An elderly man from Leposavic suffered severe injuries last week after being attacked by a dog in the town center. His daughter claims that multiple dogs were involved in the incident, but at least one bit him. Meanwhile, Kosovo Police assert that only one dog was responsible and suspect that it was a privately owned pet that had been released.
The victim, identified as D.S. (born in 1948), was bitten on Sunday around 2:00 PM. His daughter, Ivana Đelošević, told KoSSev that the attack took place in the heart of the town and that her father, who suffers from serious health issues, sustained severe injuries.
„He was attacked by multiple dogs, and at least one of them bit him on both legs. I do not know if it was a purebred dog,“ she stated.
Following the attack, he received first aid at the Leposavic Health Center, but due to the severity of the wounds, he was transferred to a hospital in North Mitrovica. According to Đelošević, he has since been discharged, but his condition remains critical due to pre-existing health complications.
Kosovo Police: We Suspect a Privately Owned Dog
Kosovo Police confirmed to KoSSev that an elderly man was bitten by a single dog on Sunday. They suspect it was a large, purebred dog that belonged to a private owner.
However, no official case has been opened yet, and only an incident report has been filed.
„If we identify the owner and determine who released the dog, we will open an investigation. For now, this is just information for us,“ said Petrit Fejza from the KP region north.
Following the incident, police officers met with the mayor of Leposavic to discuss solutions for stray dogs in the municipality but did not receive a concrete response at the time.
However, Fejza announced that officers would return today to explore possible solutions.
Mayor Seeks Veterinary Assistance
Leposavic Mayor Lulzim Hetemi stated that efforts are underway to address the issue of stray dogs.
„We need to find a solution, possibly issue a tender, and create a designated area for these animals,“ he said.
He also confirmed that he had contacted a veterinarian from South Mitrovica for immediate assistance, and that two dogs had already been captured, without providing further details.
The veterinarian, Labinot Osmani from „Mitrovica Vet,“ told KoSSev that he was urgently called after reports of multiple dog attacks in the area.
„I arrived as quickly as possible to help. The local police commander and the mayor requested an emergency meeting to discuss potential solutions,“ Osmani said late last night, adding that he would be meeting with the mayor again today.
Need for a Sterilization and Neutering Program
Unlike North Mitrovica, the municipality of Leposavic currently does not have a sterilization and neutering program for stray dogs, nor does it have contracts with veterinarians for such services.
The animal protection organization „Šapa“ from North Mitrovica expressed interest in collaborating with the municipality to address the issue but emphasized that financial support is essential.
„We believe the municipality should initiate a sterilization program for both stray and owned dogs as soon as possible, along with microchipping for pet dogs in accordance with Kosovo’s strategy,“ the organization stated.
„Šapa“ is already running a free sterilization and neutering program for street dogs, which also includes privately owned pets. This year-long project, set to conclude in August, is co-financed by the municipality of North Mitrovica and the Swiss StraiCoCo Foundation, with veterinary services provided by the „Mitro Vet“ clinic, led by Labinot Osmani.
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