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IMPORTANT FOR ANIMALS: STARTING FROM TODAY, STRICTER PENALTIES FOR ABUSERS

Aktuelno - 01.12.2019

IMPORTANT FOR ANIMALS: STARTING FROM TODAY, STRICTER PENALTIES FOR ABUSERS

Important for animals: the new Criminal Code comes into effect todayAs many as 30,000 signatures of ...

detaljnije

TOGETHER WE PROVIDED 15,000 MEALS FOR ABANDONED CATS AND DOGS

Aktuelno - 21.10.2019

TOGETHER WE PROVIDED 15,000 MEALS FOR ABANDONED CATS AND DOGS

Animal food given to the organizations and individuals who are actively working on lowering the numb...

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ORCA AND PANINI TOGETHER FOR ANIMALS

Aktuelno - 13.02.2019

ORCA AND PANINI TOGETHER FOR ANIMALS

ORCA and PANINI provided 100.000 meals for animals that need them the most!With great pleasure we sh...

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MEETING OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES ON THE TOPIC OF ABANDONED ANIMALS

Aktuelno - 18.06.2018

MEETING OF THE BALKAN COUNTRIES ON THE TOPIC OF ABANDONED ANIMALS

On the Third OIE Regional Workshop on Stray Dog Population Management for Balkan Countries (SDB3), o...

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ACTION FOR PEOPLE AND DOGS!

Aktuelno - 01.05.2018

ACTION FOR PEOPLE AND DOGS!

Thousands of abandoned dogs are roaming the streets of cities and municipalities across Serbia. They...

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ABANDONED DOGS – THERE IS A SOLUTION

Aktuelno - 12.04.2018

ABANDONED DOGS – THERE IS A SOLUTION

Results of the efforts made so far to solve problems of abandoned animals are unsatisfactory: with c...

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FOR PEOPLE AND DOGS: MODEL OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL FOR SAFE AND HUMANE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Aktuelno - 25.04.2017

FOR PEOPLE AND DOGS: MODEL OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL FOR SAFE AND HUMANE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Presence of abandoned animals in public areas represents one of the most abundant and important prob...

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PROJECT „ABANDONED ANIMALS IN BOGATIC“

Aktuelno - 14.10.2016

PROJECT „ABANDONED ANIMALS IN BOGATIC“

During 2016. ORCA has implemented the project on the territory of Bogatic municipality aimed to prov...

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OIE CONFERENCE ON ABANDONED DOGS

Aktuelno - 16.06.2016

OIE CONFERENCE ON ABANDONED DOGS

On the Second OIE Regional Workshop on Stray Dog Population Management for Balkan Countries (SDB2), ...

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DOG POPULATION CONTROL IN SERBIA

Aktuelno - 01.01.2016

DOG POPULATION CONTROL IN SERBIA

Presence of abandoned animals in public areas represents one of the most abundant and important prob...

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SITUATION

On this page, you may find out about the situation related to dog population control in Western Balkan countries where our organisation is active.


FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK ON THE DESIRED COUNTRY


* This designation is without prejudice to positions or status, and in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
SERBIA
Kosovo*
Title: Serbia

POPULATION: 7.040.272
(source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 2017)

COMPETENCE IN AREA OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL
In Serbia, Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management is competent for dog population control in terms of enforcement of the legislation in this area, i.e. implementation of important measures such as identification and registration, dog vaccination and similar.

Local self-governments are competent to:
  • establish a zoohygiene service for catching and placing dogs in shelters (Article 46. of the Veterinary Law)
  • to provide shelter if there are stray animals on its territory (Article 66. of the Animal Welfare Law)
  • to create and implement program for the control and reduction of the population of abandoned dogs and cats in accordance with specific characteristics of environment (Article 54. of the Animal Welfare Law)
Title: Kosovo*

POPULATION: 1.907.592
(source: Kosovo Agency of Statistics, 2011)

COMPETENCE IN AREA OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL
In Kosovo, Ministry of agriculture, forestry and rural development is competent for enforcement of the Law on Animal Welfare, while municipalities are competent for:
  1. dog registration;
  2. annual vaccination against rabies and echinoccocus by removing larvae or worms;
  3. catching of stray dogs and cats and if needed their euthanasia;
  4. removal and safe disposal of the carcasses mentioned in point (c);
  5. establishment of dog and cat shelters according to needs.

