If the Bosnian law from 2009 protecting stray animals gets suspended, the killing of stray dogs would resume!
January 26, 2013 - During the Bosnian War, Sarajevo was under siege from 1992 to 1995. There was exposed artillery, snipers, cold and hunger clinging on the international humanitarian aid.
Having not enough food for themselves, many people abandoned their dogs and cats, while others put their companion animals before themselves - giving them the little food they got from humanitarian aid - and a lot of animals also found themselves all alone because their owners had been killed. Today, an estimated 12,000 abandoned dogs live on the streets of Sarajevo; nobody knows the number of abandoned dogs in the entire country given that there are no records.
In 2009, the Bosnian government passed a law - which is a prerequisite for Bosnia & Herzegovina's EU membership - that protects straying animals by prohibiting the catching (collecting) and brutal killing of the dogs by municipal workers. Since then, it is prohibited to kill stray animals, except in cases determined by a veterinarian as the only possible measure.
The law furthermore says that owners are required to sterilize and register their pet animals. They must register them at a competent veterinarian, which will have a record of all ownership of dogs and cats - the deadline for registration being seven days after acquiring a dog or cat. For those who already had pet animals, the deadline was 6 months from the entry into force of the law. Thus October 8, 2009 was the deadline by which all owned dogs and cats had to be registered.
One year after the entry into force of the law, that was the deadline for the municipalities, cities, cantons or entities to build shelters for animals. But this part of the law was not applied in practice at all.
Before aggression, Bosnia and Herzegovina was among the middle economically developed countries but today is the poorest country in Europe because of careless corrupted local, regional and central governments that only care about their own pockets and it should be no surprise that some of the few government or municipal shelters are set up mostly as money laundering machines for the government and some private individuals in order to enable them to steel money.
The mentioned law, passed nearly four years ago banning the killing of strays, had actually been passed because the government was alarmed at a sharp rise in canine slaughter as straying dogs proliferated on Bosnian streets. But people ignored the law, largely because authorities failed to provide alternatives such as sterilization and the needed shelters to house the animals and to keep them off the streets... and so the killings continued.
The law from 2009 is actually a very good law, but it was adopted "over night" without anybody providing the conditions for its implementation. And without proper implementation the best laws are useless and not even worth the paper on which they are written!
The Republika Srpska does not even accept the law from 2009 - even though they were obliged to - and they work according to the old law from 2008, which gives them the right to kill dogs after a period of 30 days. They even don’t fully comply to this old regulation and most often kill dogs as soon as possible. This happened at the Hresa-shelter three months ago when they killed 52 dogs in one night.
Since the country remains deeply divided along ethnic lines, different parts of Bosnia deal with the problem of strays in different ways. That's because the 1992-95 war between Bosnia's three groups, Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, ended with a peace agreement that divided Bosnia into two semi-autonomous regions, linked by a weak central government. It's an arrangement that allows some local governments to pass their own dog-killing laws that contradict the nationwide ban.
PHOTO: a starving dog in the municipal shelter at Hreša, November 1, 2012
Catastrophic news regarding the street dogs
in Bosnia and Herzegovina!
Today, almost four years later and given that the government and the municipalities have failed to properly implement the law from 2009, it is no wonder that the problem has become huge and urgent. It can not be denied that 12,000 dogs living on the streets of Sarajevo alone, is a problem.
The culprits - next to careless dog owners that let their animals roam freely and mate as they wish and then simply abandon the puppies on the streets - sit in the government and municipalities.
For months, the media is spreading hatred against street dogs, and intentionally causes fear and hatred towards the dogs. Animal lovers advocate for a non-violent solution of the problem, saying that disregard / non-implementation of the law passed in April 2009 caused the problem. Their opponents say that the law is inappropriate for Bosnia and Herzegovina and that killing dogs is the only way to resolve the problem and many of them are committed to change the law, trying to return to the killing as a legitimate option.
The state has almost no interest in a humane reduction of stray animals, the prices at the veterinary clinics for neutering are very high considering the standards and the high rate of unemployment in Bosnia. To some people, monthly salary in Bosnia is as nearly as high as the cost of a castration is.
