix-shelter/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/20/serbia-201114-latest-news-and-photos-from-shelter-felix/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/12/serbia-latest-121114-from-shelter-felix/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/11/08/serbia-latest-from-felix-shelter-roof-repair-work-almost-completed-and-great-it-looks/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/30/serbia-whats-in-that-box-and-that-one-felix-kitties-get-presents/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/07/serbia-felix-shelter-babies-tiktak-and-tok/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/10/06/serbia-introducing-freddie-at-felix-shelter/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/09/07/serbia-7914-andy-and-molly-new-residents-at-felix-cat-shelter-donations-are-welcome-thank-you/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/07/15/serbia-shelter-felix-thank-you-for-your-donations-to-date-but-there-is-still-a-long-way-to-go-to-cover-all-costs/

Please try and help with a donation – thank you.

PayPal button is on our blog:

and our website:

Webshop:

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

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28/11/14 – Tok update:

Tok has finally begun to fight back a little and even eats on her own, although I also have to syringe feed her to make sure she’s swallowed enough food.

The problem is that she’s horribly skinny and weak, and her belly is still swollen, maybe slightly a bit less now. She’s receiving injections every day, eats RC Recovery canned food and is being given vitamin supplements.

We’re all aware that the prognosis is not promising, but even if just one out of ten cats with the same problem manages to pull through, we’ll do everything it takes to ensure she becomes that fortunate one.

For as long as she’s not suffering, which she doesn’t seem to be for the time being, we refuse to give up on her.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

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Dear all

Danica has kindly contacted us today to give us an overview of the situation at Felix shelter.

So below is a short summary of events. As you will see; keeping a good supply of gas (via large bottles) is the next big issue to ensure that all the cats are kept warm during the harsh Serbian winter. If you feel you can donate any amount, then everything is always most welcome. Donation links are given at the end of this post.

So here is a short summary of the current situation from Danica:

Many kitties are not feeling well, they must be affected by the weather just like we are, so the oldest, chronically ill and disabled ones are having a hard time.
Those with acute health problems are under treatment, but all we can do for the geriatric kitties, (we have quite a lot of them), is to feed them high quality food and give vitamin supplements to help them get through the day and stay with us for as long as they can.
Tik’s leg amputation surgery was performed a couple of weeks ago and everything went well, he was also neutered at the same time as I wanted to avoid the risk of putting such a young kitty under general anesthesia twice in such a short period of time. He’s been receiving antibiotics and had his bandages changed daily for a week and is recovering extremely well.
Unfortunately, his little sister Tok is seriously ill, and the vet suspects she has FIP. Prognosis is poor if he’s right but I still hope he’s wrong and I’m doing everything I can to help her.
Tufnica and Njanja look a little better although they’ve suddenly become picky eaters, which is not good as they are both very skinny. It’s not that they’re not eating, but their food preferences are changeable and I never know what kind of food they will be willing to accept.
Echo is still being fed Royal Canin veterinary urinary SO food, and I hope the surgical removal of her bladder stones won’t be necessary.
Morgan is slightly improving, he’s finally eating but his nose keeps blocking up despite the drugs he’s receiving that are helping to clear the mucus out. Whenever he sneezes droplets of blood are coming out of his nose but he seems to be breathing a little easier afterwards. He’s still under treatment and everyday’s visits to the vet are the norm already, but he’s a genuine fighter that refuses to give up and his chances are increasing with each passing day.
Tink was spayed a couple of days ago and everything went well although she had a little trouble waking up from the general anesthesia. Her wound is healing nicely, she behaves normally and her life is back into its cozy routine.

Now we’re trying to raise funds for gas for central heating, we should’ve begun weeks ago, but we had to finish the shelter repairs first. Not a day goes by without new problems…

With sincere thanks

Danica

PayPal button is on our blog:

http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

and our website:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

Webshop:

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/catshelterfelix

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

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22/11/14

Little Tok is seriously ill.

She had been badly injured before she even arrived at the shelter, one of her eyes had leaked out and a part of her lip is missing. But now her abdomen is swollen, filling with fluid and the vet suspects she has FIP. 😦 A few days ago she had a high fever and has been receiving powerful drugs since, so right now her body temperature is normal, but she’s refusing to eat and seems to be giving up already.

We all know there is no known cure or effective treatment for FIP at this time, unfortunately, but there’s also no definitive diagnostic test to confirm it’s actually FIP we’re dealing with. Knowing that Tok’s brother Tik was born with a deformed leg which had to be amputated, the vet has come to the conclusion there was something horribly wrong with the entire litter from the very beginning.

Anyway, while there is life there is hope and even if this little sweetie is not much of a fighter, we’ll fight our hardest for her and do whatever it takes to save her if possible.

Please consider donating towards Tok’s vet care! Our vet bills are mounting but this precious little girl needs all the help she can get!

This tiny angel needs a miracle!

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

To help Felix with any support, please visit the web site and the blog at:

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/

Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU.

