To Mr. Cerek, Mayor of Bosanski Brod

It has come to our attention that the innocent dogs and cats of Bosanski Brod have been hunted and maliciously killed by hunters, this action illegally sanctioned by community officials. Furthermore, we have been notified that the targeted dogs and cats include those who are homeless or strays as well as those, despite having identifying markers such as collars, kept as family pets or companions. Desperate family members, struck with grief over the loss of their beloved animal friends, have sought answers, their attempts ignored, their sadness disregarded. While words fail to sufficiently convey the agony experienced due to the deliberate, brutal, and premature death of a cherished animal companion, I am adequately capable of expressing my outrage at such tyrannical rule, spreading fear and circulating propaganda to foster support from established hunting groups unwilling to observe morality. I am also addressing the European Union as being complicit in this massacre as well, having funded hunting lodges in Posavina.

We stand with our international neighbors in one global collective to condemn these indefensible acts against animals; as one unified body bringing voice to those whom you slaughtered, we demand justice for the slain animals and retribution on behalf of their families. While community members may feel either intimidated or challenged by this type of barbaric and oppressive behaviour, please remember that a worldwide audience exists, enraged witnesses to such ruthless actions. When you strike an animal with such unprovoked brutality, the blows are felt by us all; when a family loses an adored member, the sorrow is felt by us all. We denounce this brutality and every person who promotes it. It is with sadness compounded with anger that we write, imploring upon you to provide the adequate resources necessary to investigate these savage crimes, apprehend those responsible, and prosecute the offenders according to international standards. Surely there are those in positions of influence who share our grief and anger, unwilling to participate in such unwarranted, sadistic crimes against animals. While greed and brutality may seem pervasive, it is our hope that there are those who believe in courage, dignity, and empathy towards all sentient beings and who will feel galvanized to undertake this effort on behalf of our animal friends and their human companions.

Please allow use to illustrate the importance of acknowledging animals as possessing sentience: indeed, animals, like humans, are capable of fear, love, pain, and suffering; humans have the obligation and the capacity for empathy, and we must utilize our gifts to protect them, not apathetically condemn them to undeniably criminal and exceptionally insufferable acts. Bosanski Brod's disregard and exploitation of this vulnerable group of beings is unacceptable and the global community will continue to voice censure of Bosanski Brod, and Bosnia as a whole, resulting in the sacrifice of vital tourism and commerce profits. Consequently it would be financially irresponsible and socially unethical for you to be associated with such a maligned event. Therefore, we respectfully request that you please act in a compassionate and empathetic manner and terminate this savage hunt against innocent animals.

Be a representation of animal compassion and strive to foster an ideal whereby animals are respected, loved, and empathized by all your citizens. Allocate resources to construct shelters; implement sterilization and vaccination programs to prevent homeless populations and colony disease outbreaks; accept local and international advice and assistance; and implement and enforce already existing Law on Animal Protection establishing animal cruelty as criminal. As a result, we are confident that yours can be a community, indeed a country, that others will look upon with pride and ambition to echo your empathetic attitude towards our sentient animal friends.

Animal Welfare Society

NOA Denmark

Please find enclosed: Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian version of the letter as well as a copy of the Law on Animal Protection of B&H!

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