Srce za šapu
About us
Our mission
Our mission is to relieve abandoned dogs from suffering and pain and to enable them a safe, healthy and happy life.
Our main objectives are:
- To ensure that dogs in The Land of Dogs receive love and care and to provide them a living ambient that is in accordance with their needs and nature.
- To provide the chance for each dog from the shelter to be adopted to responsible and trustable adopter.
- To reduce the number of stray dogs in the municipality by raising awareness for responsible dog ownership, advocating for chipping/registering and by organizing actions for neutering of stray and owned dogs.
- To protect animal rights and decrease different forms of cruelty towards animals by reporting perpetrators to the authorities and lobbying for implementation of sanctions prescribed by the Law.
History
of our shelter
The shelter that we were running in period August 2015 – November 2019 was made by local government in year 2010, as its legal obligation, but when we came it was abandoned and in terrible condition – there were just hungry, thirsty and sick dogs wandering around the garbage dump, where this shelter of 190m2 was actually made. In these chaotic circumstances we took over to manage this municipal „shelter“, but only as a temporary solution.
Until November 2019 we had around 100 dogs placed on 790m2, operating in extremely unhealthy environment. Regardless of our efforts, the grounds was fully unsuitable in terms of maintaining the hygiene. Poisonous water from garbage dump were flushing directly into the shelter and the whole area was inhabited with rats, so there was a constant risk of spreading dangerous diseases. It was literally impossible to clean dogs of parasites, fleas and ticks because the area is contaminated and all our efforts mostly were gone in vain. The ground was infected with parvovirus and that had disastrous consequences on mortality of the puppies. There was no quarantine, no electricity, while water supply was improvised.
From the very first day our mission was to remove the dogs from dangerous, unhealthy, depressing, degrading and inhumane garbage dump to “The Land of Dogs”, where abandoned dogs will live in a scenic, healing and cage-free environment among human and animal friends – until adoption.
With that aim, in year 2016 Board members bought the land size 18.500 square meters, installed the fence and it gave it to the association SRCEZAŠAPU to build new dog shelter and manage it in a long-term. After two years of exhausting administrative procedure and obstructions of local government, in July 2018, we finally got the Building Permission and started with works. In November 2019, SRCEZAŠAPU opened the doors of the Land of Dogs and moved the dogs from the landfill.
About
THE LAND OF DOGS
The shelter is comprised of three houses for collective accommodation, each measuring 15.6 m x 5.40 m. Dog houses are surrounded by spacious courtyards for playing and running. This concept of the shelter allows free movement for each animal and socializing with people and we are especially proud of that.
In addition to these facilities, the shelter has a quarantine with 10 kennels, one smaller puppy facility, as well as a dog reception and bath facility that is, for the moment, used as a storage room and kitchen also.
In cooperation with contracted Veterinary Station we provide regular health care to animals – carry out vaccinations, treat dogs against intestinal and external parasites and organize treatment of diseased animals. We also organize neutering actions and provide surgical treatments to those in need.
The Land of Dogs has the Work Permit that confirms that the shelter fulfils requests prescribed in the BiH “Rule-book on the method of setting up and managing animal shelters“. We possess TRACES licence, which allows legal adoption of dogs in the WE countries.
The capital investment for building the Land of Dogs, as well as running costs are exclusively provided by the SRCEZAŠAPU founders, with support from friends and sympathizers of the shelter, without contribution from any foundation or governmental institution. Actually, the very first grant SRCEZAŠAPU received in year 2021, from the UK foundation MAWT. The financial operations of the SRCEZAŠAPU are managed by the accounting firm MeAd d.o.o. from Sanski Most.
We invite you to
virtually visit The Land of Dogs
Who we are?
Srce za šapu Dog shelter
Dževad Karabeg
Founder
Eni Kurtović
Founder
Ivona Čelebičić
Board member
Zlatan Nikolić
Board member
Zlata Schaub Kadirić
Board member
Selma Huzejrović
employee
Lamija Ibrišimović
employee
Founders voluntarily perform all managing tasks related to the planning, organizing and overseeing the human, financial and material resources of the shelter, keeping dog records, reporting, promoting and establishing contacts with possible partners, fundraising etc. However, the favourite part of our job remains direct work with dogs in the shelter.
The shelter that we run has two employees, one of them veterinarian technician. They take care of the dogs seven days a week, during the working hours from 08.00 to 16.00.
Partners
Thank you for your support!
General purpose grant 2,000 EUR monthly for the period Aug-Dec 2023
2022: Grant 3.000 USD for general care costs
Support in adopting dogs in Belgium and collecting donations for SRCEZAŠAPU shelter costs
Support in adopting dogs in Austria and collecting donations for SRCEZAŠAPU shelter costs
Grant 1.933 EUR (2021) and grant 3.387 EUR (2022) for health care of dogs / vet interventions