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Taking everything into account, we came up with the brilliant idea to put up transparent window blinds (instead of those useless tarps we had) to protect the sheltered area beneath the roof eaves and also the newly made corridor below from the icy northerly winds so characteristic for Vojvodina – all the while nonchalantly ignoring the fact we have no money to turn our irrefutably good plans into reality.

The necessary materials have been purchased on debt and the work is more than half done already; once it’s finished, hopefully less fuel will be needed to keep the kitties’ rooms properly heated. Even if it doesn’t happen, all of the cats are obviously enjoying their new sheltered spaces and most of them are not just watchers, but they’re active participants and helpers while the work is still ongoing.

The kittens which all recently arrived after having spent the first part of the lives living on a building site in Belgrade are all now safe and content at Felix shelter – here are a few pictures of them.

To help Felix with any support, please visit the web site and the blog at:

Website: http://catshelter-felix.com/

Blog: http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

Thank You !

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http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

Everybody loves gifts and the Felix kitties are no exceptions!

In these photos you can see them checking out the presents they received from Animal Rescue Serbia and they’re obviously enjoying all of these exciting gifts!

On behalf of 115 furry beauties, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Jelena Jova and her friends from Animal Rescue Serbia 🙂

All of us here at Cat Shelter Felix are boundlessly grateful for your kindness and thoughtfulness!

Every donation counts, no matter what the size!

Please give anything you can – thank you.

PayPal button:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vjUieksqZM

See (the now famous) Freddie doing his bit on video at:

Look, look, there is more in here !!!

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http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

Please, share and help if you can!

Tik, Tak and Tok are siblings, three unwanted babies that had been living at a construction site in Belgrade since they were born. Their mother was a stray which disappeared a long time ago and they were forced to fend for themselves in that dangerous place, fed by locals but totally on their own and unprotected.

They were approximately three months old when they arrived at the shelter at the beginning of September, skinny and confused, with voracious appetites, but cuddly, curious and sweet.

Unfortunately, only one of them, a little tuxie boy named Tak, seems to be healthy. His brother Tik has a congenital birth defect, he was born with a deformed right rear leg which needs to be amputated.

Their sister, a tabby and white girl we named Tok, has only one eye as her other eye has already leaked out because of some untreated infection (probably herpes, chlamydia or both) and what’s left of it will have to be removed.

Although we thought Tok also had a harelip when she was brought to the shelter, we’re now more inclined to believe she was actually seriously injured some time ago, as a part of her lip is missing and she doesn’t have a cleft palate.

All three of them have fit in nicely right away and are getting stronger every day, so it’s time to start thinking about their surgeries.

The amputation of Tik’s leg and the removal of what’s left of Tok’s right eye will cost around 300 euros/$430CAD.

We need all of the help we can get in order to fix the serious problems these sad and neglected babies have the best way we can and enable them to live the long and happy lives they deserve.

Every donation counts, no matter what the size!

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Introducing ‘Freddie’

From Danica Mirkovic Shelter Felix

Freddie is a young kitty boy who had the misfortune of being shot by a hunter with a shotgun in February of 2014.

He was found seriously injured, with a completely shattered front left leg and a broken front right leg.

Both of his injured legs were operated on months ago, but his body is still chock-full of buckshot.

After the surgeries, he spent four months in a cage with a metal rod put into one of his broken legs while the other one was splinted and two more months recovering once the metal rod was removed.

He was kept in foster care, and was not allowed to move very much . He was brought him to our shelter in August 2014, as his foster caretaker wished to give him the chance of a fulfilled life in the company of other cats.

Unaccustomed to the curious crowd of kitties, he is still somewhat withdrawn and shy, but he’s able to walk, although he’s limping and his front left leg is kind of stiff.

Hopefully time will heal all wounds.

Please give anything you can to help with his recovery – thank you.

PayPal button:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vjUieksqZM

See Freddie doing his bit on video at:

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11/8/14 – ‘Felix’ Shelter – Emergency Call for Funds for Roof Guttering ! – Can You Help ?

Dear all – here is a new message from Danica at Felix shelter. Using the link blow; please donate anything you can – the small donations all add up to become a good total in the end !

Please help – Thank You. SAV.

The Youcaring site / link below is a secure site – the money will go directly to the shelter to pay for the guttering:

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

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Please network, share and help if you can! It’s an emergency!

Dear friends, I guess you already know that we’ve been struggling with the roof renovation for more than two months now and the biggest problem, as usual, is the lack of funds.

Last years’ generous donation (for which we’re immensely grateful) covered the costs of the new roof itself, but with so many problems arising one after the other since the repair work began, we’re running into big debts yet again and there’s no end in sight.

As if it weren’t enough, the weather is definitely not on our side; it’s been raining extremely heavily over the last couple of weeks and we still have no gutters on the new roof, nor the money to purchase about 34 meters of it!

Our backyard is turning into a swampy muddy mess whenever it rains, all of the dividing walls and the brick watering station with the faucet are now covered with moss, algae or whatever this nasty, slimy, green sludge is, the first neighbour’s garage is now flooded and all of this because we have no gutters to manage the water!

