Volunteer animal welfare organisation “Šapa” has filed another report to the Kosovo Police, warning of what it describes as a new wave of animal abandonment across North Mitrovica. The group says the city has, in recent months, become overwhelmed by cases of puppies and adult dogs being dumped at multiple locations.
“North Mitrovica has been facing a new wave of inhumane abandonment of puppies and adult dogs across various sites in the city,” the organisation wrote in its latest statement.
The problem, they noted, has been ongoing for years but has now reached a point that “no one can ignore anymore.”
The group previously sounded the alarm on 15 November, saying that the situation had become “critical,” after volunteers discovered several boxes full of puppies in different parts of the city over a two-day period.
Criminal complaint filed
In response to the increasing number of cases, Šapa said it has filed a criminal complaint, stressing that such acts constitute an offence clearly defined by law.
The long-standing lack of accountability, they warned, has allowed the problem to escalate, ultimately turning the city into a “de facto shelter for abandoned animals from the entire region.”
The organisation also expressed frustration that the actions of irresponsible individuals undermine years of dedicated volunteer work.
“This practice erases eight years of our organisation’s volunteer efforts, as well as investments in humane sterilisation and castration recently supported by the Municipality of North Mitrovica and the continuous help of our fellow citizens. Everything invested daily in rescuing, treating and caring for animals is undone the moment someone throws a box of puppies in the middle of the city,” Šapa said.
The group urged residents to report any cases of animal abandonment immediately, or to confidentially inform them or the police if they know who is responsible.
Police respond
The Kosovo Police confirmed the report.
Erduan Baliqi, from the Police Regional Directorate North, told KoSSev that the case had been registered and that authorities “will closely monitor the situation.”
He added that all necessary measures would be taken if the perpetrators are identified.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
