The local government is repeating the mistakes of its predecessors when it comes to the treatment of dogs on the streets of Kolašin.
That's what he claims Danijela Vuksanović, the owner of a temporary shelter for abandoned animals.
According to her, the way in which stray dogs were picked up from the streets of Kolašin a few days ago is not adequate and does not comply with the regulations. The problem of abandoned animals, claims Vuksanović, should be solved with more sensitivity, in a legal way and showing responsibility and care.
She says that the conditions in the shelter in Berane are also very problematic.
"The manner in which ten dogs were picked up and put into the vehicle of the Beran shelter must worry everyone. First of all, it is a vehicle that can accommodate two animals, and five times as many were transported. The problem is not being solved the way it has been in Kolašin for decades. The problem of abandoned animals should be approached systematically and with more respect for regulations. First of all, take into account responsible ownership, which has been missing so far," said Vuksanović.
She claims that most of the dogs that were on the streets of Kolašin last week were abandoned owners' dogs. Animal owners, he says, do not suffer any consequences due to such treatment of animals. Vuksanović explains that "reports due to stray dog bites are exaggerated, and that money is often manipulated and taken from the budget, without valid evidence."
On the other hand, several citizens during the past weeks reported that they were attacked by dogs that were on the streets.
At the last session of the Municipal Assembly, several councilors highlighted this problem. Councilor of the Group of Voters (GB) Mrs. Vujisic insisted that the authorities charge fines to owners who leave animals on the streets. She reminded of, as she said, several dog attacks on citizens, especially during the past weeks. She reminded that this is a decades-old problem in Kolašin and that, as she says, it is necessary to look for better and more permanent solutions.
The municipality of Kolašin, as the president said at the session of the local parliament Vladimir Martinovic, she sheltered some of the dogs from the streets of Kolašin in the shelter in Berane. He claims that it was done in a "very prescribed manner".
"Within the limits of financial and legal possibilities, we will solve these problems. Certain steps have been taken and we will continue to work on it. However, it is important for the public to know that the previous authorities worked selectively and approached the problem in a populist manner, so it happened that dogs that had already been removed from the streets returned to Kolašin. We will try to behave differently and solve this problem in accordance with the law and in the interest of the citizens," he said.
The President of the Municipality also said that it still happens that a large number of dogs from other places are left under Bablja Greda, which, according to him, further complicates the problems on the streets of the city.
Marta Šćepanović from the Movement Zajedno gradimo Kolašin reminded that a large part of the procedures concerning the shelter was done while she was the president of the Municipality. She said that during the last summer, the location was determined and the Plan for temporary facilities was adopted, and the proposal for the asylum project was also prepared. She asked the local government when the construction of the shelter will begin, which, according to previous plans, should also include a boarding house for dogs. The budget allocated 50.000 euros for construction and another 30.000 euros for the functioning of the asylum.
Citizens demand that Beli stay on the street
Beli was among the eight dogs that were taken to the Beran shelter at the beginning of this week. That dog has been on the streets of Kolašin for seven years, and was adopted or placed in a private shelter several times, but he always found a way to escape and return to the city.
A group of people from Kolašin who claim that Beli is "the darling of the city and can't do without the street", returned the dog from the asylum and he is currently tied up in a rural household. However, as they claim, since being chained, he refuses to drink and eat and is in a bad condition. Therefore, they announce, they will request special treatment for that dog from the local administration.
"Maybe it's hard for some to understand, but Beli can't do without the street. We rescued him from the asylum, but he can't even be bound. He does not eat or drink for days. Everyone knows that he loves children, that he is a kind of tourist attraction and pet, that he is completely harmless and peaceful. The streets of Kolasin are home to him. We will ask the authorities in the Municipality to make an exception for Beli and leave him where he is only good. He is very old and deserved to spend the rest of his life among those who love him", claim those who want Beli to stay in Kolašin.
They remind that even before, when he was adopted, that dog refused food and water and persisted in doing so until he reached "the weight of his bones". Because of this, those who wanted to adopt him were forced to let him go.
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