Hvar’s animals need help. Eco Hvar is here to help them. Support Eco Hvar and be part of the action!
Every year, dogs are abandoned without mercy around Hvar Island. Young, old and in-between, male or female, working dogs, house pets, mostly mongrels, some pure breeds. Some people take it for granted that they can simply abandon a dog when they feel like it. Reasons vary. The owners may have tired of it. A puppy may be too playful or destructive, or it may cease to charm as it grows up, especially if no-one has taken the time to train it. Hunting dogs are turned out if they are not effective hunters. Even if they are, sometimes the owners find it cheaper to abandon them and get another for the new season than to feed last season’s dog through the off-season.
In 2015, three lots of seven puppies were abandoned in the first half of the year. One litter was scattered around between Zavala, Jelsa and Svirče. Apparently their original home was in Vrbanj. Three of the puppies found their way to Pitve, and were given ‘temporary’ asylum. That was before Easter last year, and they are still with me as Easter approaches in 2016! The three, pictured above not long after their arrival, are delightful: Bobby the male with his back to the camera, Tina at the top, and Lina, the smallest at the front. They all have gentle, happy characters, and are bright and quick to learn. And they need good homes!
Jackie, pictured above, was part of another set of puppies scattered around, possibly emanating from Dol. She reached Pitve by an adventurous route. Two kind-hearted animal-loving Dutch tourists, Hendrick and Ans, based in Vrboska, were cycling around exploring the island when they came across her not far from Dol. Jackie was put on one of the bikes, and, after making fruitless inquiries locally, they headed off to the veterinary clinic on the edge of Stari Grad towards Rudine.
The vets do not take in stray dogs, nor do they have any solution to offer. Except…. there’s that woman in Pitve, maybe she (meaning me) can help. So they loaded Jackie on to a bike again, and set off intrepidly and tirelessly for Pitve. What could I say? Take her back to the Netherlands? Yes, I did try that one, but no dice. Zagreb? They are better organized than Dalmatia for helping homeless animals. Again, no joy. Oh, all right then, and Jackie came to stay. A truly delightful dog, extremely intelligent – and in need of a permanent home. Hendrick and Ans were justifiably surprised that there is absolutely no provision for stray animals on the island. It is a shameful situation.
The latest waif to be pitched into Pitve is a beautiful, docile, rather fearful hunting dog. He is probably a German pointer (njemački prepelićar), at least in part. Like most pointers, he has a kind, obedient nature. Did he run away from his owner? It seems unlikely, especially as he arrived without a collar. He has spent two days in Pitve looking for food and affection, and he shows his deepest gratitude for both. The search is on for his owner through the hunting fraternity, but if none is found, he is another candidate for a good home.
Obviously there is a problem. There is no provision for homeless dogs on Hvar. Individual dog lovers do what they can, but there are always more dogs in need than people who can care for them, whether temporarily or permanently. The registered Charity Eco Hvar was created to provide the help needed. Its main project is to establish an animal shelter on the island. Slowly but surely the project is progressing. We have been guaranteed a suitable site, and plans are being drawn up. Soon we will be in a position to apply for the necessary building permits and funding.
Right now, we need support, to show that our project is backed by a lot of people. We know that everyone, dog-lover or not, is in favour of solving the problem of stray dogs on the island. The more people who put their name to our Supporters’ List, the higher our standing, and the more chance we have of being successful in securing the funding we need. So please sign up – membership is free – and give abandoned animals a chance of life!
© Vivian Grisogono, President, Eco Hvar
