To Whom It May Concern, 14.06.2009.

“In the early morning hours of June 11, 2009, certain type of poison was spread throughout Visegrad city, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with one purpose only – killing stray dogs and feral cats. Later in the day, workers in the local public enterprise JKP Komunalac collected and transported their corps to the city waist depo located about 2km from the center of Visegrad, right above Water Power Plant on Drina river.  The same happened on June 12, 2009. According to unofficial and unconfirmed rumors spread among the local population, the poisoning was done by the Vet Station in Visegrad. No one informed the citizens about this either by media or in any other way” – this is a message we received from disturbed and bitter citizens of Visegrad, along with photos taken on the same day.

It is not clear now many dogs and cats were killed then.
Our wish is to inform local and international audience about this event. Those who ordered and implemented the poisinung broke the following laws in cruel and uncivilized way:
·      Animal Protection and Welfare laws of both Republika Srpska (RS) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)
·      Veterinary Laws of both Republika Srpska (RS) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)
·      Law on Environmental Protection
·      Law on Public Peace and Order 
·      Veterinary Ethics Code

We have forwarded a letter to the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Waters requesting investigation and identification of responsible person and their strong punishment.
We are sorry to inform you that even 6 months after the RS Law about Animal Welfare and Protection was adopted, no one in RS is serious about need for implementation of the same so therefore the traditional, horrible relations towards animals are still in use. Local communities when it comes to resolving issues related to stray animals so none of the RS municipalities has resolved this issue in a satisfactory and civilized manner.

  
Visegrad, as well as remaining 15 towns that signed the Declaration of European cities has to understand that their by doing so they also took some obligations, one of which for sure is implementation of the Law on Animal Welfare and Protection as well as UN Declaration about Animal Rights
We believe that by publishing this info you will contribute to protection of animals in RS and BiH

With respects,

INFO NOA