Sarajevo residents live in fear of stray dog packs, Banja Luka has no stray dogs

In the first eight months of this year, stray dogs have bitten 678 people in the Sarajevo Canton alone, according to data from the Sarajevo Canton Emergency Medical Service, reports the BH News Agency Patria (NAP). This is 95 bites more than last year.

And this number could be much higher, as many attacked individuals did not seek medical help after being attacked by dogs on the street.

The excessive number of strays on the streets is particularly evident in Sarajevo, Zenica, Tuzla..., while citizens living in Banja Luka or some other cities in Republika Srpska do not have this problem, writes NAP.

Experts in this field warn that the state Law on Animal Protection and Welfare is largely to blame for this alarming situation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it prohibits the euthanasia of abandoned dogs. Numerous animal protection associations operating in Sarajevo and other BiH cities were largely responsible for its adoption in 2009.

According to Article 14 of this law, only an animal suffering from an incurable or contagious disease, an animal that has reached old age and its basic life functions are failing, if the animal is dangerous to the environment, or if the animal is in agony, can be euthanized (killed).

According to this law, a veterinarian decides whether an animal is dangerous to the environment. However, there have been no recorded cases, or very few, where veterinarians have requested the euthanasia of stray dogs.

- Veterinarians do not want to get into conflict with animal protection associations - says one of Patria's interlocutors, who works at the Veterinary Faculty in Sarajevo.

- Besides, castration or sterilization of dogs is more financially beneficial for many veterinarians than euthanasia, although we are a country that cannot solve the problem of abandoned dogs in this way, because we do not have enough money to castrate and sterilize all abandoned dogs that need it - adds this interlocutor.

The state Law on Animal Protection and Welfare was adopted in February 2009. When its irregularities were noticed, it was supposed to be amended, but at that time, various animal protection associations lobbied to prevent these amendments from being adopted in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- I don't know who finances these associations, or where they get their money from, but someone is behind this whole story and is making a substantial profit from it - says this well-informed source.

On the other hand, Republika Srpska has apparently realized that the state law is not the best solution for stray dogs, so they prefer to apply the entity law, adopted in 2008, which allows the euthanasia of stray dogs.

According to Article 30 of the Law on Animal Welfare and Protection of RS, a dog can be euthanized if no adopter appears within 30 days.

- This article of the Law on Animal Welfare and Protection of RS is key to the entire problem with stray dogs. If England allows the euthanasia of a dog if its owner does not appear within seven days, I don't understand why we in Sarajevo shouldn't euthanize abandoned dogs that won't have owners - says Patria's interlocutor.