We urgently need around 540 euros to purchase the gutters so that life can get back to normal again. I simply can’t borrow any more money right now, I’m already in debt up to my eyeballs!

Every dime and nickel helps and time’s running out on summer.

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-the-feline-residents-of-cat-shelter-felix/161828

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Subotica, Serbia: ‘Pets Are Worth Saving’ (PAWS).

Photo – PAWS.

PAWS

We are very pleased to be working with PAWS – the ‘Pets Are Worth Saving’ NGO organisation based in Subotica, Serbia – and President Andrea Sreiber in relation to the campaign to save Nani deer.

About

Formerly known as “Financial support for the most vulnerable cats & dogs in Serbia” P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Worth Saving) is a non-governmental organization – Society for the protection of Animals.

Description

Registered at November 2012.

Please check out our blog to learn more about the stray animals’ situation in Serbia: http://straydogserbia.blogspot.com/

Place: Subotica, Serbia
PIB: 107868682
Registration No.: 28099428
Registration No.: 28099428

Photo – PAWS

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Financial-support-for-the-most-vulnerable-cats-and-dogs-in-Serbia/244984775610875

Change.org page for our petitions: https://www.change.org/organizations/paws_2

https://www.betterplace.org/en/organisations/petsareworthsaving

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Financial-support-for-the-most-vulnerable-cats-and-dogs-in-Serbia/244984775610875?sk=info&ref=page_internal

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Financial-support-for-the-most-vulnerable-cats-and-dogs-in-Serbia/244984775610875?sk=photos_stream&ref=page_internal

We are also currently in discussions also with ‘OIPA’ which is based in Italy, to help us further spread the campaign word about Nani; especially within Europe – Serbia wants EU accession remember !.

We are not giving up on Nani despite attempts by the authorities who hope that we will get tired and just go away. Every day we get stronger rather than weaker.

Our policy is one based on the words of President Harry Truman;

“I never give them hell – I just tell the truth, and they think it is hell”

Serbia: 26/10/14 – Petition Launched For ‘Nani’ Deer

– Please Sign Immediately and Pass Link On. Thank You.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/662/345/316/

This should take you directly to the petition.

We need to act immediately for Nani – please sign NOW and crosspost to everyone that you can !

Above – ‘Nani’ deer and the little goat both held by the Serbian hunters

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The Shelter of Sasha Pejčić

May 2013 – GREAT NEWS UPDATE –

Under the section / Tab – ‘Shelters’ at the top of our site, we recently provided a Care2 link regarding Sasha, the Serbian man who has been rescuing stray dogs for years, and who very recently was in dire straits in helping them all; simply feeding them for a start.

Our article (which you can still see under ‘Shelters’ stated:

Subject: This Man is Running Out of Food to Feed 400 Rescued Dogs

Link:

http://www.care2.com/causes/this-man-is-running-out-of-food-to-feed-400-rescued-dogs.html

Written by Jovana Ivastanin

Sasha Pejčić is a rare kind of man who has been rescuing dogs in Nis, Serbia for years.

His animal shelter is absolutely breathtaking. The dogs all follow Sasha around and it’s amazing to watch their interaction with each other. They all eat together peacefully, play, run and sleep together.

Most of the dogs have been taken off of the streets and nursed back to health (as well as spayed and neutered) and now live in a large pack in a disused riding school. At night they sleep in stables in groups of about 15.

However, Sasha is now facing a major crisis over how to feed these dogs.

The Austrian organization that was supporting him is no longer able to cope with all the financial needs and the dogs did not eat for two days recently. Sasha has now run out of food totally. His four workers who help with the feeding and cleaning have not been paid since the New Year and the rent hasn’t been paid for four months.

Well now (16/05) we have some brilliant news !

Have you heard the news?

Thanks to the amazing Harmony Fund supporters across the planet, 400 dogs living at this cage-free oasis in Serbia are now safe.

Last month, they couldn’t eat for two days due to a financial crisis that gripped the shelter, but with your donations, we sent the first $10,500 this week and another $12,000 will go over to Serbia in June. After that, we’ll be helping on an ongoing basis with a couple thousand dollars a month for the long term to buy food, veterinary care, electricity and worker’s wages to make sure that the dogs here never go hungry again.

The shelter’s founder Sasha does not speak any English, so the news was given to him by translator. It’s heartwarming to see this stoic man who has become so accustomed to suffering try to hold back his emotion as he receives word that the dogs will not go without food ever again.

At the very end of this video clip, Sasha has just a few simple words to express how he feels.

You can watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzaaNNeS6vg&feature=youtu.be

Be sure to stay in touch with us at www.HarmonyFund.org

Bless you all for making this dream come true – and also thanks to all from SAV.

Old Appeal Below – see above article for Good News update –

Subject: This Man is Running Out of Food to

Feed 400 Rescued Dogs

Link:

http://www.care2.com/causes/this-man-is-running-out-of-food-to-feed-400-rescued-dogs.html

Written by Jovana Ivastanin

Sasha Pejčić is a rare kind of man who has been rescuing dogs in Nis, Serbia for years.