About Hreša "shelter"
by Jelena Paunović on Saturday, 26 January 2013
As you all already saw, Hreša shelter is open again. Three months ago we did everything to close that „shelter“ and we did it. Few days ago, some people contacted me and said that Hreša works again. With other activists I went there to check that information. Unfortunately, they were right! After we closed Hresa three months ago, their director Slavko Jovicic was obviously very disappointed because, without incomes from municipalities who financed Hresa, he was in desperate situation.
According to, yet to be confirmed information, major of one of Sarajevo municipalities made a contract with Hresa. Same source informed me that contract included request to pick up 50 dogs a day of the streets of given municipality. Bosnia and Hercegovina has no kill animal protection and rights law which bans euthanasia. In Republika Srpska things are different as they don’t accept law of the BiH (even though they were obliged to) and they work according to old law from 2008. which gives them right to kill dog after 30 days period. They even don’t fully comply to this old regulation and most often kill dogs as soon as possible. This happened at Hresa three months ago when they killed 52 dogs in one night.
This “shelters” are set up mostly as money laundering machines for government and some private individuals in order to enable them to steel money. One of the big problems is employees who should be called butchers more then regular people. They treat dogs in horrific manner and they have silent approval from Republika Srpska authorities.
Few of us, including myself, were there today and found 20 dogs lying around in cages at bare concrete at -6 degrees temperature. Only food we found was some pieces of old frozen bread and water was frozen too. Even though we brought some dry food employees didn’t allow us to feed them and they left empty bellies.
In all this story biggest concern of us is that if this contract proves to be true this would mean that all of dogs from given municipality will be caught and killed in terrible way. Even if we let them do this for one municipality there is always chance that they will move one on the next one and kill most of the dogs in city. I personally believe this to be true as everyone is trying to fish for a few cheep political points one expense of poor street dogs. O n the other side what to do if we end up with 50 killed innocent dogs every day?
In a two days we are going to have meeting with municipality major and see if this is true and to what degree.
Information on this shelter is compiled in the following links:
http://inmemoryofvucko.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/horror-shelter-in-hresa-bosnia/
http://inmemoryofvucko.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/horror-shelter-in-hresa-part-two/
http://inmemoryofvucko.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/horror-shelter-in-hresa-part-three/
http://inmemoryofvucko.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/horror-shelter-in-hresa-part-four/
For up-to-date information, please "like" the Facebook-page, Save the Hreša Dogs
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Wanna see the dog-catchers - those who catch the dogs
and bring them to Hresa - at work?
The video below was recorded in front of the main building of East New Sarajevo, near the Municipality Stari Grad and uploaded to Facebook and youtube on 5th of March, 2013
How to help the Bosnian stray animals and their advocates
Bosnian activists have received information that dogs from Sarajevo are being rounded up to be killed at the Hreša-shelter. According to their sources, the mayor of one of the Sarajevo municipalities, Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić has allegedly paid Serbs from Republic of Srpska, already 10.000,- Euro to do this.
Instead of carrying out an effective spay & neutering campaign and running non-corrupt and effective shelters, they are choosing murder and a source claims that they intend to kill 50 animals a day.
There are already 20 dogs at Hresa, including puppies, without proper water and food - only frozen bread and frozen water - and visitors were not allowed to feed them!
Bosnian activists fear that the stray dogs of Sarajevo, after being rounded up, will be killed in the most horrible ways, like they have done in the past using axes and iron bars...
Here's what we need you to do:
1) Please sign the 3 petitions by clicking on the big buttons below (the petitions will open in a new tab), asking the authorities to finally set up a central register for dogs, to end all puppy mills and backyard breeding, and to finally punish the abandonment of animals! We want the authorities to do their work and not go the easiest way to them, because it could lead to a thousandfold slaughter of dogs. The main goal is to prevent the suspension of the law!
The last petition calls for an investigation of the horror-shelter in Hresa.
2) Leave a comment on the Facebook-page of the mayor of Sarajevo, IBRAHIM HADŽIBAJRIĆ NAČELNIK OPĆINE STARI GRAD SARAJEVO.
Tell him to chose "catch-neuter-and release" which is the only proven and humane method to resolve the stray animals issue in his city, and to stop the killings.
