According to some statements of municipal officials, we understand that the Municipality of Prishtina has allocated 10 acres of land to build a shelter for stray dogs but for which there are still no concrete details on how this shelter will look and work.

According to the meetings we had with the Municipality of Prishtina, the entire team of the Mayor has promised that the shelter of stray dogs in the capital city will not be built in the traditional way where all dogs will be locked up and then either adopted or euthanized, thus we are waiting for the details of this shelter at the next inter-institutional meeting, which was established by the Municipality of Prishtina, and where our organization is also a member.

We hope that any center or shelter that will be built, will be built with a self-sustainable concept and with the concept of promoting the adoption of dogs by also ensuring special funds for the preparation of dogs for adoption and a dignified life. The shelter that is planned to be built must have a proper and safe financing plan so as not to endanger the life and well-being of the dogs that will be housed there, at any time.

Currently, Kosovo does not have a legal basis regulating the sheltering of stray animals, but an Administrative Instruction on the technical conditions of shelters will soon be approved within the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and the Food and Veterinary Agency, in which our organization is also a member.

Mayor Rama and his team have been very cooperative so far with our organization and have opened the doors to all organizations and individuals interested in monitoring all projects undertaken by the Municipality. We will be close to these processes, to ensure that only sustainable and humane shelters are built.

It is worth noting that sheltering stray animals in this time period will not improve the situation with stray dogs but will nevertheless help for severe cases of injured stray animals. To reduce the number of stray dogs, work should also be done on registering dogs and punishing abandonment, controlling breeding and sales, and serious inspections by veterinary inspectors for responsible keeping of animals in Kosovo. More on these measures: https://bit.ly/2VRj4HI

However, with the opening of a proper shelter and the approval of adequate legislation, it will be possible to close the illegal shelters, which do not have sufficient human or financial capacities to ensure the full well-being of the animals they shelter.

For every step related to this aspect, we will let you know.