His animal shelter is absolutely breathtaking. The dogs all follow Sasha around and it’s amazing to watch their interaction with each other. They all eat together peacefully, play, run and sleep together. Most of the dogs have been taken off of the streets and nursed back to health (as well as spayed and neutered) and now live in a large pack in a disused riding school. At night they sleep in stables in groups of about 15. However, Sasha is now facing a major crisis over how to feed these dogs.

How the Shelter Was Born

Over the years, Sasha has witnessed so much suffering amongst the Serbian dogs and it has affected him deeply. Ever since he can remember, he always felt sorry for little puppies and would always try and feed them whenever he saw them. It was in 2008 that he really started to notice that many of dogs he was trying to help were disappearing – what he realized was that the Nis pound was killing more and more dogs daily as a way of ‘managing’ the population.

Sasha would often notice that his friends, the street dogs he fed on regular basis, would suddenly go missing. They were being caught by the dog catchers and murdered (the methods used to ‘euthanize’ dogs are unspeakable).

One day, Sasha found four puppies near a very busy street and he moved them somewhere safer as he was so scared they would be killed and he began feeding them in that safer place. A few days later, he found another eight puppies on the way to feeding the first four. He bought them a couple of dog houses for shelter and came back every day to feed and water them. People noticed this and started to drop off more and more puppies. In no time, there were 70 of them. Sasha managed to finance all of this on his own as he was working full time. If he was ever short due to an illness of the pups or something similar, he’d turn to friends and family for help and they’d lend him the needed money for the treatment.

Sasha managed to find a disused riding school that he could rent and the owner agreed he could keep dogs there. A homeless man, Zoran, noticed him feeding the puppies and started to help. Since Sasha was working, he offered Zoran a part time job so that he could look after the weaker puppies while Sasha was at work. Together, they started to help the really sick and injured dogs. Sasha would nurse them back to health and bring them to the ‘shelter’ Zoran and he had started building. When he first rented the disused riding school, it was overgrown and the roof of the stable was in a bad way. With the help of friends, family and a lot of hard work, Sasha and Zoran transformed it into the shelter that it is today.

Years later, Sasha is now responsible for more than 400 dogs who he has rescued. Several of them came in via a former humane organization who rescued dogs from the pound as they were being spayed but not stitched up properly after surgery before being put back on the street, which led to a terrible end for so many dogs. Some of the dogs have been left outside the gates, but Sasha is not actively rescuing more dogs now as he has reached full capacity. Sasha cannot manage on his own and he has some workers who come and help him (Zoran is one of them still).

As there are 400 dogs to be fed, the food bill is now very high. To start off with, Sasha could buy the food but as the numbers grew, he depended on donations from local abattoir and bakeries. This was a great solution for a while, but eventually they couldn’t keep up with the amount of food that Sasha needed for his ever-expanding pack.

To feed the dogs every day, Sasha needs between 100 and 120 kg worth of kibble. The cheapest kibble available in Serbia (dog food is a novelty, most people feed their dog stale bred dunked in their own leftovers) it is about Euro 16.4 ($21 US dollars) for a 20kg bag. The shelter mixes meat, dry food and donated bakery goods at a total of Euro 3,600 a month. A couple of years ago, he managed to find an organization in Austria who started to help him, but sadly this year they have not been able to cover all the costs and for the first time since Sasha has rescued his dogs, they have no food.

Here’s What’s Being Done to Help Feed the Dogs

While volunteers try to begin networking on Facebook to build a base of supporters to help with regular contributions, the Harmony Fund is offering to help raise immediate funds to feed the dogs as well as to pay the rent, the veterinary costs and the workers’ wages.

More wonderful photos of the sanctuary

DONATION OPTIONS:

and several donation options (http://harmonyfund.org/donation/sashas-shelter.html) can be found on their website.

** VERY IMPORTANT ** – ‘donation options’ link above:

Once you have entered the ‘Donation options’, you must specify from the drop down that you wish your donation to be given specifically to:

Please Direct My Donation To: Sasha’s Dog Shelter in Serbia.

If you do not select ‘Sasha’s Dog shelter in Serbia’ specifically from the drop down, then your donation will only go into a general fund.

You must therefore be specific and selective of where you wish your donation to go.

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(More About) Shelter ‘FELIX’ – Vojvodina, Serbia.

A Haven for stray cats rescued from the streets !

Latest 15/7/2014:

All photographs from shelter ‘Felix’.

Danica at shelter ‘Felix’ has had some very kind donations towards the vost of the roof repairs; and we thank anyone who has helped.

But the shelter is nowhere near being able to currently get the costs covered by what has been provided – additional donations are urgently required.

You can see our full post regarding the roof repairs at the following:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/07/07/serbia-serious-problems-with-the-roof-replacement/

On the following links you can see all the work that is being undertaken to provide a safe and secure home for the cats – and it all costs lots of money. Please give anything you can – thank you.

