Due to stray dog bites, and based on compensation for damage, the Municipality of Bar paid citizens 59.871 euros in 2024, which is half the amount of the year before when the same expenses cost them over 119 thousand euros. This, according to the Bar administration, is the result of measures they have taken against the abuse of that right.
After the local government, led by Dušan Raičević, which will have to pay around 2022 thousand euros in compensation for stray dog bites in 2023 and 265, have announced measures to combat abuse when it comes to claims for compensation on this basis.
These measures have yielded results, the Municipality told "Vijesti", since their effect is reflected in half the amount of money they had to pay out for these purposes.
"The concrete steps that the Municipality of Bar has taken in the past period to solve this problem in the long term undoubtedly contribute to solving the problem of stray dogs and ensuring safety for our fellow citizens," they assessed.
These are modern and fully functional shelters for abandoned animals that meet all legally prescribed standards and enable efficient care for stray dogs, they state, as well as the Decision on Pets, which for the first time clearly prescribes the conditions for keeping, caring for and controlling the population of pets and abandoned animals, and which also includes penal provisions for irresponsible ownership.
"Also, activities are being undertaken to create a registry of abandoned dogs that will be recorded through the reception of abandoned animals, which will further improve supervision over this segment," they announced.
They are aware of the importance of the problem of stray dogs in the city, so the Municipality is making maximum efforts to systematically address the challenges related to their presence in public areas, and is paying special attention to controlling costs arising from compensation for damages due to stray dog bites, they said.
"In 2024, half as many funds were paid on this basis than in the previous year, which speaks of an efficient response to this challenge," claim the Municipality of Bar, adding that a total of 59.871,48 euros were paid in that period, or half as many as in 2023, when 119.181,32 euros were paid.
An even greater difference is reflected in comparison to 2022, when 146.353,50 euros were paid to citizens for these reasons. According to the official position of the Municipality of Bar, these data testify that this problem is being solved systematically.
Part of the amount of over 59 thousand euros relates to cases received in 2023 and legally concluded in 2024. Therefore, the significant decrease in the amount of funds paid out for stray dog bites clearly confirms that the measures taken by the Municipality are having concrete effects, they emphasized.
During 2024, 224 lawsuits were filed for compensation for non-property damage due to bites by stray dogs and cats. 75 court settlements were concluded, while in five cases the lawsuits were withdrawn. In the remaining cases, proceedings are ongoing before the Basic Court in Bar, and so far one case has been finally concluded in favor of the plaintiff.
"What we want to emphasize is that the practice of thorough assessments of the justification of received claims for compensation for damage will continue, taking into account suspicions of possible abuses. The results of this check confirmed the justification of introducing stricter criteria in the analysis of submitted claims, which undoubtedly contributed to a significant reduction in the number of both the claims themselves and the monetary payments, i.e. total costs," the local administration said.
They will continue, as they claim, to implement the adopted measures, as well as to consider new ones in a timely manner with the aim of solving this problem in the long term and protecting citizens, while respecting the principles of protecting animal welfare in the city under Rumija.
During 2024, 224 lawsuits were filed for compensation for non-property damage due to bites by stray dogs and cats. 75 court settlements were concluded, while in five cases the lawsuits were withdrawn. In the remaining cases, proceedings are ongoing before the Basic Court in Bar, and so far one case has been finally concluded in favor of the plaintiff.
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