3) Send him also a message using his FB-mail. Click "Message" top right of this page.
Tell him to chose "catch-neuter-and release" which is the only proven and humane method to resolve the stray animals issue in his city, and to stop the killings.
3) Send him also a message using his FB-mail. Click "Message" top right of this page.
4) Call the Mayor's office at: tel. + 387 (0) 33 28 24 01
5) Send a message to the government of Bosnia & Herzegovina using the email block below:
emsad.hadzic@vet.gov.ba, inga.dujmovic@vet.gov.ba, sanin.tankovic@vet.gov.ba, ljubomir.kalaba@vet.gov.ba, pavo.radic@vet.gov.ba, vildana.tahirovic@vet.gov.ba, mirza.dzafo@vet.gov.ba, lj.terzic@fuzip.gov.ba, dj.car@fuzip.gov.ba, darko.babalj@parlament.ba, mirsad.dugum@parlament.ba, petar.kunic@parlament.ba, lazar.prodanovic@parlament.ba, adnan.basic@parlament.ba, amir.fazlic@parlament.ba, mirza.kusljugic@parlament.ba, nermin.puric@parlament.ba, denis.becirovic@parlament.ba, mato.franjicevic@parlament.ba, niko.lozancic@parlament.ba, asim.sarajlic@parlament.ba, beriz.belkic@parlament.ba, azra.hadziahmetovic@parlament.ba, bozo.ljubic@parlament.ba, salko.sokolovic@parlament.ba, borislav.bojic@parlament.ba, mladen.ivankovic-lijanovic@parlament.ba, sasa.magazinovic@parlament.ba, senad.sepic@parlament.ba, mladen.bosic@parlament.ba, zijad.jagodic@parlament.ba, slavko-slavuj.jovicic@parlament.ba, zvonko.jurisic@parlament.ba, emir.kabil@parlament.ba, drago.kalabic@parlament.ba, vesna.krstovic-spremo@parlament.ba, petar.kunic@parlament.ba, milica.markovic@parlament.ba, danijela.martinovic@parlament.ba, bosko.tomic@parlament.ba, nermina.zaimovic-uzunovic@parlament.ba, info@ombudsmen.gov.ba, mmicevska@vijeceministara.gov.ba, predsjedatelj@vijeceministara.gov.ba, amela.mulavdic@vijeceministara.gov.ba, sefkabineta@vlada.ks.gov.ba, sekretar@ssv.ks.gov.ba, kab.ministra@mvteo.gov.ba, kabinet.zamjenika@mvteo.gov.ba, info@mvteo.gov.ba, mp@mp.ks.gov.ba, ministar@mp.ks.gov.ba, nada.rajkovic@fmpvs.gov.ba, jasenko.selimovic@sdp.ba, generalni.sekretar@sdp.ba, sda@bih.net.ba, kosdask@sda.ba, kosdasa@bih.net.ba, info@sbbbh.ba, nasastranka@nasastranka.ba, pr@nasastranka.ba,
6) Last but not least: to stay up-to-date about actions to take, please check these pages regularly:
- and the website In Memory of Vucko
Thank you very much in advance, for speaking up for
Bosnia's homeless animals
Important update
The following update of the situation, after activists had a meeting with the mayor on Monday, 28th of January, has been provided by the campaign "In memory of Vucko"
Here is the earlier story of Hreša: Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four. Also see my post on shelters in general in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Horror Camps for Animals in Bosnia
As most of you know Hreša ‘shelter’ is open again and has been for some time now.
On Monday night activists went there to find 20 dogs in cages without heat (temperatures are well below freezing), with nothing to eat but scraps of old frozen bread. Any water available was frozen. Activists were not allowed to provide food. However, they managed to rescue some of the dogs, including one mother dog and five of her puppies. Four of her puppies were frozen to death. She had given birth on frozen concrete.
Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality in Sarajevo, has stated he has signed an agreement with Hreša Municipality to send dogs from Stari Grad to Hreša ‘Shelter’ and that 30,000 KM (15,000 EUR/ 20,000 USD) have been allocated for this ‘project’, ‘renting’ the Hreša shelter. The contract as yet is still not signed, however.