Legislative framework:
  • Law on Confirmation of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia - International Agreements”, no. 1/2010)
  • Veterinary Law (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 91/2005, 21/2010)
  • Animal Welfare Law (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 41/2009)
  • Law on communal issues (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 88/2011 and 104/2016)
  • Regulation on the manner of identification and registration of dogs and cats (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 23/2012)
  • Regulation on conditions required to be met in shelters and boarding kennels for animals (“Official Gazette of RS“, no. 19/2012)
  • Regulation on conditions required to be met in breeding facilities for animals (“Official Gazette of RS“, no. 14/2012)
  • Regulation on the manner of keeping dogs that can pose a danger to the environment (“Official Gazette of RS“, no. 65/2010)
  • Regulation on setting up measures for early detection, diagnostics, prevention of spreading, control and eradication of the rabies viral disease and manner of their implementation (“Official Gazette of RS“, no. 78/2009)

Legislative framework:
  • Law on Animal Welfare (No. 02/L-10)
  • The Veterinary Law (No. 2004/21)
  • Law on prevention and fighting against infectious diseases (No. 02/L-109)

Specifics:
  1. Is European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals signed and/or ratified?
    Yes.
  2. Is abandoning of pets prohibited?
    Yes. It is prohibited to abandon and desert an animal whose survival depends directly on man, including a pet (Article 7, paragraph 2. of the Animal Welfare Law).
  3. Is there a central database in which data on registered dogs is entered?
    Yes. The Veterinary Law prescribes a Central database on registered animals which is run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (Article 85) and determines an obligation of the animal owners or keepers to identify and register their animals (Article 6, paragraph 7), i.e. to have identification document (pet passport) which must follow animals during their lifetime (Article 87). More detailed rules in this area are prescribed by the Regulation on the manner of identification and registration of dogs and cats.
  4. Is there an obligation prescribed to develop and implement a dog population control programme?
    Yes. Local authorities are obliged to create and implement program for the control and reduction of the population of abandoned dogs and cats in accordance with specific characteristics of environment (Article 54. of the Animal Welfare Law).
  5. Is there an obligation prescribed to place dogs in a shelter for abandoned animals?
    Yes. Local self-government is obliged to organise zoohygiene service on its territory which, among other, catches and places abandoned dogs in animal shelters (Article 16. of the Veterinary Law). Local authorities are obliged to provide shelter if there are stray animals on their territory, i.e. collection, transportation and accommodation of abandoned and lost animals and to provide them help, care and placement in shelters (Article 66. of the Animal Welfare Law).
  6. Is there a mandatory period of time prescribed during which an animal must be kept in a shelter, and a deadline after which is possible to euthanise a healthy animal?
    No. The animal can be killed in a humane manner only in special circumstances which include: if animal is injured, terminally ill, physically deformed or otherwise pathologically disabled so that recovery is not possible and life for her would only represent a source of pain, suffering, fear and distress; if it has reached the old age and her basic body functions are shutting down; if the killing prevents spread, controls and eradicates infectious diseases in accordance with the Law governing veterinary matters; i.e. if the killing of animals is more useful for their welfare than the further suffering of life, in accordance with the opinion of the veterinarian (Article 15. of the Animal Welfare Law).

