Saranda Dog Services launched this petition on August 6, 2023 to call attention to ongoing animal abuse in the city. Our goal: to engage Mayor Oltion Caci and city leaders in meaningful conservation and action. 

A year later, the mayor has yet to respond. 

We understand that the city has funds in its annual budget allocated to animal welfare. We have yet to see any evidence of where or how this money is spent. 

Instead, we see puppies and kittens tossed in the trash or abandoned at the roadside. On The Promenade, we see a few children using tiny — and sometimes injured — puppies to play on the sympathy of tourists and beg for money.

Tourists notice this and frequently post on social media, including on the mayor’s Facebook page:

• Dear Mr. Caci, what do you plan to do with all the homeless uncastrated cats and dogs??? They are also getting more and more, as the tourists you write of. The animals suffer and die in the streets of Albania, in your city Saranda. Posting about new streets and collect rubbish is a nice idea, but what about helping the animals in your country?

So, Mr. Mayor, more than 3,100 people would like to get this conversation started. Let’s work together on finding solutions.