Shinters in Zaječar - Horrific Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty in Zaječar

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am contacting you regarding the myriad of animal cruelty cases in Zaječar and the rest of Serbia. In the most recent disturbing event, a new video has surfaced on the Internet, taken on October 30th, 2010, in Zaječar, which shows Shinters torture, mishandle, and strangle a dog who is practically drowning in his own blood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y-OdNrfd8s&feature=share

It is shameful that the authorities allow this violence on defenceless victims to continue. Only recently the authorities sanctioned a mass-murder on dogs under the flag of a rabies alert (that already received a great deal of criticism due to its lack of supporting evidence). The method to treat a rabies outbreak is through vaccination of animals and education of people, not by resorting to a mass-slaughter.

I am outraged over how animals are being treated in Serbia. Shinters carry out the slaughter of thousands of animals that are the victims of the government's apathy. The killing methods are horrendous, varying from injections of T-61 into the lungs causing paralysis and a prolonged and painful death (this is a drug that has been banned in most countries), to death by pitchforks, mallets (i.e. beaten to death), Kreozan poisoning that burns through the veins and arteries (it is reported that the victims cry in pain as smoke rises from their skin), Nuvan poisoning that results in death by suffocation, poisoning by cleaning detergents, hanging, burning, shooting, dumping on rubbish tips, crushing in crushing machines, and even burying alive. There is evidence of skinned animals dumped in dead piles, the hides of whom are sold to the dog/cat fur trade. In the most recent event, the Shinters are resorting to simply strangling the animals to death. This is NOT "stray management”, this is barbaric murder in an attempt to wipe out all unwanted animals. These actions are illegal even by Serbian animal welfare standards, yet they are allowed to continue.

There is a need and demand for a positive development and an immediate halt of such unnecessary violence. The way the Serbian authorities are treating their most helpless of beings is atrocious and reflects very poorly on Serbia's global image. This cruel and inhumane treatment only shows a total disregard for life. The majority of the Serbian people believe that animals in Serbia are unsafe and unprotected. It is the duty of all humans to respect all life and to ensure that the legislation protects these animals in an adequate and effective way. The Serbian State must take modern and effective legislative measures to improve the welfare of animals and to forbid such unnecessary practices involving the cruel treatment of animals. I ask that you enforce existing animal protection laws, enact new regulations, and ban these horrendous methods of murder currently employed by the Shinters. Violators must be prosecuted and penalized in order to set an example. I encourage you to invest in a network of municipal shelters that maintain veterinary supervision, mandatory sterilization, vaccinations, microchip identification, and responsible adoption policies, but also to seek help from organizations abroad with the expertise in animal protection legislation and humane education. Rather than subsidize mass poisonings and other vulgar forms of killing, please allocate funds for affordable nationwide spay/neuter programs.

Stray animals are victims and the consequence of irresponsible guardians who have failed in the simple task of providing with a home. They should not be punished for the actions of these callous individuals. Anyone who values sentient life will not tolerate the treatment of animals in Serbia and will boycott Serbia as a travel destination. This violence toward animals must end now.

I strongly protest against this barbaric treatment of animals and will boycott Serbia until these atrocities have come to an end, and until the authorities have enacted and enforced strong animal protection laws.

Sincerely,

[Your name]