How Whispaws began
In 2019, we met Jimi outside a supermarket in Bar, Montenegro. He looked very sick and was wandering around parked cars, waiting at the car doors as if asking for someone to help him. So we did.
It took a couple of days waiting around the entrance to the supermarket, speaking with people, and searching online, but eventually, we found help with a local charity and veterinary clinic.
Through the kindness Stray Aid Montenegro, we saved Jimi’s life. His health outcome was uncertain for a while due to a severe case of heartworm, which is common for street dogs in Montenegro, but he pulled through.
Jimi eventually went to live in Serbia, and through his journey, we learned about the terrible plight of dogs there.
Jimi’s rescue rekindled our founder Emma’s lifelong dream of establishing a shelter and charity dedicated to helping abandoned animals.
That dream is now a reality in the form of Whispaws Animal Sanctuary, a UK registered charity and with your help, we are rescuing animals just like Jimi in Serbia.
We are helping them fulfill their dreams of regular food, warmth, safety, and love, and hopefully finding them all forever homes.
So, welcome to Whispaws, and thank you so much for being here!
With love, Emma and all of the Whispaws team.
The Whispaws mission
Our mission is to recover and restore the health of as many animals as possible. We aim to provide permanent, loving homes for all the animals we rescue.
We are committed to supporting the surrounding areas of our shelter in Serbia with neutering efforts to help reduce the growing population of abandoned animals. We work with local authorities and the public whenever possible.
We do everything we can to ensure the animals feel at home, become part of a family, and know they are no longer abandoned.
Why Serbia?
There are so many abandoned animals in Serbia, most of them being dogs. Sterilisation is either considered unnecessary, unhealthy or is far too expensive so it is not widely done to the extent as it is in other countries.
Due to economic reasons, an animal may become too expensive to look after, is not a cute puppy anymore, or becomes trouble around the house and is just abandoned, un-neutered and left on the streets, so this problem grows.
Declining health then becomes an issue while living undernourished, without a clean home and around other abandoned, sick animals.
The animals are often left abandoned by busy roads to be knocked down and killed by passing cars, often causing accidents as well.
They are frequently abused by people on the streets who do not know any better and see these abandoned animals as a problem, often poisoning them intentionally.
Most authority pounds are kill shelters and are so overrun that healthcare is of a low standard or non existent.
Life for dogs in the Balkans is extremely harsh, and a happy, loving home is only for the lucky dogs with families that can afford to keep them. With the cost of living at the moment, this problem is growing massively.
It is not necessary for us to go out searching for abandoned dogs around Serbia. We see them all the time standing disorientated by the side of busy roads, running across them, by rivers, rubish tip sites, roaming around public areas such as petrol stations and food outlets just searching for food.
Some dogs are now being left outside of our gate. The lucky ones are alerted to us by their current owners, wanting to give them. Even these dogs are often kept in a terrible condition outside when we visit.
There are also many cats living around the public areas of Serbia. Some make themselves useful by providing pest control to local businesses or farms in return for their food. However, the majority of these cats are at least covered in fleas, and at worst are extremely sick, spreading disease and sterilisation is sorely needed.
In some areas, it is common for litters of kittens to be left roaming around roads to be killed by passing vehicles, much like the abandoned dogs. We are currently sterilising cats in the local area alongside our efforts to sterilise the abandoned dogs to try and stop this problem, even helping ones that have owners who have brought them to us.
In the future, we will endeavour to expand our efforts to renovate one of our dilapidated outbuildings for a cattery so we can help those most in need of healthcare.
There is a bright side to this story. Even though many people in Serbia cannot afford to house, feed and pay for veterinary care of an animal, there are still plenty of animal lovers there.
Dogs sometimes live on the streets, but have someone who regularly looks out for them. It is by no means an ideal situation, but we are working to find a way to help those who do care for the animals they love with health care, neutering and food.
There are also people we have identified in the local area who have been taking in strays, but do not have enough funds for fulltime, proper care in again the form of neutering and healthcare.
We will do all we can to help reduce the continued cycle of suffering to abandoned animals.
Thank you for empowering us to do so, and trusting us to do this on your behalf. This is truly a team effort, as without you, Whispaws would not be possible.
Why Serbia?
