'Five Freedoms For All Paws' - Haven of Hope
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My aim:
My name is Kath, I have been supporting numerous animal rescues abroad for many years with their social media, fundraising etc and decided this year I wanted to try and make an even bigger difference to the lives of thousands of strays.
My aim was to raise awareness of the massive stray dog and cat problem, the lack of animal welfare and total disregard for their wellbeing. These are sentient beings, who have found themselves homeless on the streets through no fault of their own and the suffering they must go through is unimaginable. I want to help support the volunteers fighting against the ‘system’, their countries, those people who work tirelessly to help the animals on the street.
During my time in Serbia, I visited several rescues - Vucjak Shelter in Kragujevac - the biggest rescue in Europe that houses over 1600 dogs, cats and even some jackals and wolves. Goran Strays based in Svilajnac which is a small rescue, who saves the most vulnerable strays to rehabilitate and rehome, whilst feeding numerous strays on the street. I also went to the town of Bor and visited their public ‘kill’ shelter and spent time in the area feeding the strays.
My trip to Serbia was instigated by a longing to raise awareness of the massive stray dog problem there, the lack of animal welfare and total disregard for their wellbeing. At the moment the stray population of dogs (and cats) is continually increasing, unwanted litters are either dumped on the street or outside a rescue - this does not stop the problem of the continual breeding cycle. Thousands of strays each year are abandoned, left to live a life of suffering, struggling to survive, scavenging for food on the streets, regularly subjected to inhumane killing, barbaric catching and torture.
My inspiration:
During my visit, I met some remarkable people (volunteers), who welcomed me and showed me around the villages where they lived - knowing where all the strays would be located, as many tended to stay within their own area ‘patch’. Many strays demonstrated trust and familiarity whilst we were out feeding them, whilst others approached with caution. It truly was inspiring to see the vast areas covered, the lengths that these volunteers who give up their own time went to, to try and improve the welfare of the cats and dogs.
Regardless of what area, the dedication, compassion and endless devotion of the volunteers helping all the strays was incredible - people genuinely wanted to make a difference and did all they could with the limited funds and resources at their disposal. They spent hours and hours each day, working tirelessly to help.
It was evident that mass changes are needed to help improve the welfare of the countless strays left to live a life of suffering on the streets of Serbia. Unfortunately in a Country where the government does not have any population control measures, does not fully implement animal welfare laws or give consequences to those breaking the law - cats and dogs are the ones who pay the price. People don’t see them as sentient beings, even owned dogs live a life chained outside in harsh weather conditions, not ever experiencing the warmth of a home or love of a person. During my visit I saw hundreds of dogs (and cats) scavenging for scraps of food in rubbish, litters of puppies huddling together for some comfort, many of these had visible skin conditions, alopecia, sore patches, discharge from their eyes, were limping or had open wounds. It was heartbreaking to see how the volunteers literally had to decide which animal to help (if they could) - looking at the severity of their condition, considering only the most critical of cases - there are no funds, they rely purely on public donations and that goes on basic food. Seeing so many dead carcusses of puppies, dogs, cats that had succumbed to their environment, susceptible to the prevalent diseases on the streets due to lack of preventative vaccinations and parasite treatment. Who could honestly not be affected seeing these tiny decaying bodies on the ground, left to rot amongst the rubbish - with new litters of puppies and dogs around them, knowing that in no time they will succumb to the same suffering and fate as the others.
How these volunteers manage to do this on a daily basis is genuinely remarkable - with limited funds and resources they do their best to feed the strays every day, relocating some to safer areas (not that any area on the street is safe), building make-shift shelters, providing water and hoping that they will survive. Knowing that the likelihood of puppies and kittens surviving is minimal, yet the mothers of these animals have to watch their young suffer and die in front of them, and if they do survive, then the breeding cycle starts over again.
Working in animal rescue myself, I understand compassion fatigue and how emotionally draining it can be and the toll it takes on you, yet I never heard any volunteer complain - it was always about the animals. It was heartwarming to see, despite the continual challenges, the ever increasing numbers, the financial increases in food, fuel and veterinary care - they still strive to do their very best for each and every animal.
