Putting the sanitary service of KJKP „Rad“ into function and a continuous treatment and sterilization resulted in decrease of the number of stray dogs on our streets, but insufficient capacities of stray dogs adoption and veterinary treatment is still a „bottleneck“ in settling of this problem. This is a mutual estimation of the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Konaković, ministers Muharem Šabić and Senad Hasanspahić, representatives of KJKP „Rad“, „Dog Trust“ foundation and the Cantonal inspection. All of these parties gathered to talk about the way of continuing already started activities on this issue.
„The occupancy rate of the shelter is the main reason why we again have a problem with lack of capacity for this purpose. We also need additional training and adequate equipment in order to continue with the activities aimed at solving this problem. Some legal solutions have not completely provided an answer for further procedures, and with the ‘Dog Trust’ foundation, we are searching for optimal solutions”, said the Prime Minister Elmedin Konaković, who organized this event in order to determine the next steps in already started procedures.
The dog shelter remains the imperative if we want to systematically solve the issue of stray dogs. The “Dog Trust” foundation is ready to provide financial support for the shelter, and it is up to local authorities to conduct other procedures concerning the location and necessary permits.
Moving of stray dogs from the school and hospital areas is set as the main objective, and relocation of garbage bins would surely contribute to that goal.
Stray dogs search for food around garbage bins and if these garbage bins are relocated away from school and hospital areas, the result will be lowering the number of dog packs in these areas, and these dogs would be relocated in unpopulated areas. This was one of today’s suggested solutions for the issue. The “Dog Trust” foundation has indicated its readiness to provide help when it comes to highlighting the location where waste disposal will be forbidden, and to provide help in treatment and feeding of relocated dogs.
The Minister of economy of the Sarajevo Canton Muharem Šabić, has once again highlighted the necessity of creating a stray dogs database and the role that the Government and the Ministry have in the whole process:
“In every single moment it has to be known who is in charge and who is responsible for every part of the process. We will work on that, we want to improve our Veterinary centre because it is an especially important part of the dog treatment process”.
Minister of communal economy and infrastructure of the Sarajevo Canton Senad Hasanspahić stressed the importance of arrangements and coordination with the local communities.
The representatives of „Sanela Jenkins“ foundation have also attended the meeting. Sanela Jenkins is a Bosnian humanitarian, actively engaged (through many projects) in helping the state and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The representatives from „Sanela Jenkins“ foundation have also shown intent and desire to be a part of the stray dog issue solution.