Although Ibrahim Hadžibajrić denies that the goal behind this agreement is elimination of dogs, note the following: there are over 11,000 strays in Sarajevo; Hreša is in a part of Bosnia (Republika Srpska) which allows killing of dogs in shelters, whereas in Sarajevo it is not allowed to do this.
The Republika Srpska law states that any dog in a shelter that is not homed after 30 days may be euthanized, it does not say it must be euthanized. Only dogs who are suffering in extreme agony, who are aggressive, very old, or sick beyond help and similar must be euthanised by law. However it is common practice in this municipality to mark perfectly healthy dogs as being sick or injured and euthanize them on the day of arrival to the shelter or few days later, especially when there are many dogs arriving and they start running out of space. Also, over six years old can be considered ‘very old’. Furthermore, the dogs are kept in such poor conditions they usually become weak and sick within a week and so fulfil the requirements.
Note that “euthanization” practices in this country include injections of bleach.
Last year animal activists from Sarajevo visited Hreša ‘shelter’ several times and dogs just “disappeared” and employees told them they had been killed, and also that pedigree dogs were kidnapped and held for ransom in the shelter.
Although pressure from animal activists inside and outside Bosnia brought about an investigation by the State Veterinary Office, we have heard absolutely nothing about the result of this investigation. In November Dogs Trust Bosnia stated they will ”monitor the progress of this investigation and subsequent intervention and where this stalls or is insufficient we will act.” We will be following up with Dogs Trust as we have as yet had no updates.
THE GOOD NEWS IS: Daliborka Colic, who runs a Bosnian/German rescue organisation (http://sosvergessenepfoten.de) and Bettinna Markovic-Grimm, a businesswoman from Germany, have secured 5000 Euros to help. Daliborka says that the authorities can take dogs to Hreša but activists will simply go and bring the dogs back to Sarajevo each time. Activists will constantly monitor the conditions in Hreša and will inform the media. Daliborka will also rally her German friends and organizations to get involved as much as possible.
I am awaiting news of how we can help Daliborka. Please return for updates.
Many of you have commented on the posts here about Hreša and about the situation for strays in general. We are all outraged at what is happening, but is important to realise that Bosnia is very different to the United States or the United Kingdom and similar countries.
To quote from someone living in Sarajevo: “Please imagine a different reality. I’m in Sarajevo and I can tell you many people here are living on 45 euros a month or less. 18% of the population are below the (low) poverty line and 30% are on or just above it, yet many costs are nearly as high as the UK. Many people cannot afford to pay their heating bills, or for their local authority services, which are owed millions. There is no social security. There are 11,000 dogs on the streets in Sarajevo, a lot dumped because their owners cannot afford to keep them. Now in winter they wander around in packs looking for food and some are (sadly) aggressive, especially when cold and hungry. Many people are frightened of dogs, especially when they are in packs. We’ve seen people in tears, scared stiff of walking past them. It becomes a political issue, but the authorities have no money for housing such large numbers, which are growing daily.
There is nearly 50% unemployment and there are people desperate enough to earn a few hundred euros who’ll kill dogs. On the other side, there are wonderful people here who give as much time and more money than you can imagine to help, and organisations outside Bosnia (such as AWAB) who help a lot too. But we’re helping a few hundred if we’re lucky. We’d welcome good ideas to solve the problem.”
To read the entire post, please go to the page of "In Memory of Vucko".
To stay up-to-date about actions to take, please see FB-groups for updates:
Animal Advocates for Bosnia -http://www.facebook.com/groups/AWAbosnia
Save the Hreša Dogs - http://www.facebook.com/HresaDogs
News Articles: (Serbo-Croatian, but you can use Google Translate)
- NEANDERTALACI NASELJENI U VUKOJEBINI
- Ljubitelji životinja: “Hadžibajrić želi da se psi prebacuju u RS kako bi ih tamo ubijali!”
- Načelnik Hadžibajrić zatražio 543 izvinjenja
- Hadžibajrić zatražio izvinjenje: Mi sklanjamo pse s ulica, a vi se brinite o njima
Dogs at the Hresa municipal shelter, January 2013
Letter to the Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Sarajevo
The campaign Save the Hreša Dogs sent the following letter to Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Sarajevo
Please add your own details beneath the letter and send yours, too.