My vision:
Strays are not just at risk of illness and disease, they are also at risk from humans - many people see cats and dogs as vermin that should be disposed of. Even the address of the government run public shelter was classed as ‘garbage disposal’ - to this, there are no words. These strays are subjected to abuse, torture, burning, poisoning, killing and even raping of these innocent creatures. I have too many graphic images and testaments from people to corroborate this, these are not for sharing due to the upsetting content.
I documented the entire trip, with detailed video footage and photographs of each rescue - planning and documenting what is needed to help improve the animals welfare and how it can be achieved operationally in the various rescues and how I can best support the volunteers. I had originally planned to drive back to Serbia in the Summer of 2024 with supplies, putting the plans into action, alongside some volunteers - taking animal shelters, alongside animal equipment, specialist food, veterinary supplies and more. Since my visit, I realise that this was only going to provide some short relief for volunteers and rescues, they needed something that would be more beneficial, have a greater impact on a long term basis.
We are looking to purchase a basic house and land in central Serbia, where we can support the surrounding villages and towns. We could get this for approximately £35-40,000 (GBP). For this price we could get a basic house with extensive land, approximately 15-20acres. We would need to ensure it was completely fenced in, with shelters, different areas, equip it etc. We could build a safe environment, where strays can receive veterinary treatment, rehabilitation so they can ideally be rehomed. Dogs not suitable for rehoming could be neutered, to prevent further breeding and provided with a safe area where their basic welfare needs will be met.
I have been trained and work within animal welfare, I'm familiar with implementing the Animal Welfare Act 2006 minimum standards, and managed a well known animal rescue in the UK for ten years. Part of my training included veterinary care, animal behaviour, animal care, biosecurity, zoonotic diseases, managing staff, alongside budgeting and meeting health and safety regulations, so I have the foundations, the basic knowledge and experience required.
I am also keen to share my knowledge through educating and helping others,, creating ‘good practice’ and minimum animal welfare standards where possible - resulting in the animals welfare being improved, hopefully changing the mindset of those entrenched in their cultural ways. With the lack of animal welfare legislation and lack of implementation/consequences in countries where laws do apply, we need to start somewhere.
In the future we could expand to neutering campaigns, educating owners and people caring for strays on the importance of population control, alongside the numerous health benefits. There are endless possibilities, we just need a base, somehwere where we can make this all possible.
Making this vision, this dream a reality for thousands of strays:
All this is not possible without financial backing, I appreciate that money is tight for everyone at the moment - but I need your help, the animals need your help - if you can’t offer financial help, would you mind sharing our social media platforms on your social media.We need to build up our social media following, the more supporters the better the chance we have to raise awareness and funds, all funds will go towards improving the welfare for the animals.
Financially we need money for a house and land, extensive fencing to secure the land and create areas. The house will be used for volunteers to stay, caring for the sick or injured animals, nursing mothers and litters of puppies or kittens, alongside a basic treatment room where a vet could visit etc. With £100,000 we could achieve it all, ensuring that all rescued strays have a good quality of life whilst being rehabilitated ready for rehoming.
I appreciate there will be ongoing costs such as veterinary care, bills, food, transport, staff wages (as we can’t rely solely on volunteers) - we will be fundraising, raising social media platforms and doing all we can to build on and expand this rescue for the animals. The aim is not to have animals kennelled and confined to small spaces - for the duration of their time with us we want them to have freedom, the ability to be able to run, explore and play in their environment, with their own kind - to be able to exhibit normal natural behaviour.
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What are the 'Five Freedoms?'
'All Paws Matter' - 'Five Freedoms For All' is something I truly believe in, regardless of the country they live in, the species, their breed - each and every animal deserves to have everything they need to be happy and healthy, they are sentient beings.
Life in a government run public shelter:
Once dogs are captured through cruel barbaric methods, employees of the Hygiene Department (garbage disposal) transport them to public shelters, otherwise known as ‘kill shelters’. On arrival the animals are imprisoned within small desolate cages without any food or water for many days, some resorting to cannibalism to feed their hunger. Those who survive are then beaten and abused before suffering horrific and barbaric deaths at the hands of ‘so called employees of the state’.
Access to the public shelter is restricted, when I visited there I had to ask permission giving several weeks notice and was escorted round a small area only. When I talk about the ‘Five freedoms for all’ - dogs confined in these public shelters have minimal, if any.
Organizer
Kath Logan
Organizer