Replacing the roof of the auxiliary cats’ rooms –

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.864328720262855.1073741881.100000572065633&type=1

Summer is here ! – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.858690930826634.1073741879.100000572065633&type=1

More ‘Shadow’ –

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.849221211773606.1073741878.100000572065633&type=3

Videos –

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.100000572065633&type=2

Gone but not forgotten –

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.336159946413071.94183.100000572065633&type=3

Timeline photos –

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.140447892650945.21835.100000572065633&type=3

You can donate directly onto the Felix shelter sites as per the following links:

PayPal button is on our blog:

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/catshelterfelix

and our website:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

Webshop:

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

Thank you to everyone who has kindly given to help the shelter !

Below – The Major Roof Repairs

7/7/14 – We have had the following news in from Danica at Shelter ‘Felix’.

Please remember that so much update and construction work has been undertaken at the shelter – work which is simply there to provide safe sanctuary for all the cats who once lived on the streets, along with all all the dangers that came with this. Now they have a forever home; but unless funds can be raised for extra work which has had to be completed on the roof; things are in more danger.

At the end of this post you will see some pictures of little ‘Shadow’, who was saved from the market and who has now been restored to a beautiful little cat at Felix shelter.

We know there are appeals all the time for different projects and issues, but it is essential that in order to continue with a forever home for Shadow and the others, the extra funds are raised for the work which has had to be undertaken.

So please, give anything that you can to help Danica and the cats survive this situation.

Look at the photos of little Shadow below – is that not a good enough reason the give a donation ???

Thank you – SAV.

You can donate directly onto the Felix shelter sites as per the following links:

PayPal button is on our blog:

and our website:

Webshop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us8AS0ELGcY

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

Serious Problems with the Roof Replacement

Why doesn’t anything ever go easily?

As you already know, the massive renovation work at Cat Shelter Felix has finally started as of a couple of weeks ago. We kept silent as long as we could, wishing to pleasantly surprise all of our friends and supporters with good news on the shelter’s repair progress. Everything seemed to be going along well, just as it should; workers had finished building the four small dividing walls between the support columns, removed the old roofing, lifted the new roof beams, made the entire wooden frame, our hearts were already singing with joy, but then…

To our incredible disappointment, it suddenly and unexpectedly turned out that we have about one meter of empty space between the top of the walls and the roof beams, through which all of the kitties can easily climb up to the attic and make it all the way through to the section under the roof of the main building. Once they’re there, the whole wide world is theirs; they’ll have dozens of ways to escape and happily wander the neighborhood and curious as they are, they simply wouldn’t be able to resist the challenge. Our happy optimism turned into utter despair in an instant. We could all just sit down and cry.

Although we knew there would be some gap (the pitch of the roof has changed due to the extended roof overhang that protects the walkway), no one could’ve imagined, not in their worst nightmare, how big it would turn out to be! Evidently, the problem is that the walls of the cat’s rooms (and the walls of all of the buildings on this property) are made of rammed earth, some reed and some random bricks, so they were literally crumbling while the workers were lifting the beams and this enormous gap is the result.

All of the cats from the backyard are now enclosed with tarps in a sort of improvised shelter between the side entrance to the yard and the biggest of their rooms, as the top wire mesh (chain linked fence) had to be temporarily lifted. Unfortunately all felines are escape artists and it will be literally impossible to keep them from making their way out of such a weak enclosure for an extended period of time. The only thing we can do is to fill the empty space above the walls and under the roof beams with wooden cladding, if we miraculously succeed in raising the funds to purchase all of the necessary materials – until then, we can’t dream of releasing the kitties back into the yard! We can’t use bricks or any heavy material for that purpose because the existing structure, even strengthened, wouldn’t be able to bear the additional weight and everything will just come crashing down.

The old roof was in such terrible shape that it’s really surprising and a true miracle that it didn’t fall in on the cats a long time ago. Parts of the new roof that have been done so far look good and sturdy, but the mere thought of that gap, that big gap is like a dark cloud over our heads. At the moment, we have absolutely no solution to this problem. The kitties are already nervous because they’re accustomed to having plenty of open space and all of them are definately not impressed with this restricted area they’re now forced to live in. While they’re constantly trying to escape back into the yard, which the most skillful ones have already done a couple of times, (catching them wasn’t an easy task and no fun at all), workers are beginning to install the tiles. The insulation layer or more precisely the foil insulation is already in place (we’ll also have to put wooden cladding over the oblique roof beams to protect the insulation layer from tearing) and in just a few days we’ll have a new roof above the kitties’ rooms. A new roof and a huge gap underneath.

As if all of this is not enough, new problems arose. The portion of the roof that’s being replaced right now is higher than parts of the old roof that will remain in place, because the pitch of the new one has changed. At the end, if we don’t put two triangular wooden gables between the edges of the dual-pitched roof, nothing on Earth will prevent the kitties from having a promenade all over the roof. One wooden gable should be made above the door between the two parts of the yard, so the kitties won’t be able to cross from one part of the yard to another over the door as they please. The other one is necessary to stop them from escaping through the gap between the new roof and the old roof of their biggest room in the backyard, which is made of sheet metal and tiles but is much lower than the new one.

