The Shelter

Animals can often become the forgotten victims in war and civil unrest. In the midst of much human suffering they can be easily overlooked. This is the case in Kosovo which has been administered as an UN-NATO protectorate ( UNMIK: United Nations Interim Admission in Kosovo) since June 1999 following the ethnic conflict between the Albanian and Serbian populations.

The shelter exists to provide a safe, clean and humane refuge for the stray dogs of Kosovo.  It is vital to us that the animals in our shelter have a better quality of life than those on the streets and that the dogs are happy and healthy.  With tens of thousands of stray dogs unfortunately it is just not possible to provide sanctuary to all.  The shelter can comfortably house approximately one hundred dogs.

Healthy dogs suitable for adoption are vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites, sterilised, tattooed and made available to home.  They will remain indefinitely at the shelter until they are successfully rehomed.  Healthy dogs not suitable for adoption are treated as above and re-released to safe areas (where food should be easily found and shooting is not currently being overtaken).  Dogs with sickness/injuries not amenable to treatment and those which pose a human health risk are humanely euthanased.

The shelter is also a valuable education tool.  It serves to show members of the public how dogs should be treated and cared for.  Due to financial and cultural reasons pet ownership in the western sense is not common and with all the turmoil in the region, animal welfare is not a high priority.  Many of the population are fearful of dogs but this attitude is slowly changing and is evident in the increasing numbers of people walking dogs in Prishtina (unfortunately the majority purebreds) and more encouragingly an increase in dogs being adopted by local families from the shelter.

Although basic by western veterinary standards and working within the Kosovo restrictions (regular power/water cuts, limited medication and diagnostic facilities), their clinic has allowed many many dogs to be sterilised  with solely injectable anaesthesia and provided with medical care.  Any veterinary care provided is not charged for, instead a monetary or food donation is encouraged.

As well as being the only animal shelter, it also provides the only pet boarding facilities in Kosovo and is ideally located near the international airport.  Due to the small pet owning population the number of pets and hence income generated is minimal however it is an invaluable service to those who use it and source of income for the shelter.