Kurti: We will also seek help from foreigners in treating stray dogs

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said his government will draft a National Strategy for the treatment of stray dogs.

Kurt made these comments at his office's table for discussion of the Strategy for the treatment of stray dogs.

He said the government will support the local level for implementing legal responsibilities on the issue.

“Although the local level has most of the responsibilities to implement the necessary measures to manage this situation, central level support, whether through drafting and implementing them or through financial support, is vital for the local level of”, he said.

Prime Minister Kurti's speech at the table for discussion of the Strategy for Treating Eddacak Dogs

Honored ministers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Mr. Faton Peci and the Ministry of Management of Local Power, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi,

Dear Deputy Ministers,

Office chiefs,

Honored staff of the Local Power Management Ministry,

Leaders and representatives of the Kosovo Food and Veterina Agency,

Honored representatives of the Veterans' House and representatives of the Foundation for Animal Rights,

Thank you for accepting our invitation to this meeting, to discuss the state of wandering dogs in Kosovo and measures that should be undertaken urgently.

I am pleased that in this room I am seeing all key actors, which are necessary for co-ordinating their actions, ours, to succeed in development and then implementing the National Strategy for Treating the Issue of the Bosnian Dogs in Kosovo.

The great presence of wandering dogs is a problem for their own dogs and well-being, but it is also a problem of citizens' safety and public health in general. Children in particular are at risk, and the ombudsman Institute has found that there have been violations of children's rights from attacks suffered by stray dogs.

Unfortunately, in the past this case has been neglected and there has been no co-ordination between local and central levels. We must address this problem from its roots, to offer sustainable and effective solutions. We believe that the beginning of the problem is not to manage and control dogs with owners, their uncontrolled breeding, and the sale and import from neighboring countries.

The Ministry for Management of Local Power is expected to co-ordinate and support the local level of capacity for actual implementation of measures to manage the population of dogs with no owners.

Hopefully in this regard MAPL, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, cooperate with the actioners of the working group, to draft and hand over the National Strategy for approval.

From the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, as one of the key performers, we expect the revision of current sublegal acts, as well as the presentation of new underground acts. The Ministry of Agriculture is the main rule of policy drafting, which concerns not only the control and management of animals but also their well-being.

From the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers, we expect to review the possibilities in the current annual budget of the Republic of Kosovo for accessing funds for the implementation of emergency management measures for dogs and non-owned, but other measures proposed in the National Strategy for the next five years.

All ministries must pledge that the tasks related to this topicality address the greatest seriousness.

Kosovo's Food and Veterina Agency, on the other hand, must pledge to create a plan for real inspections of animal maintenance, KSVL projects, as well as identification and registration of dogs with owners. The AWK, also must vow to conform legal responsibilities, act quickly and seriously on issues related to dog management and pledge that in dog management projects, it does not include veterinarians who have been proven to abuse animals and funds in past projects. In this case, AWK must take adequate measures and entities that do non- professional and abusive work on these projects by suspending and taking their work licenses.

From the Veterinary Oda, it is expected that together with AUVK and the Government to distribute microchipates and passports approved by AWK, for the identification and registration of associated animals.

As well as civil society, we expect to have cooperation and advice on managing and controlling dogs with and without owners and other issues of well-being and animal rights.

Our government will also be dedicated to this aspect by drafting a National Strategy for Sustainable and Effective Management of Dog Population, and to seek assistance from actors, foreign partners so that financial means are not a problem in implementing measures and sustainable and human projects for dog population management, so that Kosovo has not been homeless in the streets before.

The government will also pledge to support the local level for implementing legal responsibilities on this subject. While the local level has most of the responsibilities to implement the measures needed to manage this situation, central level support, whether through drafting and implementing policies or through financial support, is vital for the local level. I thank you for your attention and now we will hear a presentation on the current situation and the steps needed by Mrs. Elza Ramadani, director of the Foundation for Animal Rights