Animal-Kind International

ABOUT SOS Sarajevo: Working for a Better Life for Animals

SOS Sarajevo-the Association of Citizens for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals-is registered as a non-profit, non-governmental organization in Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH). The organization started in 1998, and has come a long way since then.

SOS Sarajevo has accomplished a great deal in the ten years they've been in operation. Some examples are:

With the help of RSPCA trainers, conducted a seminar in 1999 for 30 school teachers to give them tools to prevent cruelty to animals through education;
With assistance from the RSPCA, held a training seminar to show humane ways of catching stray dogs in JKP RAD - dog pound;
Published a book in 1999 titled, "How to Treat Animals";
Published more than 32, 000 pages of educational materials;
With the help of ADF and through the project Sarajevo Fable, which tells the story about a little dog named Zeljko, organized educational workshops in four elementary schools in Sarajevo;
Facilitated the adoption of 1,200 animals, and prior to adoption, provided veterinary treatment;
Petitioning for a law for animal protection in BiH;
Represent the interest of animals in the media;
Help new animal welfare societies in BiH to start up;
Initiating formation of an ethics committee for animal protection;
Sponsor the traditional annual international expo "Animals Have Souls"; and
Celebrate and promote World Animal Day, annually on 4 October.

The Animal Welfare Situation in BiH
In 2005, I spent a month in BiH, where I met a group of caring, action-oriented volunteers who keep SOS going. They told me some harrowing stories, and showed pictures to match. But they also had so many heartwarming stories, of working with children and adults to change attitudes about animals, and finding homes, mainly in Germany-where homeless dogs are rare-for abandoned, abused, and stray dogs. I noticed many stray dogs on the streets of Sarajevo. Some were regularly fed by people, but just as often, I saw people throwing stones at them, and chasing them away.

Stray cats can be seen darting around all over, and I met several "cat ladies"-usually older women who feed colonies of homeless cats. Many of these women can barely feed themselves.

With so many bombed out buildings still standing in Sarajevo, dogs and cats can usually find some shelter. But because most people still don't spay or neuter their pets, there are many puppies and kittens dumped on the streets. Also, many pregnant dogs get dumped when the family is sick of dealing with the puppies. While BiH's economy is vastly improved now that the country is at peace, most people are still not aware of the need for spay-neuter or prepared to spend much money on their pet's care.

SOS Sarajevo's education and public awareness raising campaigns are aimed right at the heart of the animal welfare problems in Sarajevo. These awareness campaigns are some of the most innovative work in the humane education field that I've seen. And their spay-neuter campaigns are directly fighting the dog and cat over-population problem.

SOS Sarajevo's Request:
SOS needs donations of pet food, pet supplies, and of course, financial contributions. If you are traveling to BiH, you may be able to volunteer with them, depending on their needs at the time.

STAYED TUNED