Hi friends!

You may remember Elsa, a rescued Caucasian Shepherd from Sarajevo, and our beloved pet that I brought home in June 2019. I flew to Bosnia & Herzegovina to help a longtime street dog rescuer Milena Malesevic, cleaning her sanctuary for dogs and her flat, both places which are packed full of street dogs.

Milena Malesevic saying goodbye to Elsa at the Sarajevo airport (I'm taking the photo!)

After following her on social media for nearly 15 years, watching her rescue and re-home dozens of dogs, I went there to help, see her operations firsthand, and bring home a dog. I am certain that she is a saint on this earth! Plus, she's doing all this hard work on her own pushing 80 years of age!!

She has been rescuing street dogs in Sarajevo for more than 40 years. She has a sanctuary outside of the city where she feeds and cares for 60 dogs at any given time. She also packs her small flat in Sarajevo with dogs that need 24-hour care.

She operates solely on donations to feed all these dogs, take them to the vet, and give them the care that they need. Most rescues are in very bad shape and come from bad situations, including neglect, abuse, and the starvation that happens from being a street dog.

Stray dogs cover the streets of Sarajevo and the surrounding areas at no fault of their own. Without Milena, these dogs would perish.

Our Elsa died in April 2026, so I am returning to Sarajevo to help Milena again and bring home a new dog. As I did before, I want to raise money for her rescue operations. Can you help me raise $3,500?

I have been to her house and sanctuary and see how she lives: she spends every dime on these dogs.

Every little bit helps. Thank you for supporting her important and lifesaving work.

Best, Jen Heebner