Specifics:
  1. Is European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals signed and/or ratified?
    No.
  2. Is abandoning of pets prohibited?
    No.
  3. Is there a central database in which data on registered dogs is entered?
    No. The obligation of municipal authorities to take charge of dog registration is prescribed, as well as annual vaccination against rabies and echinoccocus by removing larvae or worms (Article 13. of the Veterinary Law), but no data input in special Register on state level is prescribed.
  4. Is there an obligation prescribed to develop and implement a dog population control programme?
    No.
  5. Is there an obligation prescribed to place dogs in a shelter for abandoned animals?
    Yes. Municipal authorities are obligated to take charge of establishing the dog and cat shelter in accordance to needs (Article 13. of the Veterinary Law). Mandatory license for the shelter’s work is given by the Food and veterinary agency of Kosovo (Article 14. of the Law on Animal Welfare).
  6. Is there a mandatory period of time prescribed during which an animal must be kept in a shelter, and a deadline after which is possible to euthanise a healthy animal?
    No.** Aggressive animals can be killed if they pose a danger to the health of animals and men and by the decision of the Food and veterinary agency of Kosovo (Article 10.2 of the Law on Animal Welfare), while municipal authorities are competent for the possible euthanasia of stray dogs and cats (Article 13. of the Veterinary Law).

  1. ** Law on Animal Welfare prescribes that the Ministry will adopt a subsidiary regulation which will determine conditions and manners of killing animals (Article 8.4), by which a mandatory period of time is possibly prescribed in the meantime.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Title: Bosnia and Herzegovina

POPULATION: 3.531.159
(source: Agency for statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2013)**

** The methodology used for population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013 as well as the official results are not recognised by Republic of Srpska.

COMPETENCE IN AREA OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL
On state level, Animal Health and Welfare Department of the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has competence on animal welfare (including protection of abandoned and lost animals).

On entity level, competence for animal welfare (including protection of abandoned and lost animals) is given to:
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Srpska – department veterinary office;
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
  • Republic Administration for Inspection Activities - Veterinary Inspection Service;
  • Federal Administration for Inspection Issues - Inspectorate of Veterinarian Inspection;
  • Department for Agriculture, subdepartment for veterinary services of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Inspectorate of the Brčko District

On local level, administrative body of a canton, city or a municipality is competent for dog population control.

Legislative framework:
  • Veterinary Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette of FBiH”, no. 46/2000)
  • Veterinary Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette of BiH”, no. 34/2002)
  • Veterinary Law of Republic of Srpska (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 42/2008)
  • Law on protection and welfare of animals of Republic of Srpska (“Official Gazette of Republic of Srpska”, no. 118/2008)
  • Law on protection and welfare of animals of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette of BiH”, no. 25/2009)
Specifics:
  1. Is European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals signed and/or ratified?
    No.
  2. Is abandoning of pets prohibited?
    Yes. It is especially prohibited to abandon animals kept for companionship purposes or other animals kept under human supervision (Article 4, paragraph 2. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of BiH)
  3. Is there a central database in which data on registered dogs is entered?
    Yes. Keepers of dogs and cats are obligated to register dogs and cats in a veterinary organisation, no later than 7 days following the date of acquiring ownership and the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina runs a Register of all identified dogs and cats (Article 8 of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of BiH).
  4. Is there an obligation prescribed to develop and implement a dog population control programme?
    No.
  5. Is there an obligation prescribed to place dogs in a shelter for abandoned animals?
    Yes. Animal shelters must be established no later than a year after Animal Protection and Welfare Law is adopted, and until then, veterinary stations can in cooperation with competent municipal bodies implement measured of dog population control (Article 43. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of BiH). Special service (hygiene service) is in charge of catching abandoned and lost animals and their placement in animal shelters (Article 29. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of BiH).
  6. Is there a mandatory period of time prescribed during which an animal must be kept in a shelter, and a deadline after which is possible to euthanise a healthy animal?
    No. Euthanasia is possible on if the animal is sick or hurt and it can not be cured (Article 27, paragraph 3. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of BiH), or if the animal is old or poses a danger to its environment (Article 14. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law of BiH)
Montenegro
Title: Montenegro

POPULATION: 620.029
(source: MONSTAT – Statistical Office of Montenegro, 2011)

COMPETENCE IN AREA OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL
Directorate for Foodsafety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is competent for identification and registration of dogs, i.e. enforcement of legislation related to veterinary and animal welfare issues.