His email address is:
ibrahim.hadzibajric@starigrad.ba
Ibrahim Hadžibajrić
Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Sarajevo
Načelnik Općine Stari Grad Sarajevo
Zelenih beretki br. 4
71000 Sarajevo
1 February 2013
Dear Mr. Hadžibajrić,
I am writing to urge you to reconsider any agreements with the Hreša Municipality to send dogs from Stari Grad to the dog shelter in Hreša.
We have reliable reports and eyewitness accounts substantiated by photographs from November 1st 2012 that over 50 dogs were being kept in inhumane conditions, without adequate food or water or veterinary treatment, that numerous dogs were kept in tiny cages, that dead dogs were left amongst living dogs, that dogs had open, untended wounds. Furthermore, there were reports that any non-purebred dog caught by the shelter was killed, and that purebred dogs were stolen from owners and only released to the owner if a ransom was paid. Animal advocates tried to rescue one horrifically emaciated dog but were prevented and were later told the dog was ‘euthanized’.
Animal welfare advocates made a second visit to the shelter as they had found homes for 10 of the dogs. But 90% of the dogs in the shelter had disappeared. Workers from the shelter stated that dogs had been killed and buried in a garbage dump. Photographs taken by activists on November 3rd show the shelter as almost entirely empty. Advocates returned to Hreša on the 7th of November. They found a completely deserted shelter. The dogs they’d seen there previously were no longer. However there was a large, locked container on the premises. Without police protection it was not advisable for the activists to leave.
The State Veterinary Office started an investigation but the shelter was shut down before they had a chance to proceed.
The shelter re-opened this year and once again animal welfare advocates have found that the conditions there for dogs are entirely inhumane and we have photographs to substantiate these claims. They discovered a mother dog who had given birth on frozen concrete, several of her litter subsequently freezing to death, being just one example.
All international animal welfare organisations either have been or will be contacted. We will not cease our enquiries until answers are provided and the welfare of the dogs at Hreša is ensured and we have proof that the municipality ensures that the facility is provided with proper management and funds to care for the dogs. Modern practices must be implemented, giving food and fresh water and warm housing and the facility be must kept sanitary and properly staffed with veterinary professionals so the animals are cared for and, ultimately, caring homes need to be found for the dogs.
This situation has sparked a global outcry and we look to the Bosnian and Herzegovinan justice system and authorities to conform with EU standards regarding animal welfare, and to apply the law that was passed in Bosnia Herzegovina incorporating these EU standards.
The European Union provides the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with many millions of euros worth of financial aid each year. The provisos attached to these aid packages require the recipient country to abide by EU laws which would include the laws related to animal welfare.
The European Commission has stated that aligning national animal welfare legislation with EU law is a prerequisite for EU membership. Many international animal welfare organisations cite Bosnia as the country with the most instances of horrific animal cruelty and suffering and thus it is unlikely membership will be obtained by Bosnia until radical changes are made regarding animal welfare.
A number of United Nations Members of Parliament have raised and continue to raise the issue about the need for countries seeking to acquire EU membership to demonstrate standards of animal care, and thus it is mandatory that conditions at shelters in Bosnia Herzegovina are drastically improved and that humane stray dog control systems are implemented throughout the country.
Please note that we have been notified that MEPs will be raising the above issues at a meeting next week with the European Parliament’s Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and will also be contacting the Bosnian Ambassador in Brussels.
We will not cease our efforts in this regard, continuing to inform the European Commission and the European Parliament as well as international animal welfare organisations.
I believe it is possible for Sarajevo to be a role model for other municipalities in Bosnia Herzegovina with respect to animal welfare, and in this regard it is crucial no agreements are made by you with the Hreša Municipality until a) the Republika Srpska animal welfare law is brought inline with the state law and thus euthanasia of dogs after they spend 30 days in shelters is no longer legal and, b) conditions at the shelter improve considerably.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter,
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Letter to the Directorate General for Health & Consumers
at the European Commission
Please go to the webform on the Directorate General for Health & Consumers - European Commission's website to send this or preferably a modified version - make sure to put your name at the end:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/mailbox/index_en.cfm
Dear Sir or Madam:
I wish to bring to your attention animal abuse in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The European Union provides the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina with many millions of euros worth of financial aid each year. I believe the allocation for 2012 was around €107.8m. My understanding of the provisos attached to these aid packages is that there is a requirement for the recipient country to abide by EU laws which would include the laws related to animal welfare. The Commission has stated that aligning national animal welfare legislation with EU law is a prerequisite for EU membership, membership which Bosnia and Herzegovina is seeking. Many international animal welfare organisations cite Bosnia as the country with the most instances of animal cruelty and suffering.
