Kosovo, Pristina dog shelter is an example of integration: working together for animal welfare overcomes ethnic tensions

PRISTINA – The agreement between Serbia and Kosovo is slowly paving the way for a peaceful coexistence between the two populations. In the context of this historical process, the dog shelter in Pristina proves to be a concrete example of integration between Serbs and Albanians, thanks to the collaboration between Mentor, an Albanian, and Slavisa, a Serbian.

The shelter. Since its establishment in 2014, the Pristina dog shelter, located in the heart of Kosovo, has been addressing the plight of stray dogs in the country and in the Serbian-Albanian municipality of Gra?anica. Lack of adequate services and abandonment have led to a worrying situation for dogs in the urban environment. The shelter is dedicated to welcoming and caring for dogs in need, offering them a safe place, food, veterinary care and the possibility of finding a loving family.

A hope of integration. The collaboration between the two owners of the shelter is a positive sign of integration and cooperation in a context often marked by ethnic tensions. By working together for animal welfare, Mentor and Slavisa demonstrate that it is possible to overcome divisions and join forces to achieve common goals. The shelter not only provides temporary shelter for dogs in need, but is also committed to their responsible adoption. Volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that every adopted dog finds a suitable and loving family who are ready to care for them for life. Through awareness campaigns, the shelter aims to educate local people about the importance of responsible adoption and neutering of dogs to prevent overpopulation.

The difficult survival. Furthermore, the Pristina dog shelter actively promotes collaboration with other local animal welfare and veterinary organizations, in order to improve the quality of care and services offered to dogs. This includes sterilization and vaccination programs, as well as training volunteers and staff to ensure the highest level of care and expertise. There is no shortage of challenges: the Pristina dog shelter faces the growing number of stray dogs in the city and its surroundings on a daily basis, including the municipality of Gracanica. The latter, with a Serbian-Albanian population, lives in a particularly complex situation due to ethnic tensions and lack of resources. The shelter survives thanks to the donations of some citizens and the sporadic help of some organization. Despite scarce resources, the shelter has managed to maintain a clean and welcoming environment for its furry guests.

International adoptions and the widespread stray dogs. The shelter is actively involved in facilitating the adoption of dogs by families, last year there were 55 adoptions, above all by foreign families. In fact, the shelter offers the possibility of issuing the necessary documents to be able to bring your dogs to Europe and beyond. Unfortunately, in some areas of Kosovo and other Balkan countries, a local culture that is not friendly towards dogs persists. Animal abandonment and mistreatment are common problems, and public policies are often not sufficient to address the problem of stray dogs. Raising awareness and education about the importance of animal welfare and promoting responsible behavior towards dogs are key to changing this mentality.

The example for an inclusive future. The Pristina dog shelter, with its example of integration and dedication to animal welfare, is a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and compassionate future. By continuing to support the shelter and promoting responsible adoption both locally and internationally, we can help create a safer and more welcoming environment for furry friends in Kosovo and beyond. For those who would like to support the Pristina dog shelter from Italy, you can contribute donations or consider adopting a dog. For more information, in addition to the web page, the instagram profile.