Serbia, a beautiful country nestled in the Balkans, faces a heartbreaking crisis: the plight of abandoned street dogs. This issue has garnered international attention, and as a charity dedicated to rescuing these animals, it’s crucial to understand the depth of this problem, the contributing factors, and how we, along with other organisations and individuals, can make a difference.
Why Are There So Many Abandoned Dogs in Serbia?
The high number of abandoned dogs in Serbia can be attributed to several interrelated factors:
1. Economic Challenges: Serbia has faced significant economic difficulties over the past decades.The economic instability has made it challenging for many families to afford the costs associated with keeping pets, leading to an increase in abandoned animals.
2. Cultural Attitudes: Historically, there has not been a strong culture of neutering pets in Serbia. This has led to uncontrolled breeding and, consequently, a rise in the stray dog population. Many people still view dogs primarily as working animals or guard dogs rather than pets, which affects how they are treated and cared for.
3. Lack of Education and Awareness: There is limited public education on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of spaying and neutering. This lack of awareness perpetuates the cycle of abandonment and overpopulation.
Dangers and Diseases Facing Abandoned Dogs
Abandoned dogs in Serbia face numerous dangers:
1. Exposure to Diseases: Stray dogs are highly vulnerable to various diseases, including rabies, parvovirus, and distemper, which can spread rapidly among the stray population due to the lack of vaccination and veterinary care. In addition to these, stray dogs commonly suffer from preventable diseases such as heartworm, giardia, and anaplasmosis. These diseases, which can be mitigated with regular monthly prevention treatments, severely impact the health and well-being of the dogs and pose a significant public health risk to the communities they inhabit.
2. Harsh Living Conditions: Living on the streets exposes dogs to extreme weather conditions, scarcity of food and clean water, and the risk of being hit by vehicles.
3. Human Cruelty: Unfortunately, stray dogs often face mistreatment and cruelty from humans. While many Serbian people are compassionate and work hard to protect animals, there are those who exploit or harm them.
Challenges of Transporting Dogs Out of Serbia
Transporting dogs out of Serbia is particularly challenging due to:
1. Non-EU Status: Serbia is not a member of the European Union, which complicates the logistics of transporting animals across borders. There are stricter regulations and quarantine requirements that must be met to ensure the safe relocation of dogs to other countries.
2. Bureaucratic Hurdles: The process of obtaining the necessary documentation and meeting health standards for international transport can be time-consuming and costly.
Positive Changes and Efforts
Despite these challenges, there is hope and progress:
1. New Animal Welfare Act (2019): Since the implementation of the new animal welfare act in 2019, there has been a framework for better protection of animals. Campaigners and charities are actively working to ensure this law is enforced, bringing hope for improved conditions for stray dogs.
2. Local Heroes: Many Serbians are dedicated to animal welfare. They run shelters, foster animals, and advocate for better treatment of dogs. These local heroes are vital partners in our mission.
3. Rise of Foreign Rescue and Charities: International organisations and charities have been instrumental in providing resources, raising awareness, and facilitating the adoption of Serbian dogs abroad. These efforts are helping to reduce the number of strays and improve their living conditions.
How Our Charity Makes a Difference
Our charity focuses on several key areas to address the issue of abandoned dogs in Serbia:
1. Rescue and Rehabilitation: We rescue dogs from the streets, provide them with medical care, and rehabilitate them in our shelters.
2. Spay and Neuter Programs: By implementing spay and neuter programs, we aim to reduce the stray population sustainably.
3. Education and Outreach: We educate the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of neutering pets. Our outreach programs aim to shift cultural attitudes towards better animal welfare.
4. Adoption and Transport: We work tirelessly to find loving homes for our dogs, both within Serbia and abroad. We navigate the complex regulations to ensure safe and humane transport of these animals.
A Respectful Partnership
We acknowledge and respect the Serbian people and their efforts to protect animals. Our goal is to support and collaborate with local authorities and animal welfare advocates to create lasting change. Together, we can address the plight of Serbia’s abandoned dogs, offering them hope and a chance for a better life.
With continued efforts, education, and compassion, we believe the situation for abandoned dogs in Serbia will improve. The dedication of local heroes, supported by international charities, is paving the way for a brighter future for these animals. We remain committed to our mission, hopeful that one day, no dog in Serbia will have to face abandonment and suffering.