We cannot let the 103 dogs under Ivana’s care starve to death!

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

"The number of stray dogs continues to rise. Last week, I spotted two new dogs at a feeding site near my office. These dogs are adorable, yet someone had the heart to abandon them... I'll never get used to that! Life on the streets is unforgiving, and we also happen to be living in a very hot summer. I do my best to feed and hydrate the stray dogs, but for the last 10 days I've been giving them less kibble because my stock is almost gone. I only have two bags left for all the dogs in my care!

I'm really worried. If I can't feed them, the stray dogs will wander off in search of food. They risk causing trouble or fighting, either with other dogs or with people. The problem is that people here are afraid of dogs, so at the slightest misdemeanor, they call the dogcatchers who come and capture them. It's a horrible fate for these innocent creatures! You can't imagine the lengths to which people will go to make life difficult for these poor dogs. Some even throw away the water bowls I leave for them...

The stray dogs rely on me, but I'm just one person, with two hands and a dwindling supply of kibble... It's a big responsibility, and the fear of not being able to feed them, of disappointing them and seeing the situation degenerate, keeps me awake at night! My last Animal Webaction campaign failed, and I'm very much afraid that this one will fail again... It would be absolutely devastating, because I know that only a new stock of kibble will ensure the safety of the stray dogs!"

2. Hit by a car and suffering from nerve damage, Mila's health is too fragile to survive a shortage of kibble!

"Mila was hit by a car. We had her scanned and the results confirmed that her vertebrae were damaged. Fortunately, her spinal cord was not affected; but her nerves were not spared. As a result of the nerve damage, she can no longer control when she relieves herself. Her health is already compromised, and I'm very concerned about the impending shortage of kibble. She needs to be fed! Without kibble, her health will deteriorate very quickly...."

3. At her shelter, Ivana also has 53 vulnerable dogs under her care: they too are threatened by the lack of kibble!

"Life at the shelter is full of twists and turns. A few days ago, I was delighted to have had 3 of my dogs adopted when immediately, 3 more came to take their place... Two puppies were dumped behind my fence, and the third newcomer is a stray dog I've been looking after for a long time. She was caught by the dogcatchers and spent ten painful days at the pound. As soon as I heard the news, I rushed to pick her up. It was heartbreaking to see her there, but at least she's with me now...

I'm not totally relieved though, as my kibble reserves are running out faster than I can replenish them... Kibbles are the lifeblood of all the dogs in my care, but even more so for those at the shelter! A return to the streets is no longer an option for them, nor is a prolonged deprivation of kibble... It's vital that they receive daily meals: it's THE prerequisite for their recovery! I really hope this campaign succeeds... It would be a huge relief for me, and for my dogs, the guarantee of a full belly!"

4. Ivana's income is too low to compensate for inflation, falling donations and exorbitant veterinary bills... She can no longer buy kibble!

"My area is greatly impacted by inflation. Even the few people who used to help in one way or another are doing so less now because they simply don't have enough money any more. Apart from the occasional help from Animal Webaction, I have to pay for everything out of my own pocket: veterinary bills, medication, even sterilizations. Occasionally, someone will pay for one or two sterilizations, but that's very rare. And my salary is so insignificant that it's not enough to cover all the expenses...

I've also had to deal with a huge veterinary bill for four of my dogs who were poisoned recently. I took them to a very good vet in Belgrade and tried everything to save them, but unfortunately it didn't work... I'm heartbroken, with a €1,000 bill to pay, and none of my four dogs survived... I'm also about €700 in debt to the local pet shop for kibble. A heavy cloud of uncertainty hangs over me.

I have no partnerships, local or international, to fall back on, and people can't afford to give much at the moment, or at least not to the extent we need. All I can do is try to keep hope alive and pray that this campaign succeeds, for the sake of my dogs..."

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

"Ever since I was a child, my heart has been drawn to animals. Growing up, I started by feeding stray cats and, soon after, I began taking care of stray dogs. I played an active role in spaying and neutering dogs, especially those with owners. Whenever I came across a sick or injured dog, I felt obliged to take it to the vet and offer it a home while it convalesced. It didn't seem right to let them return to the streets. Over time, the number of dogs in my care grew, necessitating a larger space, and so the shelter was born. 

Over the years, I've seen more than my fair share of sick, injured and even dead dogs. The sight never fails to stir my heart. I've held too many dying dogs in my arms, and each time it's inflicted a deep emotional wound, causing distress and grief. And the fact is that, although some people would be willing to help, they don't want to be the first to do so. They generally prefer to ask me for help or alert me when they come across a situation that requires my intervention... It's overwhelming for one person to take on all these responsibilities! It's a heavy burden. If more people participated, I think it might be easier to get through the good times and the bad..."

6. 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.

7.  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. 

8. 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).

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