Compassion

The "Serbian scene" is of growing concern to civilized people everywhere. Serbian animal welfare advocates have witnessed brutal trapping methods, the ruthless beatings of dogs to death and poisonings, resulting in agonizing deaths. Hunters wantonly shoot abandoned companion animals for sport.

Our sources estimate that the city of Belgrade savagely destroys about six thousand dogs annually. The city "fathers" hires the "professional pest" control firm EKOSAN to exterminate the unwanted animals - innocent victims of human animal cruelty. The government claims that humane practices are exercised yet documentation and verbal reports from animal workers details graphic images of dogs in Belgrade's "OVCA" dog kill shelter being viciously destroyed. So much for official Serbian credibility.

Other Serbian observers report that many of the so called humane societies work in "close" relationship with authorities who advocate destroying the stray animals. Witnesses have observed dogs and cats being destroyed using brutal methods by "dog catchers" to round up the animals. "Workers" at kill shelters lack training in humane animal care and control and legal issues pertaining to animal rights. Witnesses have observed dogs and cats being destroyed using brutal methods within these same "shelters". There are also reports of the "disappearances" of sterilization and euthanasia equipment. Furthermore, documentation is available showing dead dogs, skinned and heaped together - the victims of a mass execution. All this, in a Belgrade shelter! Is this what the Serbian hierarchy terms humane euthanasia? Equally as sad and reprehensible is the Belgrade zoo, one of the oldest zoos in Europe.

Housing approximately two thousand animals, the zoo has acquired a notorious reputation due to the unacceptable treatment of the animals in their "care". The zoo director has close ties to the Serbian hunting lobby as well as Belgrade's city hall. Documentation is available from Serbian animal welfare advocates showing these animals confined within squalid living conditions and consequently ill and distressed.

Many of these animals exhibit abnormal behaviour, such as bar biting, over-grooming, self mutilation, head bashing, circling, leg chewing, etc. Furthermore, many animals that were born in the zoo throughout the years have disappeared. The zoo claimed that new tigers, bears and a hippo were born recently but the animals appear to have vanished.