Youth for Stray Dogs on a day of helping Privlaka animal shelter | Photo credit: Udrugra Prizma
Udruga Prizma from Gračac in line with the Erasmus + program of the European Union gathered 21 youths from three European countries (Croatia, Greece, and Serbia) with the highest numbers of stray dog population to come up with a long-term solution to lessen, if not totally eradicate, the problem.
The group believes that human behaviour is the most important factor in determining the stray dogs’ population dynamics and that the best and the most effective way to help homeless animals is to raise awareness in the community by educating them on how to be responsible dog owners and to give knowledge and assistance to people who are interested in learning how to become one.
Udruga Prizma said that the main objectives of this project are to promote responsible ownership through the encouragement of communities about greater dog responsibility for future and current owners, to raise awareness for animal rights and adoptions, to increase human’s positive attitude toward all sentient beings and to entice the youth in actively helping the community through practical activities.
To do that, Youth for Stray Dogs will conduct group reflections and discussions about current animal rights, visit dog shelters, conduct an interview with a dog trainer and organise local activities to engage the community in increasing empathy for all animals.
Photo credit: Luana Matošević
Below is the itinerary for Youth for Stray Dogs provided by Luana Matošević, one of the project coordinators:
May 15, 2021 (Saturday) – visit the Sklonište za źivotinje Privlaka (animal shelter) to help and take the dogs out for a walk
May 16, 2021 (Sunday) – atelier workshop to create beds for dogs by reusing abandoned tires they have recently collected from the Musapstan forest
May 17, 2021 (Monday) – a symposium about dog behaviour and animal first-aid to be conducted by a veterinary student from Greece
May 18, 2021 – CULMINATION DAY: Youth for Stray Dogs will hold a public event at Zadar sea organ from 10:30am to promote the project. They will be giving out informative brochures about everything you need to know to lessen the existing stray problem, and raise funds and food to be donated to Privlaka animal shelter.
Photo credit: Luana Matošević
This is the first part of the youth exchange program. The second part of the project will be taking place in Greece, in the city of Lamia, in September this year should the epidemiological situation allow. The first part conducted in Zadar, Croatia focuses on the animals that stay in local shelters; however, in Greece – where there is a much larger population of stray animals – the focus would be to build food and water stations and to settle agreements with the local community to improve the situation.
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