Demand Investigation into Horror Shelter in Hresa, Bosnia

November 14 Update:

Bad news. The Legal – Constitutional Committee of the House of Representatives in Bosnia Herzegovina has refused to adopt any amendments that would mitigate the amendments the SDP party has advocated:  amendments that will result in mass killing of strays.Two votes were for these mitigating amendments, three against and there were two abstentions. We do not know who abstained.The next step is a second reading on the 20th of November and then voting in the following B&H Parliament session – probably 15 days after the second reading, we don’t know.Bosnia-Herzegovina is one step closer to what is happening in Romania.

More information: http://inmemoryofvucko.org

Please sign & share the following two new petitions

STOP BOSNIA FROM IMPLEMENTING KILL LAW!

BOSNIA! IMPLEMENT HUMANE STRAY-DOG AND CAT POPULATION CONTROL AND TREATMENT 

In November, 2012 Reliable reports and eyewitness accounts substantiated by photographs showed that over 50 dogs were kept in inhumane conditions in the Hresa Dog Shelter, on the outskirts of Sarajevo. They were completely without adequate food or water or veterinary treatment. Numerous dogs were kept in tiny cages, one dog in a cage no larger than itself. Dead dogs were left amongst living dogs.

Witnesses said 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 is paid. 

With heavy snowfall and temperatures hitting -30 and no heating in the shelter, without immediate help many of these dogs were freezing to death.

Activists returned after an initial investigation and found that 40 dogs were missing. Workers at the shelter said they had been killed and buried in a garbage dump. The activists managed to release and rescue a mother dog and her seven puppies and one other adult dog. They then had to leave the premises as they feared for their lives. They returned to Hresa 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 nearby. Without police protection it was not advisable for the activists to investigate further.

The shelter closed before the State Veterinary Office could make an investigation. 

The shelter re-opened this year.

July 12 2013: 

Animal activists visited the night before last, and there were many dogs. Yesterday only some were left. "There was a smell of death," they said. They searched for bodies but couldn't find anything.

There are no mongrels in the shelter. The activists received information that mix breeds are killed and only purebred dogs are kept. No change since last year!

September 2013: 'Business as usual' in the shelter!


More Information: 
IN MEMORY OF VUCKO 

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part One 

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part Two

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part Three

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part Four

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part Five

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part Six

Horror Shelter in Hresa Part Seven 

FaceBook Save The Hrese Dogs Page

Dear Sir, Madam,


We, the undersigned, request that the Government of Bosnian and Herzegovina, the Istocni Stari Grad authorities and municipality mayor Bojo Gašanovic in particular, investigate the matter of the Hreša dog shelter.


We have reliable reports and eyewitness accounts substantiated by photographs from November 1st 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.


Slaviša Jovcic, the director of the shelter and director of Glog, the company that built the shelter, stated that he was promised 130 000 KM from the municipalities for the shelter, but the full amount of the money was never paid by the municipality and therefore Slaviša Jovcic said he could not ensure the care of the dogs. However he promised cooperation with the activists, said he was willing to help them feed and care for the dogs.


On November 3rd, a second visit to the shelter was paid by animal welfare activists as they had found homes for 10 dogs. But 90% of the dogs in the shelter had disappeared. Workers from the shelter stated that dogs had been killed on November 2nd  and buried in a garbage dump. Photographs taken by activists on November 3rd show the shelter as almost entirely empty. Activists left as they feared for their lives, but managed to rescue two adult dogs and five puppies.


We demand that a full investigation is undertaken, that any illegal actions be dealt with to the full extent of the law. We will not cease our enquiries until answers are provided. All international animal welfare organisations either have been or will be contacted about this atrocity.


We further demand that the municipality ensures that the facility is immediately provided with proper management and funds to care for any remaining dogs. Modern practices must be implemented, giving food and fresh water 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.


Thank you for taking the time to read this letter

Update #310 years ago
BOSNIAN PARLIAMENT WILL VOTE ON CHANGING THE ANIMAL WELFARE LAW IN 4 DAYS. All of you have signed the petitions, thank you! But the activists need our help: funds are needed to organise campaigns in Sarajevo. A change to the law will mean the slaughter of thousands, just like Romania. Please help if you can -- send via PayPal to donations@awabosnia.org - even just $1 or 1 Euro will help. Mark for 'advocacy'. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Sandra Jensen AWAB http://inmemoryofvucko.org/
Update #210 years ago
CRITICAL TO STOP CHANGES TO THE ANIMAL WELFARE LAW - NEW PETITION, PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE, THANK YOU: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/116/172/210/stop-bosnia-from-implementing-kill-law/
Update #110 years ago
Horror dog shelter in Hreša, Bosnia is 'open for business' & shocking conditions at all shelters are being documented. We need help to ensure Bosnia does not follow Romania and draft a new law at the next Parliament session, 5 October, paving the way for thousands of strays to be put down.

Please sign & share the following new petition:

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/bosnia-implement-humane-stray-dog-and-cat-population-control-and-treatment
Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.