The only good thing is that if we by some incredible luck manage to raise 2.300 euros needed to purchase the timber cladding, fill the gaps and thus ensure no cats could escape, all of them will have more space on the roof than they have ever had before. Their paradise will finally be a real paradise. But until then, this is a complete disaster.

How long will we be able to keep the kitties in that improvised shelter, when they are incessantly trying to break out? They’ve hated it from the second they were rounded up and forced to be in there. What will happen when they succeed and start fleeing in all directions? I’ve already caught at least a dozen of them who have breached what we naively believed would be only a temporary enclosure and I was forced to use a humane trap for the least approachable and most insolent. Not one of them will step into the humane trap again, that’s for sure, and if they escape just one more time, there would be nothing I can do but to wait for the runaways to find their way back home, which they hopefully will, at one point…

If we fail to raise around 2.300 euros as soon as possible, there’s a huge chance our long struggle won’t end well for the 117 shelter kitties. Workers will finish their job and go away and then what? Is it even possible to raise this kind of money on such short notice? Is there anyone out there who believes it’s worth a try? Many questions, and the answers are sadly nowhere in sight.

I’m totally aware summer is a bad time for fundraising, with holidays, etc, I know people are strapped for cash. The sum of money we need is huge and even more importantly, it’s for shelter repairs, not for saving a few mangled and abused animals, each of them with a sad story and heartbreaking graphic photos. But what we’re trying to do is to ensure a good, secure life for a three-digit number of kitties! Is it not a vital and worthy mission? It’s also a very time sensitive emergency so please, help us with whatever you can afford and share our plight! Every little bit helps as all donations add up and ensure a bright future for these lovely creatures! Our kitties have no one but us, and we all have no one but you!

These are some video clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iez73Y-ARaM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4mK07kV324

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZemenKeea4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42-uQZH4kEw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYMK4bmDLMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HocY2JUC2vQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqCeVYLdPeQ

SAV Comment:

Many of you will remember the recent post that we did regarding little ‘Shadow’; the kitten saved from death by Danica. See our recent post at:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/06/28/serbia-new-video-from-felix-shelter-little-kitten-shadow-is-now-improving-and-playing/

Well now Danica has sent us some new photos of little Shadow, and we want to share them with you.

Danica has sent us the following message:

Thank you so much for posting the videos of our little Shadow 🙂

She was such a sad little critter when I picked her up at the beginning of June from the flea market where she somehow appeared a few days earlier. Oblivious and uncaring people at the market had been kicking her and stomping on her for hours, until one of the sellers scooped her up and hid her under their stall. She had obviously been away from her Mom for a while; she was scared, emaciated, painfully skinny and didn’t even eat solid food yet.

But she is an incredible fighter and managed to pull through a major crisis, beating all odds.

She is healthy and happy now, playing with her best friend Tinker Bell (which I took from a pet seller at that same flea market a month earlier, after a pretty heated argument and a call to the Communal Inspection) and both of them will undoubtedly be spoilt rotten 🙂

I’m sending you a few pictures of Shadow, some of which were taken when she arrived at the shelter and the others were taken a few days ago. Our friend Kim named her Shadow as she was just a thin little wisp of black when I took her in.

‘Shadow’ Photos:

Above – Shadow and Tink

You can donate directly onto the Felix shelter sites as per the following links:

PayPal button is on our blog:

and our website:

Webshop:

http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

THANK YOU.

Here is the latest (June 2014) messge from Danica regarding the latest news from Cat Shelter Felix.

There have been huge updates and repairs undertaken at the shelter, and it has still not finished as you can see from some of the photographs below. Once all the repair work has been completed; it will mean that this dedicated shelter will be able to provide a life long home for at least 117 little living beings who once existed on the streets.

If you are able to provide anything to help with the costs of repairs; or wish to support the shelter in many diffeent ways; please make your selection from the links following:

PayPal button is on our blog:

and our website:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

Webshop:

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/catshelterfelix

Thank you for your support of Cat shelter ‘Felix’.

SAV

DSC02109_resize

————————————————————————————————————-

Let the Pandemonium Begin!

Last autumn, when we happily received an incredibly generous donation which would enable us to cover the costs of replacing the roof of the auxiliary cats’ rooms, we couldn’t have dreamt it would take us so long to even begin with the new and hopefully final round of shelter repairs. No construction companies were willing to start the massive repair work back in rainy September and we had no other choice but to reluctantly hold up, cross our fingers and wait for spring. A long, frigid, snowy winter arrived and left again, followed by the unrelenting rain of an unpromising spring, and now after a couple of stressful and hectic months it’s finally time to get shelter repairs underway again.

Many things have happened in the meantime, we sadly lost some of the oldest and sickest kitties in spite of trying to help them the best we could and doing everything that could have possibly be done. A few new sad, unfortunate and desperate furry ones arrived, and the time has passed almost unnoticeably. And yet for the last couple of weeks we’ve been anxiously preparing for the biggest challenge since the shelter was founded, quietly and with no fuss, impatiently waiting for the weather to stabilize, with huge expectations and hope in our hearts. Although it’s just the beginning of summer, the temperatures are already skyrocketing but more importantly, the sky is finally clear and blue and our long agonizing wait seems to be over. Let the show begin!

