We cannot let these 212 dogs starve!

1. In Serbia, Svetlana is running out of kibble to feed the 212 dogs at her shelter. They will starve unless someone intervenes!

"Donations have dropped massively since the war in Ukraine and simultaneously, kibble prices have soared because pet food suppliers have trouble getting raw materials; it is all connected and it's really frightening. Our debts for kibble are through the roof and the supplier won't allow us to take any more kibble on credit... We have 4 days of kibble left and no solution in sight. I am juggling 2 jobs to provide for my dogs and my salary doesn't even suffice... I feel completely defeated and above all, I'm scared for my dogs! 

To make matters worse, it's spring and I'm already starting to notice new litters of puppies on the streets. I know that if I don't help them, they will die... but at the same time, we can barely survive in the shelter as it is. I have no idea on how to move forward, the current lack of resources is putting us in a bind. What will happen if this crisis lasts for years? I can't even think about it. All that matters right now is to find a way to feed my dogs!"

2. The lack of kibble is heightening tensions at the shelter. Without a solution in sight, Svetlana fears that she will have to put the dogs back on the street... not all will make it.

"We have been rationing the dogs' portions for a couple of weeks, they do not eat enough. They have become aggressive and as the portions aren't being increased, the situation is only escalating. The dogs are become hungrier and hungrier and tensions continue to rise...

I am constantly fighting to find ways to fill their food bowls but I feel like I'm only patching up a pipe that remains full of holes...If no solution is found, I know I won't be able to avoid aggression in the shelter and in the end, I'm scared that I might be forced to release the dogs back to the streets...

The thing is, many of my dogs are vulnerable and wouldn't manage in the wild... Many came here as puppies and it'll be impossible for them to find food outside. I don't want to imagine the worst but I am out of options, I don't know what to do. I just hope this campaign succeeds because it's our only hope!"

3. Weakened by her disability, Bela's survival depends entirely on Svetlana's ability to feed her.

"Bela is a 7-year-old female. We found her near a garbage dump, her bone sticking out of her leg. We don't know what happened to her exactly but we suspect that some machine cut her leg off, as the cut is very precise. The vet said it would be best to shorten the bone so they could close the wound with skin. 

Bela's state is now satisfactory thanks to the operation, but she's an older dog with a disability, who is completely reliant on me to survive. She needs a lot of care and quality food to stay healthy!"

4. Deeply affected by the pandemic and now the war, Svetlana is in debt and can no longer buy kibble!

"The world crisis started with a pandemic, intensified with the war in Ukraine and it now seems like there is no end in sight... Everyone feels insecure, our donations have practically stopped altogether. I'm terribly scared... 

We have veterinary debts and food debts of several thousands of euros... In order to buy food again, I have to repay some of them. I don't know how I'm going to handle this. I'm even afraid that they will turn off the electricity at some point because we haven't been able to pay the bill...

I'm having many sleepless nights, praying for food, praying for help, praying for everything. You can't live like that, nobody can live like that. I'm honestly scared that the stress will eventually get the best of my health and then what will all these dogs do without me? All of this should be teamwork, but I often feel lonely. There are rarely volunteers, everyone says they want to help but no one ever comes..."

5. Svetlana isn't asking for money, only kibble to keep the dogs from starving.

"I've been in this for so many years, I've saved so many animals. This has become my life and I strive to assist dogs in any way that I can. But in many ways, I think dogs rescue us more than we rescue them... They are truly intelligent beings, they feel pain, suffering, happiness...

I find it extraordinary that even after being oppressed, beaten and abused, dogs manage to regain their trust in humans and still come to us for a cuddle. It just blows my mind. I don't know if I could have survived the hardships they went through... They are so compassionate and as capable as humans of experiencing feelings, if not more! I wish people in Serbia would understand that.

Dogs are never a priority in the Balkans, most people just don't care about them and that's the case all over our country. So in times of crisis, you can imagine that the future of dogs is the least of people's worries. Besides, even dogs that have owners are not sterilized or identified. I dream of a Serbia where people will be educated and compassionate towards animals...

6. If this campaign succeeds, Svetlana will not receive any money, but 2000 kg of kibble, delivered from the Animal Webaction logistics centre in Serbia.

Animal Webaction has a logistic platform in Serbia which allows us to intervene quickly and deliver kibble.

7. Svetlana tries to seek help by all means, but her supporters have already done their best, and no new organisations are willing to help her.

"I use the income from my 2 jobs to provide for the shelter but unfortunately it's not enough. I have a few donors, mostly foreigners, they help me from time to time but it's never constant and the amounts given have considerably dropped lately as people's focus is on Ukraine.

I receive help from an organization based in Holland, they gather donations and I get a couple hundred of euros per month. Unfortunately, given the extent of my debts and the number of dogs under my care, it is not enough. I know that they are trying their hardest to help me, it's just that it's difficult for them too. 

I wrote to other organizations in February. Two of them denied helping me, some said they would consider it... Unfortunately I do not have the luxury of waiting. I need to act and act fast to feed my dogs! At this stage, all my hopes go toward this campaign."

8. Campaigns launched on Animal Webaction often fail.

When a campaign fails, Animal Webaction cannot deliver the products. The beneficiary doesn't receive anything and the buyers are refunded. 

9. In Serbia, street dogs are hunted by the State and ignored by the population, volunteers like Svetlana are their only hope.

If you know of a foundation or NGO that could help Svetlana, please invite them to contact us, so that we can put them in touch.

If you represent a foundation or an NGO for animal protection, please help Sveltana's dogs, contact us and we will put you in touch!

If you wish to go to the association's shelters to help or if you want to send her directly some kibbles or a check, contact Svetlana  (note: direct help is done on your own responsibility).

10. If you make a purchase on Animal Webaction, it will be protected by our guarantees.