The problem with strays in Kolašin is still at the beginning

Although it has been almost a year since the adoption of the Program for the implementation of dog population control in Kolašin, solving the problems in that area, according to the Municipality, is in the initial phase. That document refers to the period until 2025, and if it is fully implemented, the population of abandoned animals should be reduced by 50 percent.

According to the Secretary for Environmental Protection Mila Glavičanina, the budget for the next year should include money for the construction of an asylum.

In Kolašin, there is now only a private shelter for abandoned animals, which functions with many problems. The owner of that asylum Danijela Vuksanović she repeatedly warned that the animals lacked food. The help she received from the state and local level, she says, is not enough.

"It is necessary for the Municipality to build an asylum, and the plan is to accommodate animals from a private temporary shelter, as well as those that are on the street. That will be one way to solve the problem. Our goal is to ensure that there are no stray dogs on the streets of Kolašin, but also to raise awareness of responsible ownership," Glavičanin explains to "Vijesti".

He says that the Municipality has allocated funds for the identification, vaccination and sterilization of owned and non-owned dogs for this year. That action, which is an integral part of the program, will last until September 15.

"Owners who have an unvaccinated, unsterilized and unchipped dog will have the opportunity to receive free treatment for their pet in cooperation with the city and an authorized veterinary clinic. This includes a rabies vaccine, antiparasitic treatment, dog passport and chip, and a free dog sterilization service," explains the secretary for environmental protection.

He reminds that "if you do not plan to register dog breeding, pet sterilization is part of responsible ownership". Sterilization of abandoned dogs will be carried out according to the principle "catch - sterilize - vaccinate - release".

In the municipality of Kolašin, about 600 owners' dogs have been chipped so far, and the total population is estimated at about 1.800.

"According to free estimates, in the territory of the municipality of Kolašin, there are about 50 abandoned dogs in rural areas and about 100 in the city and suburban settlements, while there are about 170 in private shelters. A large number of abandoned animals on the streets of our city, surrounding settlements and fields, it is the result of the abandonment of animals due to bad habits and the difficult economic situation of citizens", says the program for the implementation of dog population control.

In that document, it is also written that great difficulties are created for the Municipality by the compensation claims of the citizens, who, as a result of the stray dog ​​attacks, suffered physical and mental pain. In four years, about 10.000 euros were paid out of the municipal coffers, in the name of this type of compensation, to the people of Kolasin who claimed that they were attacked by dogs on the street.