The existing supporting structure wouldn’t stand a chance to bear the weight of the roof, so we had to build five strong support columns last autumn even though we haven’t managed to finish them completely. A new concrete path between the front entrance into the backyard and garage was also made, instead of the old deteriorated path composed of soil, cracked concrete and decaying paving tiles. The entire path would turn into a muddy mess whenever it rained, so the cats that were coming and going out of their rooms were stepping directly into the mud. We’re planning to extend the roof overhang in order to protect the new path below from precipitation, but that’s not all. Construction workers are currently building four small dividing walls between the support columns which are supposed to help keep the new path dry, whatever the weather throws at us, and it also provides the kitties with some additional sheltered space which is so necessary during the winter months.

As always, funds are the persistent problem and even more so because of the unexpected expenses of treating several seriously ill kitties; thus we found ourselves in a paradoxical situation of undertaking costly shelter repairs without trying to raise funds for the above. But some things simply can’t wait if we are ever going to make the shelter into a livable and secure place for its 117 furry residents, so we are running into debts and huge ones again, that we can’t dream of paying off on our own. Long story short, the cost of the roof replacement itself has been covered by last year’s huge donation, but nothing else has been and there’s a lot of work yet to be done while the weather’s nice.

No matter how hard we try not to endlessly bore you with countless appeals for help and find the way to do what we have to do without begging around, we have no chance to finish such massive repair work unless our friends and supporters all step up. Anything that you’re able to give makes a huge difference and means the world and life itself for a three-digit number of once abused and sadly forgotten little creatures! Even the smallest donations add up and help their safe haven be what it’s meant to be!

We are all eternally thankful from the bottom of our hearts to each and every one of you who’ve been supporting our work for years and never failed us in our times of need. If we all pull together, we can finish up this shelter once and for all and give these kitties the safe and happy home they so much deserve!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZck-5ByUv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gmhe-Idd_A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MKe-mxdOVU

PayPal button is on our blog:

http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

and our website:

http://catshelter-felix.com/

Webshop:

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/catshelterfelix

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

Enjoy watching all the cats in the following videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4bIEwc11r8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BWuPPDz8Fc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ5Tqg9lPAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43Zb32dEtNo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4EcdmUCp4s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH1dDl6cPXU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKqsDvb-ge4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arVkRRgQ4nk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTbJkGoe-Hc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXbc-HWt_a0

——————————————————————–

28/10/2013

We have some very sad news to tell you today – little ‘Archi’; one of the well known and very much loved little kitties who was given a home at shelter Felix, has passed over the rainbow bridge.

Danica has written a very moving account of little Archi, and you can read it by clicking on the following link:

http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/2013/10/another-angel-has-gotten-his-wings_25.html

Little Archi, in his all too very short life, became a very prominent symbol for all the excellent work being undertaken by Danica in working to help stray cats and kitties in Serbia.

You may have seen Archi’s ‘rascal face’ being used quite frequently on this SAV site.

He also became even more of a star when he was used as one of the ‘Felix shelter’ 2012 Christmas card kitties used on the KAALE website – http://www.kaale.org.uk/files/Downloads/Card%202%20Xmas%202012.pdf

To see the others, go to http://www.kaale.org.uk/ – the ‘Links’ and then ‘Xmas cards 2012’.

With Winter just around the corner, it is essential that the shelter is able to provide continual heat and warmth for all the kitties living at the shelter. Four gas bottles, each costing 1,300 Euros are required to ensure that the animals stay warm and healthy this winter.

If you are able to give something in memory of little rascal Archi then please go to the following and then click on ‘Ready to help – Donate Now’ on the left hand side.

Please give anything that you can – it all helps, no matter how small a donation.

http://catshelterfelix.com/

Here we will leave you with some wonderful pictures of little Archi who was given everything he needed by Danica at the shelter – LOVE, WARMTH and REGULAR FOOD.

And for a little stray who started life on the streets of Serbia, that meant the world.

RIP Archi – you were, and are still a star !

You know, there are many days; every day; when you sometimes question if what you try to do is worth anything. You go from animal suffering in Serbia, to animal abuse in Romania, and then move on to animal suffering in Bosnia as we will see a decision on maybe today (28/10). Animal suffering is a global issue and it is something that needs to be rectified now, today.

When you feel low and think that maybe you are not getting anywhere with your campaigns; you just have to look at the face of little Archi; rescued by Danica and provided with so much love, care and attention; and then you are given the much needed lift to continue to fight for what IS right – for ending animal suffering around the globe.

The passing of rascal Archi has really affected us here at SAV today; but we gather strength from this little guy who has now given us even greater strength to work harder and campaign even harder for justice and for what we know is right – that all animals be treated with respect and compassion.

Archi, you were, and still are, a star shining bright !

