Kosovo

Kosovodogshelter

The Kosovo Dog Shelter (Qendra Kosovare per Strehim Trajnimin e Qeneve Endacak) is a registered NGO situated approximate 15km from the capital city Prishtina.  It was founded in 2004 by two local Kosovars Nexhmedin Kabashi and Florim Ferati. 
There are hundreds of thousands of stray dogs in Kosovo.  The shelter houses approximately 100 dogs, 12 cats and 3 horses.
Strict veterinary health and quarantine protocols have been implemented.  Dogs entering the shelter enter the 9 unit purpose built quarantine unit on arrival and begin a full vaccination and parasite control regime.  They then enter the shelter proper, will be sterilised, tattooed and remain until they are rehomed.  The shelter has rehomed greater than 400 dogs since it's conception, both abroad and within Kosovo. 
A key goal of the shelter is to increase awareness of small animal health and welfare within the Balkans and as such is a key education tool.  School groups especially are encouraged to visit and so can interact with dogs in a safe and controlled environment.  The shelter relies solely upon donations to pay for day to day running, expenses and wages. 
A basic veterinary clinic was established on site in 2005 by two UK based NZ volunteer veterinarians who continue to volunteer their services to sterilise the dogs.  This is particularly important in a country where the official means of population control is still shooting with an attached bounty.  One of the goals of the shelter staff is to see a spey and release programme initiated in Kosovo.

Website
www.kosovodogshelter.eu

Click on the photos to go to the photo album of the shelter.