In Kosovo, a country scarred by a turbulent history of war, a phoenix has risen from the ashes. In the face of hardship, a small, extraordinary shelter fights every day to give abandoned and abused dogs a second chance. For over 20 years, Prishtina Dog Shelter has worked with compassion and discipline, single-handedly helping more than 6,000 street dogs since it first opened its doors in 2014.
Kosovo has been through a terrible conflict that set neighbors against neighbors and saw war crimes being committed. Through it all, Prishtina kept caring for dogs, but now, they are in real danger of not being able to carry on even though a tense peace is in place.
While Mentor Gashi and his team are a vital lifeline in Prishtina, close friend Lydra and 04Putroshat focus on spaying programs, rescuing stray dogs, daily feeding and providing treatment for injured and sick animals in Prizren. Through tireless dedication, both are making a direct impact on animal welfare in Kosovo.
Unless we help, one of Kosovo’s very few shelters will be forced to turn animals away.
Prishtina Dog Shelter continues to play a vital role in Kosovo through rescuing the countless lives of stray dogs. Credit: Prishtina Dog Shelter
Prishtina’s single water well is not enough to meet the daily needs of the dogs. It runs dry far too quickly, forcing the team to use tankers to deliver water, an additional cost they can’t afford.
This at a time when calls for help are pouring in… Every week, shelter founder Mentor Gashi — backed by a small but passionate network of animal-lovers — receives pleas to help starving, injured and abandoned dogs, especially in harsh, remote mountain areas where the suffering is worst.
This dog was found by the Prishtina team and rescued. The team continues their daily work of finding and helping strays across the city. Credit: Prishtina Dog Shelter
With water running out and food and vet bills skyrocketing, our partner simply does not have the funds to help any more animals.
Our partner is a lifeline for street dogs in Kosovo – but unless we help, that lifeline could soon disappear. Our partner supports countless street dogs in nearby communities and rural areas, providing crucial food, vaccinations, sterilizations and veterinary care.
Stray dogs and puppies in Kosovo rely on shelters like Prishtina Dog Shelter and their network of community volunteers for food and care. Credit: Prishtina Dog Shelter
In towns like Prishtina, we’ve seen first-hand how communities of street dogs are lovingly cared for by Mentor and his team — spayed, fed, treated — but this fragile balance depends entirely on our partner’s ability to launch daily outreach missions.
Without support, Mentor is forced to say “no” to heartbreaking cases because he simply can’t afford the fuel, vaccines, medical supplies or food the animals need.
This is where we come in.
With your donation today, we can help fund a second water well, and ensure the team can continue their rescue and outreach operations, getting dogs out of horrific situations and into loving hands.
Prishtina is one of the very few animal shelters in Kosovo. Your gift today could mean the difference between life and death for dogs with no other hope.
Please help by donating as generously as you can today.