I attach this link giving details of inhumane treatment and conditions in a public dog shelter in Hreša which animal activists in Bosnia say is typical throughout their country:http://www.thepetitionsite.com/307/730/650/demand-investigation-into-horror-shelter-in-hresa-bosnia/. Hreša shelter was closed late last year after activists publicised the conditions there. The State Veterinary Office was unable to make an investigation because of this closure: the dogs in the shelter had ‘disappeared.’
However the shelter re-opened and this month Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality in Sarajevo has stated he has signed an agreement with Hreša Municipality to send dogs from Stari Grad to Hreša shelter. Hreša Municipality allows 'euthanisation' of dogs after 30 days in shelters, whereas it is illegal to do this in Stari Grad Municipality in Sarajevo. Conditions at Hreša remain dire for dogs: activists found a mother dog who had given birth on frozen concrete, several of her litter subsequently freezing to death, being just one example.
There is a new post on this matter on IN MEMORY OF VUČKO with more details:
http://inmemoryofvucko.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/horror-shelter-in-hresa-part-five/
It is imperative that the European Parliament discusses the matter of animal welfare with their Bosnia and Herzegovina counterparts and urgently demands a full investigation into the state shelters and animal abuse cases.
Many thanks for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
[your name]
7 February - Letter to send to Ibrahim Hadžibajrić,
Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Sarajevo
by Save the Hreša Dogs
Please personalize and add your own details beneath the letter.
His email address is ibrahim.hadzibajric@starigrad.ba
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OpcinaStariGradSarajevo
Also re-address and send to:
Semir Efendić Mayor of Novi Grad, Sarajevo
email: semir.efendic@novigrad2012.ba
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EfendicSemir
Dr. Alija Behmen Mayor of Sarajevo
Email: grad@sarajevo.ba
Facebook (I think - http://www.facebook.com/alija.behmen)
---------------------------------------------
Attention:
Ibrahim Hadžibajrić
Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Sarajevo
Načelnik Općine Stari Grad Sarajevo
Zelenih beretki br. 4
71000 Sarajevo
7 February 2013
Dear Mr. Hadžibajrić,
Once again I am writing to urge you to reconsider any agreements with the Hreša Municipality in Republika Srpska to send dogs from Stari Grad Sarajevo to the dog shelter in Hreša.
Please be advised we know that Republika Srpska has a clause that allows so-called 'euthanisation' of dogs if they spend 30 days in shelters without being homed. We know that this clause contradicts national laws and that all laws that are such must be fixed and adjusted to meet what is set in the national laws. So, in fact the Republika Srpska clause that allows dogs to be killed is, in fact, contravening the national law.
If you do not give up on the agreement with Hreša Municipality to send dogs from Sarajevo to the Hreša 'shelter', then you must add a clause in the contract stating the dogs will be treated in accordance with national animal welfare law and not the Republika Srpska law.
If you do not add such a clause and make this public, we will go public with your refusal and it will serve as proof that what the real motivation for the agreement is for dogs from Sarajevo to be 'euthanised' in the Republika Srpska, and that all these agreements have been premeditated for this outcome. You will be guilty as charged for breaking the national animal welfare law, which you are already doing by sending dogs to Hreša.
All international animal welfare organisations either have been or will be contacted. We will not cease our enquiries until answers are provided and the welfare of the dogs at Hreša is ensured and we have proof that:
a) you have inserted a clause in your agreement that dogs at Hreša will be treated in accordance with national animal welfare law and not the Republika Srpska law
b) the Hreša municipality ensures that the Hreša dog facility is provided with proper management and funds to care for the dogs. Modern practices must be implemented, giving food and fresh water and warm housing and the facility be must kept sanitary and properly staffed with veterinary professionals so the animals are cared for and, ultimately, caring homes need to be found for the dogs.