Hi all;

Here below you will find the latest (September) information from Danica at shelter ‘Felix’ in Serbia, which provides a forever home to cats which originally endured a life on the streets as strays. This is a message of hope and generosity, and it proves that despite all the animal abuse stories which we unfortunately attempt to inform people about – good people, better people, there are sometimes silver linings to dreams – and this is one such (in the words of Danica) “futile and hopeless” situation which now, via a more than kind donation by a supporter, somewhere (who wishes to remain anonymous) – the entire rof at the shelter can now be replaced. Now the cats will have somewhere safe and warm to spend their winter this year.

We cannot thank the generosity of this anonymous donor enough in bringing the shelter back from the brink, as you will see in Danica’s letter below. So a massive ‘Thank You’ to whoever the good Samaritan is, someone who has literally saved so many lives.

I love the statement by Danica at the end of her message:

“‘It’s impossible’, said pride. ‘It’s risky’, said experience. ‘It’s pointless’, said reason.

‘Give it a try’, whispered the heart.”

Even if you have tried and your work brings you back no dividends, you have given ‘it’ a try – and that is the main thing.

Remember the words of Edmund Burke – “Evil Flourishes When Good Men Do Nothing?”

Enjoy Danica’s message of hope and very good people;

Mark – SAV Founder.

——————————————————————–

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

DANICA’S MESSAGE For September:

Enjoy watching all the cats in the following videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4bIEwc11r8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BWuPPDz8Fc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ5Tqg9lPAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43Zb32dEtNo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4EcdmUCp4s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH1dDl6cPXU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKqsDvb-ge4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arVkRRgQ4nk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTbJkGoe-Hc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXbc-HWt_a0

Frankly, a couple of weeks ago, when we published our latest update on the shelter repairs desperately pleading for help, things were bad to say the least and the overall situation seemed rather futile and hopeless. With 117 living beings to take care of every single day, with many sick kitties in need of vet care, medicine, special food, with a pile of unpaid bills and living under the shadow of the constant threat of the roof caving in, we literally hit the wall and there were no solutions to our problems anywhere in sight. We were already giving up hope that the horribly damaged roof of the auxiliary cat rooms would be replaced before the onset of winter, as raising the $4,000 needed for the roof replacement sounded like science fiction, no matter what we tried.

When nothing goes as planned, I guess that people inevitably begin to question themselves.

Did we bite off more than we could chew? Is the idea of maintaining a cat sanctuary in Serbia totally unrealistic?

What are we doing wrong? Is there a point to posting yet another appeal for help if dozens of similar ones have passed almost unnoticed?

Watching all of the shelter kitties lying around, carefree and relaxed, blissfully oblivious to the dangers ahead was truly heartbreaking. Lulled into a false sense of security in their home, they had no idea that their fairytale existence could be cut short at any time and I somehow felt I had betrayed them, offering and promising them safety I obviously could not provide. I’ve been at my wit’s end for months now trying to find a way to get all of the kitties plus the shelter through another winter unharmed, but time was running short and each new day was just bringing bigger worries…

And then, when things were at their darkest and there was almost no hope left, a gift of incredible kindness and generosity from the other end of the world restored my faith in humanity. I’m thrilled to share the best news ever, the news that stunned me and left me breathless – a wonderful lady who wishes to remain anonymous sent us the entire amount of money needed to replace the roof!

The massive repairs will begin as soon as the weather permits and with a little luck, all of the Felix kitties will be warm and dry this winter!

They will still need food and vet care, and we’ll have to raise funds to buy gas for central heating, but our new roof, once finished, will certainly be able to bear the weight of snow and endure the upcoming winter and many more winters ahead. What a huge relief!

There are no words to express our immense gratitude to this wonderful lifesaver of the Felix kitties, but also to all of our supporters who appreciate our work, share our appeals for help, contribute with their donations whenever they can and caringly show they believe in us! A huge thank you to all of you who are helping our dreams become a reality!

It takes a village to make a difference, I know, but with true friends like you, the sky is the limit!

And yes, we might be dreamers, but dreamers of a better future!

“‘It’s impossible’, said pride. ‘It’s risky’, said experience. ‘It’s pointless’, said reason.

‘Give it a try’, whispered the heart. “

If you can give anything in the way of a donation to help with food or veterinary costs it will be very much appreciated.

Here are other links associated with the shelter:

PayPal button is on our blog:

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/catshelterfelix

and our website:

http://catshelterfelix.com/

Webshop:

Dinarske uplate: Felix-Felinolosko drustvo 355-1070729-96

AUGUST 2013 NEWSLETTER From Danica

Watch some videos of all the cats at shelter ‘Felix’ – Enjoy !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqU4D3BMEPc

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_4SIE3_NCQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRVsQJb263Y

Here below is the August message from Danica at shelter Felix.

Everything is looking so good now, and the work on the shelter has been endless and expensive. As Danica says, many of the cats are also sick with a virus and so veterinarian costs are also having to be found.

If you can give anything in the way of a donation it will be very much appreciated.

Here are other links associated with the shelter:

PayPal button is on our blog: