We cannot let the 300 dogs at Vesna's shelter starve!

1. In Serbia, Vesna will soon run out of kibble to feed the 300 dogs in her shelter. They'll starve if no one helps them!

"The situation at the shelter is very difficult, I have the feeling that we have never needed help more. The number of abandoned dogs is huge, I cannot convey to you the seriousness of the situation, how many dogs are actually on the street hungry, thirsty and worst of all in poor health and in need of veterinary assistance. The number of dogs in the shelter is increasing every day, we currently have around 300 relying on us. Therefore, there is a problem of how to provide food for such a growing number of dogs, with limited financial resources. 

For this reason, we've been forced to reduce the portion of food for each dog for roughly a month now, so that the new dogs that arrive also get a meal. Unfortunately, they don't eat enough, and I still have food for only two days. My biggest concern is whether I will be able to provide them with food, because the shelter simply cannot function without food for the dogs. And I cannot live without the ability to help them.

I feel very bad, it puts a lot of pressure on me and makes me very sad and unhappy. Helping animals is what I live for, and not being able to do that really causes immense sadness and pain in me. I worry a lot, I'm under a lot of stress, I sleep very little. This campaign means more to me than you can imagine."

2. The dogs haven't had enough to eat for weeks now, they're getting weaker and fights are breaking out... Vesna fears the worst if she doesn't find kibble soon.

"The portions we've been providing for the dogs these past weeks are twice as small as what they used to get, we are struggling to feed them day by day. A gentleman brings us stale bread to help us feed them, we really try to make ends meet in all kinds of way.

Their immunity has weakened a lot, therefore diseases appear as a logical consequence... And I really fear how it will affect the dogs in the long run. I also notice changes in their behavior, they argue and fight, which is also quite expected if they don't get enough food. It's very hard for me to deal with them not having enough food, but honestly I'm doing my best. 

We are indeed in a difficult situation already, and the consequences would be terrible if we were unable to find kibble shortly. My dogs would simply kill each other, or I would have to let them out on the street, the shelter would simply not be able to survive. For me personally, it would be the worst nightmares come true, and I don't know how I would survive it. I can't even imagine and I pray that it doesn't come to that. I hope this campaign will succeed. That would mean a lot to us, for a period of time we would be able to support ourselves and keep helping the dogs."

3. Exhausted by a life of breeding and deprivation, Tea has only just been rescued, but she won't make it without kibble.

"Tea is quite old, I wouldn't be able to estimate her age exactly. She's been at the shelter for about two months, we found her in a bad condition. I think she gave birth many times and was simply tortured by it, she was neither fed properly, nor had veterinary care. 

She really gets along with the other dogs at the shelter, she just needs time and food to get better. She has troubles with her back legs and walks with difficulty, she is still extremely vulnerable considering the state she was in when we rescued her a few weeks ago. She absolutly needs more food to recover."

4. Vesna deals with the shelter single-handedly, but her resources are drained and her health is frail. Faced with non-existent donations and ever-increasing costs, she can no longer buy kibble.

"For the most part, personal funds are used to finance the shelter, I even took my mother's pension for the needs of the dogs. The price increases are huge, some food is three times more expensive than before, the situation is really alarming. Apart from the help from a foreigner for veterinary care recently - I cannot describe how grateful we are to him and how much it helped us - there were no donations, neither in financial form nor in the form of dog food.

To make things worse, we had another strong blow a few days ago, as a big storm took the roofs of most of our dog houses. I also have big health problems, that affect my capacity to care for the dogs as I used to. We do not have workers because we are not in a financial situation to afford them, so I take care of the dogs alone with my immediate family.

We still have a debt from the vet, about 2000 euros, and to be honest I don't even know how I'm going to pay it off, since I struggle day by day to even provide food for the dogs. We really need this campaign, we simply have no more options, I have exhausted my financial resources and I don't see any other way to provide food for the dogs."

5. Vesna is not asking for money, only kibble to prevent the dogs from starving.

"I think I was born with a love for animals, it's been like that literally since I can remember, I remember as a child that I always gathered dogs and cats, fed them and took care of them. I was about 40 years old when  I found Sima, a dog with broken legs at a gas station. He was hit by a car and was in a serious condition, he really needed help, care and attention. The shelter then happened spontaneously, after that I started helping other dogs and bringing them with Sima.

Dogs deserve to be saved because they too are living beings who have the right to life and basic things in the form of food, water, love and attention. They are honest and loyal, they have emotions and can be hurt and sad. It's amazing how much love an animal can give you. The decisions I have to make are very difficult and I really try not to choose the dogs but to pick them all up in order and help them as much as possible.  However, I have to give preference to endangered dogs that are sick, injured, old or puppies. Such situations where I am faced with having to make a decision are emotionally very difficult for me.

Regardless of everything, I still have hope that there will always be good people who will help them. If I didn't have hope, I wouldn't be able to continue running the shelter, although it's really very difficult, but the love I get from the dogs motivates me."

6. If this campaign succeeds, Vesna will not receive any money but 1600 kg of kibble, delivered by Animal Webaction's logistics platform in Serbia.

Animal Webaction has a logistics platform directly in Serbia, which enables us to intervene quickly and deliver kibble.

7. Vesna's appeals for help have gone unanswered, and her few supporters are already doing their utmost, this campaign is her only hope.

"Unfortunately there is no help from other organizations, most of the time we don't even get any answer. Your campaigns are actually the only ones that help me, and if they didn't exist I really don't know what I would do and how the shelter would me maintained. I'm really grateful, you literally give me strength and give me hope to go on.

People in Serbia do not seem to have empathy for animals, and that is the root of the problems we are facing. The state invests very little in abandoned animals, they are totally neglected, rarely sterilized. I would like to ask Europe to help us, to influence the government's attitude towards animals, to succeed in providing them with the normal life and peace they need.

I am not able to deal with all the challenges the shelter is facing at the moment, as I am sick and have limited resources. However, if we all came together and gave a little bit of ourselves to dogs and other animals, this world would be a much better place. And the animals would reciprocate with loyalty and love, we really wouldn't regret it for a moment."

8. 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.

9. In Serbia, street dogs are hunted by the State and ignored by the population, volunteers like Vesna are their only hope!

If you know of a foundation or NGO that could help Vesna, 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 Vesna's dogs, please contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you would like to come to Vesna's shelter to help her or if you would like to send her kibbles or a check directly, please contact Vesna via the association's Facebook page. (Note: direct help is your own responsibility.)

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