This situation has sparked a global outcry and we look to the Bosnian and Herzegovinan justice system and authorities to conform with EU standards regarding animal welfare, and to apply the law that was passed in Bosnia Herzegovina incorporating these EU standards.
The European Union provides the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with many millions of euros worth of financial aid each year. The provisos attached to these aid packages require the recipient country to abide by EU laws which would include the laws related to animal welfare.
The European Commission has stated that aligning national animal welfare legislation with EU law is a prerequisite for EU membership. Many international animal welfare organisations cite Bosnia as the country with the most instances of horrific animal cruelty and suffering and thus it is unlikely membership will be obtained by Bosnia until radical changes are made regarding animal welfare.
A number of United Nations Members of Parliament have raised and continue to raise the issue about the need for countries seeking to acquire EU membership to demonstrate standards of animal care, and thus it is mandatory that conditions at shelters in Bosnia Herzegovina are drastically improved and that humane stray dog control systems are implemented throughout the country.
We will not cease our efforts in this regard, continuing to inform the European Commission and the European Parliament as well as international animal welfare organisations.
I believe it is possible for Sarajevo to be a role model for other municipalities in Bosnia Herzegovina with respect to animal welfare, and in this regard it is crucial no agreements are made by you with the Hreša Municipality unless either the above clause is inserted into any agreements, or the Republika Srpska animal welfare law is brought inline with the state law and thus euthanasia of dogs after they spend 30 days in shelters is no longer legal.
In addition, conditions at the shelter need to be improved considerably. These conditions will be monitored by animal welfare activists on an ongoing basis.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter,
Sincerely,
[your name]
Bosnian version
by Save the Hreša Dogs
by Save the Hreša Dogs
Poštovani,
Još jednom apeliram da ponovno razmislite o već postojećim ili sklapanju budućih ugovora sa općinom Hreša, Republika Srpska, o slanju pasa iz Starog Grada Sarajevo u azil za pse u Hreši.
Molim da imate na umu da mi znamo da Republika Srpska ima klauzulu o tzv. ‘eutanaziji’ pasa koji provedu u azilu (prihvatilištu) za pse više od 30 dana bez udomljenja. Znamo da je ova odredba u nesuglasju sa nacionalnim zakonodavstvom Bosne i Hercegovine i da sve takve odredbe moraju biti preinačene na način da se usuglase sa domaćim zakonima Bosne i Hercegovine. Tako, ustvari, odredba u Republici Srpskoj koja dozvoljava ubijanje pasa, zapravo je u sukobu sa domaćim (nacionalnim) propisima Bosne i Hercegovine.
Ako ne odustanete od dogovora sa općinom Hreša o slanju pasa iz Sarajeva u 'azil' u Hreši, onda ste dužni dodati u ugovor klauzulu koja kaže da će psi biti tretirani prema državnom Zakonu o zaštiti i dobrobiti životinja Bosne i Hercegovine, a ne prema zakonu Republike Srpske.
Ukoliko ne dodate takvu klauzulu i to javno ne objavite, mi ćemo izaći u javnost sa vašim odbijanjem što će predstavljati dokaz o stvarnim namjerama vašeg dogovora, a to je 'eutanazija' pasa iz Sarajeva u Republici Srpskoj. To će također biti dokaz da su svi vaši dogovori bili unaprijed smišljeni da bi se dobio takav rezultat. Vi ćete biti krivi po optužbi za kršenje državnog Zakona o zaštiti i dobrobiti životinja Bosne i Hercegovine, što već i sada činite slanjem pasa u Hrešu.