The manner of handling abandoned and lost animals (pets), manner of their care and reproduction control is prescribed by the competent body of the local self-government. Collecting of abandoned and lost animals is organised and funded by local self-governments.

Legislative framework:
  • Animal Welfare Protection Law (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 14/2008 and 47/2015)
  • Veterinary Law (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 30/2012, 48/2015, 52/2016)
  • Law on identification and registration of animals (“Official Gazette of RM”, no. 48/2007, 73/2010, 48/2015)
  • Regulation on the manner of keeping the Register and issuing pet passport (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 53/2015, 28/2017)
  • Regulation on the conditions for non-commercial movement of pets (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 42/2016)
  • Regulation on the conditions required to be met in boarding kennels and shelters for abandoned animals (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 28/2015)
  • Regulation on the detailed conditions required to be met in breeding facilities (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 21/2015)
  • Regulation on the manner of keeping dangerous dogs (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 31/2017)
  • Regulation on the detailed conditions required to be met in facilities dedicated to dog training (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 30/2016)
  • Regulation on measures for preventing the appearance, identification, control and eradication of rabies in animals (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 53/2011)
  • Regulation on measures for preventing the appearance of Echinococcus multilocularis in dogs (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro”, no. 22/2016)
Specifics:
  1. Is European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals signed and/or ratified?
    No.
  2. Is abandoning of pets prohibited?
    Yes, abandoning domestic animals, pets or captive wild animals and other animals kept under supervision is prohibited (Article 8. of the Animal Welfare Protection Law)
  3. Is there a central database in which data on registered dogs is entered?
    Yes. Dogs, cats and ferrets are registered following their identification, into the register of pets, which is the part of the central register of animals (Article 110, paragraph 3. of the Veterinary Law). Register is run by the Directorate for Foodsafety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Law on identification and registration of animals and Regulation on the manner of keeping the Register and issuing pet passport prescribe these issues in more detail.
  4. Is there an obligation prescribed to develop and implement a dog population control programme?
    No.
  5. Is there an obligation prescribed to place dogs in a shelter for abandoned animals?
    Yes, the obligation of taking and placing abandoned dogs in shelters is prescribed. The shelter is obligated to organise, alone or in cooperation with local self-governments, the collection and transport of lost and abandoned animals to shelters. Boarding kennels and shelters can be established by companies or entrepreneurs or other legal persons, and they have to employ a person trained in caring for animals (Articles 26. and 27. of the Animal Welfare Protection Law).
  6. Is there a mandatory period of time prescribed during which an animal must be kept in a shelter, and a deadline after which is possible to euthanise a healthy animal?
    Yes. It is prescribed that if pet is not rehomed or otherwise taken care of during the first 30 days after its arrival in the shelter, it can be killed (Article 27. of the Animal Welfare Protection Law).
North Macedonia
Title: North Macedonia

POPULATION: 2.072.490
(source: State Statistical Office, North Macedonia, 2016)

COMPETENCE IN AREA OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL
Food and Veterinary Agency of the Government of North Macedonia is competent for enforcement of legislation related to animal welfare and dog population control.

Municipalities, municipalities within the scope of the city of Skopje and the city of Skopje are competent for dog population control. They are obligated to:
  • collect and temporarily place unregistered dogs in shelters, as well as registered dogs found on public property without the presence of an owner (Article 28, paragraph 1, Animal Protection and Welfare Law)
  • develop and adopt a multi-year plan and programme of the abandoned dogs population control, which should be approved by the Food and Veterinary Agency of the Government of North Macedonia (Article 28, paragraph 3, Animal Protection and Welfare Law)

