We can' t let this shelter's 300 dogs starve!

1. In Serbia, Vesna will soon have no more kibble for the 300 dogs in her shelter. They will starve if nobody takes action!

"The coronavirus managed to deplete even the little food and donations we used to receive from our sponsors and partners. I feel a little helpless, I'm scared, it is becoming increasingly difficult in these circumstances to provide food for these dogs, and that is why we need your help.

My shelter is home to abandoned, sick, injured, abused dogs, a large number of them are not in good health. Winter has arrived, they need to eat better because of the cold, which threatens to weaken their immune system, especially for those who are already fragile. The consequences of lack of food can be great and fatal for many dogs. And there are a lot of dogs. Although we are trying to separate them, if they were left without food, they would become aggressive and there would be mutual attacks.

I don't want to get into a situation where I can only see their health worsening, or I lose some of them forever because of the lack of food. That would be my personal failure. I feel too much responsibility as well as love for these dogs and I must not allow that to happen."

2. Dacic was rescued while wandering in the street, wounded, emaciated and ill. Still very weak, he will not be able to survive without kibble.

"Dacic is an attacked dog who we found in a very bad condition in Obrenovac two months ago. We don't know what exactly happened to him. He is missing one eye, and when we found him, he was nearly completly bald. Now he has parts where he has hair on and parts of his body where he still doesn't. On top of that, he also has several tumors which condition is regularly monitored.

He goes for regular checkups. We keep him inside because it’s very cold and he’s still recovering. We also have to take care of his immune system because even the slightest cold can have a bad effect on him. His condition is currently stable, but he is extremely sensitive, having kibbles is essential for him."

3. As donations keep on declining, Vesna's debts are piling up, and has no more resources to buy kibbles.

"The consequences of Covid have befallen us, as well as all people of good will who wanted to help us. Many sponsors are simply no longer able to help us, at least at this moment, and we cannot blame them for that. But we have the biggest problem with finances : going to the vet, food, medicines and other necessities for dogs cost a lot. We spend our own money for dogs, but our resources are not without limits, and we already have huge debts.

Twice a week we go in front of the Pet Center and literally pray for food. I regularly contact anyone who comes to my mind, many say that I am annoying and that I should stop praying for food, but I can't do otherwise. My desire to help these dogs is unfortunately stronger than my financial stability,  but fortunately also greater than my pride.

Although we sometimes think that our love for animals is greater and that we can overcome everything with it, the material world in which we live does not allow it. I fear that there will be no food, it is as simple as that. That there will come a time when I really won't find a way to get food for all my dogs."

4. Alone with hundreds of dogs to care for, and her own fragile health, Vesna can only count on the help of her granddaughter at the shelter, she is eaten away by worry.

"I'm sick, fortunately I can count on my grandaughter who helps me a lot. On a general basis, my hands hurt, I don't have that much strength and I can't do everything as before. Caring for dogs means daily cleaning of a space of half a hectare, repairing houses, fences, boxes, feeding them ... I really try not to bring new dogs when I don't have the conditions, but I can't stay immune to any situation I come across.

My biggest fear is when I think of the most endangered dogs from the shelter, and how their immunity can drop when they run out of food, they can get sick and maybe even die. My fear is not a momentary fear, it has been lasting for years, day by day I face it because I am fighting for the survival of this shelter. If I gave up the fight at any point and said there was no chance, what would happen to all these 300 animals?

They motivate me to fight and provide them with as good a life as possible. I hope that there will always be people with a big heart who will be able to respond to our appeals in these difficult times and help the animals to overcome these difficult moments."

5. Vesna is not asking for money, only kibbles to keep the dogs from starving.

"The truth is one - there is no reason at all that can justify to leave a dog or any other animal unattended. We arose out of the need to rescue dogs and cats. That's my call since I was a kid, I am driven by a desire to help animals in need. I feel ashamed of everything people do to animal, people treat them very badly and we find them in various but often awful conditions. Our mission is to keep as many abandoned dogs as safe as possible, but above all to prevent dogs from being abandoned by their owners.

Every day we fight to provide decent conditions for the animals we take care of. In addition to the basic things we try to give them - food, home, medical care - we also have to give them the most important thing, and that is love. Many of them are mistreated by people, they live with traumas, and we try to heal their inner pain and wounds and find someone who will love them as they deserve.

We are in a situation where we have to live one day at a time, and the struggle is constant. At this moment, getting help for food would mean the world, as that is the most important thing for survival. And for the rest we will try to cope."

6. If this campaign succeeds, Vesna will not receive any money, but 1800 kg of kibble, delivered from the Animal Webaction logistics centre in Serbia.

Animal Webaction dispose d'une plateforme logistique directement en Serbie, qui lui permet d'intervenir rapidement et de livrer des croquettes.

7. Calls for help, collections in shops, search for sponsors, Vesna is exhausting herself in vain in search of food for the dogs.

"We often write posts on social networks and there are really good people who occasionally show up, donate food or money for food, but that is not often. Donors are mostly people who have animals and who are aware of how difficult it is for other animals, so they buy food for them. When people appear who have the will and desire to help, then hope returns to me again.

I explain the current situation by the appearance of the coronavirus. There have been donations before, although often not enough, but there have always been. Now that producers and companies are in crisis and fighting for their survival, no one can deal with such a cost, which is understandable.

Luckily, we have a really nice cooperation with veterinarians, that allows us to keep providing the necessary treatments to our dogs, despite our debts. What they and I have in common is love for animals, and understanding for one living being. But food is the biggest and constant expense, and we really need to keep on feeding these dogs."

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 Svetlana 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 a Foundation or an NGO for animal protection, please help Vesna's dogs, contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you wish to go to the association's shelters to help or if you want to send her directly some kibbles or a check, contact Vesna (note: direct help is under your own responsibility).

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