Sve međunarodne organizacije za zaštitu dobrobiti životinja već jesu ili će biti kontaktirane u vezi s ovim slučajem. Mi nećemo prestati sa apelima i istražnim radnjama sve dok ne dobijemo potvrdu da je dobrobit pasa u Hreši osigurana, te dok ne dobijemo dokaze da:
a) ste dodali u ugovor klauzulu kojom se psi u Hreši tretiraju prema državnom Zakonu o zaštiti i dobrobiti životinja Bosne i Hercegovine, a ne prema zakonu Republike Srpske.
b) općina Hreša jamči da azil za pse u Hreši ima osigurana sredstva za brigu o psima, te da ima odgovarajuću upravu. Suvremene procedure postupanja sa psima moraju biti implementirane; opskrba hranom i svježom vodom; grijanje u hladnim danima; cijelo prihvatilište mora ispunjavati sanitarne propise i imati veterinara koji će brinuti o psima; i na kraju svega mora im se pronaći odgovarajući dom.
Ovaj slučaj je izazvao zgražanje i proteste javnosti diljem Europske unije i svijeta, i mi se staramo da se pravosudni sustav Bosne i Hercegovine u pogledu zaštite dobrobiti životinja uskladi sa standardima Europske Unije, te da se u Bosni i Hercegovini provode pozitivni domaći propisi u kojima su standardi Europske Unije već inkorporirani.
Europska Unija daje Bosni i Hercegovini financijsku pomoć vrijednu milione eura svake godine. Uvjet tome je da se zemlja primatelj pomoći, u ovom slučaju Bosna i Hercegovina, pridržava zakona Europske Unije koji uključuju i zakone koji se tiču zaštite dobrobiti životinja.
Europska komisija je izjavila da je usklađivanje državnog Zakona o zaštiti i dobrobiti životinja sa zakonom Europske Unije uvjet za članstvo u Europsku Uniju. Mnoge međunarodne organizacije za zaštitu dobrobiti životinja navode Bosnu i Hercegovinu kao zemlju sa najbrojnijim slučajevima okrutnosti prema životinjama i zlostavljanjima, što znači da je članstvo Bosne i Hercegovine u Europsku Uniju neizvjesno sve dok se ne učine radikalne promjene u vezi zaštite dobrobiti životinja.
Brojni zastupnici država članica parlamenta Ujedinjenih naroda su digli glas i konstantno potežu pitanje potrebe da zemlje potencijalne članice Europske Unije pruže dokaze o odgovarajućim standardima zaštite dobrobiti životinja. Prema tome, životni uvjeti u prihvatilištima za pse u Bosni i Hercegovini se obavezno moraju drastično poboljšati. Također se u cijeloj Bosni i Hercegovini mora implementirati humani program kontrole pasa lutalica.
Mi nećemo stati u našim pokušajima da se ovakvo stanje u Bosni i Hercegovini promijeni. Nastavit ćemo sa slanjem izvještaja Europskoj komisiji i Europskom parlamentu, kao i međunarodnim organizacijama za zaštitu dobrobiti životinja.
Ja vjerujem u mogućnost da Sarajevo postane pozitivan primjer za druge općine u Bosni i Hercegovini kao općina koja se brine o zaštiti dobrobiti životinja. To znači da je od krucijalne važnosti da se ne sklapa nikakav ugovor između Vas i općine Hreša ukoliko se, ili u taj ugovor ne uključi gorenavedena klauzula, ili se zakon o zaštiti dobrobiti životinja Republike Srpske ne usuglasi sa državnim zakonom, čime bi eutanazija pasa koji provedu u azilu više od 30 dana bez udomljenja postala nezakonita.
Također, životni uvjeti pasa u azilu se moraju znatno poboljšati. Aktivisti za zaštitu dobrobiti životinja će vršiti stalnu kontrolu tih uvjeta.
Hvala na vremenu koje ste odvojili da pročitate ovo pismo.
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Sources & references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_War
http://www.novosarajevo.ba/stream/press/index.php?sta=3&pid=3748http://www.avaz.ba/vijesti/iz-minute-u-minutu/sdp-bih-jedan-djeciji-zivot-vazniji-je-od-svih-pasa-lutalica
http://atlanticinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=299
http://www.animal-kind.org/bosniaanimalfoundation.html
http://ansamed.ansa.it/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2013/01/24/Bosnia-press-stray-dogs-increasing-threat_8128745.html
http://www.amicizie.tv/eventi.php/134675260017919/online-help-for-bosnian-dogs/
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/bosnia-stray-dogs-safe-haven-082055743.html
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/12/11/nightmare-for-stray-dogs-in-sarajevo/
