Parents in Sarajevo Raise Their Voices: Our Children Are More Important Than Stray Dogs on the Streets!

The Council of Parents of Sarajevo Canton today expressed its dissatisfaction with the endangerment of citizens in the Sarajevo Canton area, primarily children, due to the large number of stray dogs on the streets, reports the Patria News Agency.

- Children and their health are more important to us than dogs, they told NGOs dealing with animal protection at today's press conference.

- Stray dogs are one of the burning issues in Sarajevo Canton. Few institutions and organizations are working on its resolution. No one has seriously tackled this problem except for the Municipality of Novi Grad and the company Lokom. We parents fully support them in their work, said the president of the Council of Parents, Amela Penava.  

Penava emphasized that no NGO should prioritize the lives of dogs over the lives and safety of children. 

To Doug Trust and other organizations dealing with animal protection, parents say that they love animals, but that they should have owners and be in yards.

The Council of Parents also called on other Sarajevo municipalities to get involved in solving the problem. In addition to being endangered on their way from home to school, children no longer have space to play due to dog feces, which cause the spread of infections. A large number of children have also developed diabetes after dog attacks.

Representatives of the Trade Union of Primary Education and directors of educational institutions in Sarajevo Canton also gave their support.

In 2014, 954 citizens sought help due to dog bites, and 948 the year before.