Legislative framework:
  • Animal protection and welfare Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia., no. 149/2014);
  • Veterinary Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia., no. 113/2007);
  • Law on identification and registration of animals (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia., no. 95/2012);
  • Regulation on identification and registration of pets (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia., no. 18/2013, 153/2015);
  • Regulation on technical conditions for shelters, conditions for keeping animals in shelters, procedure of euthanasia, manner of keeping records and manner of control, format and content of the registration and manner of registration as well as the information needed for registration (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia., no. 141/2010);
  • Regulation on the manner and procedure for reporting rabies in domestic and wild animals, as well as measures to be taken for control and eradication of rabies (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia., no. 155/2012)
Specifics:
  1. Is European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals signed and/or ratified?
    No.
  2. Is abandoning of pets prohibited?
    Yes, abandoning of pets is prohibited (Article 26. paragraph 2. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law).
  3. Is there a central database in which data on registered dogs is entered?
    Yes. Electronic database of registered animals is ran by Food and Veterinary Agency (Article 11. paragraph 1. of the Law on identification and registration of animals). Dog owners are obligated to register their dogs once a year in an authorised veterinary clinic or hospital in order to be identified and registered, i.e. so that measures of health protection can be implemented in line with legislation related to veterinary medicine (Article 27, paragraph 1. of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law).
  4. Is there an obligation prescribed to develop and implement a dog population control programme?
    Yes, municipalities within the scope of the city of Skopje and the city of Skopje should develop and adopt a multi-year plan and programme of the abandoned dogs population control, which should be approved by the Food and Veterinary Agency of the Government of North Macedonia (Article 28, paragraph 3, of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law)
  5. Is there an obligation prescribed to place dogs in a shelter for abandoned animals?
    Yes, municipalities, municipalities within the scope of the city of Skopje and the city of Skopje are obligated to place abandoned dogs in shelters (Article 28, of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law)
  6. Is there a mandatory period of time prescribed during which an animal must be kept in a shelter, and a deadline after which is possible to euthanise a healthy animal?
    No. Euthanasia of abandoned dogs can be conducted only due to suspicion of infectious disease that can be transmitted to dogs or if there is a risk of such disease (Article 28, paragraph 6, of the Animal Protection and Welfare Law)
Albania
Title: Albania

POPULATION: 2.876.591
(source: INSTAT – The Institute of Statistics of Albania, 2017)

COMPETENCE IN AREA OF DOG POPULATION CONTROL
Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is competent for the enforcement of legislation in area of veterinary medicine and implementing measures of identification and registration of dogs.

On local level, municipalities and cities have competence for dog population control in Albania.

Legislative framework:
  • Law no. 10465 dated 29.09.2011 on the veterinary service in the Republic of Albania
  • Law no. 70/2013 amending and supplementing Law no. 10465 dated 29.09.2011 on the veterinary service in the Republic of Albania
  • Regulation on rules in area of health and welfare of animals, no. 382, dated 31.07.2006
Specifics:
  1. Is European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals signed and/or ratified?
    No.
  2. Is abandoning of pets prohibited?
    Yes. Animal owners and keepers are obligated to take care of animals and to not abandon them (Article 66. paragraph 2., of the Law on the veterinary service)
  3. Is there a central database in which data on registered dogs is entered?
    Yes. The system of identification and registration of animals, whose purpose is, among other, to provide database of animals including dogs, i.e. to serve as database for the control of health and welfare of animals (Article 5. of the Law on the veterinary service). Dog and pet owners must provide veterinary passport for dogs older than 6 weeks (Article 73. of the Law on the veterinary service) and more detailed rules for identification and registration of dogs are prescribed in Article 12. of the same Law.
  4. Is there an obligation prescribed to develop and implement a dog population control programme?
    No.
  5. Is there an obligation prescribed to place dogs in a shelter for abandoned animals?
    No.
  6. Is there a mandatory period of time prescribed during which an animal must be kept in a shelter, and a deadline after which is possible to euthanise a healthy animal?
    No.