We cannot let the 100 dogs under Ivana’s care starve!

1. In Serbia, Ivana is almost out of kibble to feed the 60 street dogs who depend on her. They will starve if no one helps! 

“I take care of over 60 street dogs in my city… The fact that most abandoned dogs aren’t sterilised only exacerbates the overpopulation issue! Their living conditions have taken a turn for the worse: they’re left to fend for themselves without much support or care, they get hit by cars… Animal haters even target the strays with awful methods like poisoning their food!

It’s a sad and upsetting situation, indeed. I do all I can to keep these dogs safe and fed… But with inflation and the consequent financial constraints, it’s become difficult for me to meet their needs! I have no other choice but to keep getting indebted at the pet shop for kibble supply - it's a stressful and temporary solution… Now, I only have enough kibble for a couple more days.

I cut the dogs’ kibble portions to make my remaining stock last a little a longer, so I also feed them with cheap bakery leftovers… But it’s far from ideal as it has no nutrients or proteins, it’s unhealthy! The lack of kibble puts these dogs in great danger, I am really worried! Tensions escalate quickly when hungry dogs search for food in neighbourhoods; this campaign’s success is my last attempt to avoid this!”

2. Mini is recovering from surgery and too weak to survive in the streets on her own without kibble!   

“Mini is a small 3-year-old female dog who appeared on the streets one day. She’s a new dog in the area, so the other dogs were hostile towards her. I took her to the vet to get her sterilised, and she's now recovering from the operation… Despite being scared and quiet, she's a very nice dog who likes to be around people. 

Alas, I don't have enough space at the shelter to take her in. Even if I did, I would need to be certain that I have enough food to feed her - and there’s too much uncertainty on this topic... Mini is particularly at risk without kibble, as her recovery won’t be ensured! She'll also be forced to scavenge, putting her in danger of being attacked by other dogs or even humans who may not want her in their area…”

3. At her shelter, Ivana also takes care of 40 vulnerable dogs: they are threatened by the lack of kibble, too!   

“At the shelter, I have 40 dogs under my care - not to mention the puppies I also take care of: no later than this weekend, I rescued a whole litter of 8 puppies that had been left in a bag in the middle of nowhere… The shelter is therefore always full, it’s a never-ending cycle! If I could, I would take more dogs in, but I am sadly unable to do it at this moment in terms of both available space and financial resources… The number of dogs I’m able to rehome or take to the shelter is much smaller than the number of new strays appearing in the streets! 

Besides, the shelter’s dogs only have me to rely on… My main concern is that the lack of kibble will now rapidly affect their health, due to insufficient nutrition, since I’ve been cutting back on their portions lately. My dogs at the shelter may not be facing the same struggles as those in the streets, but winter is always a very difficult time of the year for them! It is my responsibility to provide them with enough kibble and everything else they need to live through it. I cannot let them down nor starve! I don’t know what I’ll do if this campaign fails… The thought of it is unbearable!” 

4. Eric was rescued from the many dangers of the streets: he's still growing up and this kibble delivery is vital for him!

“I found Eric two months ago, while he was crossing the street, following every person he encountered. It was a very dangerous environment for such a young dog, besides, he looked really starved and was probably searching for food… I had to take him to the shelter! I still don't know how he ended up on the street, but I'm glad I found him before something terrible happened. 

Eric is now safe and vaccinated, he’s a playful and friendly dog. But he’s still young and particularly needs proper nutrition to grow up healthy, without developing illnesses... Failing to provide him with enough kibble at this crucial stage of life could put him at risk!”

5. Ivana's debts stack up as she tries to provide for all the dogs: her lack of financial means prevent her from buying kibble! 

“I’m currently relying solely on my own resources to fund the shelter and everything else necessary to keep over 100 dogs fed and healthy… With the ongoing economic crisis, taking care of them has become a huge challenge; I'm struggling hard to keep up with the costs and responsibilities of providing for everyone! Inflation has also made things more difficult for me: everything is more expensive now, and my salary hasn’t changed much since! I’m unable to provide for more dogs, knowing I'm barely managing to take care of those currently under my care… 

I’m lucky my kibble supplier allows me to buy on credit, but that also means I keep getting into more debts... I’m also indebted at the vet, since I try not to delay any treatments or surgeries that are life-saving for the dogs. In addition, one of my friends also houses 10 rescue dogs for whom I still have to provide. I really need help and support to prevent the dogs from starving! This kibble delivery is so important for me to be able to provide for the dogs and, maybe, to manage paying back some old debts so I can continue my actions…”

6. Ivana isn't asking for money, only kibble to prevent the dogs from starving.

“I have been rescuing and caring for dogs for seven years now, and it has become my life's work! From a young age, I felt a strong connection with dogs that I could not explain; I used to bring home strays and beg my parents to let me keep them! I created my shelter out of passion and I’m dedicated to providing the dogs in my care with all the love and attention they deserve… 

Running a shelter with more than 40 dogs all by oneself is an enormous task, and the reality is that no one can do it alone, so I’m lucky to have a friend helping me there! Taking care of the stray dogs is, on the other hand, another big responsibility that adds to the workload… It's heartbreaking not being able to do more for the suffering dogs due to the lack of means!

Still, I know my rescue is essential in providing sick, injured, or abandoned dogs with food, shelter, medical attention, and the opportunity to find a new loving home! But there’s a deep lack of interest towards animal welfare here: dogs are mostly ignored, when not cruelly abused! It’s heart-wrenching… These innocent creatures deserve our compassion and it’s our responsibility as humans to do all we can to help and keep them safe…”

7. If this campaign succeeds, Ivana will not receive any money, but 1600 kg of kibble, delivered from the Animal Webaction logistics centre in Serbia.

Animal Webaction has a logistics centre in Serbia, which allows us to intervene quickly and deliver kibble.

8. Ivana's few supporters have helped her as best they could, but she can't get kibble for the dogs... This campaign has to succeed!

“The last time I received any help was last year in December when the previous Animal Webaction campaign succeeded... Since then, nothing really happened. I still collaborate with a British organisation which is a massive help when it comes to adoptions: they cover all the required expenses once a dog is adopted in a different country (Britain, in this case). A French organisation also supports me from time to time, by covering the costs of some sterilisations. Otherwise, I have no other partnerships… When it comes to kibble supply, it’s hard to find organisations or donors that are able to help! 

I have continued making auctions on Facebook with my friend to raise funds. We sell clothes, dog treats and toys… The amounts raised are mostly used to pay off the debts that I have. I’ve reached out to many people or organisations, only to be left hanging… There are just too many empty promises and no actual help for the dogs! I hope people will extend their support, no matter how small it may seem; every contribution to this campaign counts and will make a huge difference in these dogs’ lives, ensuring their survival and safety…”

9.  Campaigns launched on Animal Webaction often fail...

When a campaign fails, Animal Webaction cannot deliver the products. The beneficiary doesn't receive anything and the buyers are refunded. 

10. In Serbia, street dogs are hunted by the state and ignored by the population, volunteers like Ivana are their only hope.

If you know of a foundation or NGO that could help Ivana, please invite them to contact us so that we can put them in touch.

If you represent an animal welfare foundation or NGO, please help Ivana's dogs, contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you want to come to Ivana's shelter, or if you would like to directly send her some kibble or a cheque, contact Ivana via Facebook (note: direct help is under your own responsibility).

11. If you make a purchase on Animal Webaction, it will be protected by our guarantees.