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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

NOVEMBER 2005

 

ANIMAL WELFARE ON THE DALMATIAN COAST

The first animal shelter in Dubrovnik occupies a former artillery post. (Kim Bartlett)

 

DUBROVNIK––The Austrian-based Vier Pfoten mobile veterinary teams often seemingly drive back into time in formerly Communist central Europe, but usually just decades, not centuries.


In Dubrovnik to sterilize dogs and cats for two weeks overlapping the October 2005 International Companion Animal Welfare Conference, Vier Pfoten international project manager Amir Khalil, DVM, and surgical team headed by Katica Kovacev, DVM set up outside the building that was the city quarantine station during the Black Death in the 14th century.

The marble walled central city just beyond, little changed since the 13th century, reputedly inspired the Minas Tirith “white city” scenes in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Among the oldest ports on the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik has had a breakwater since pre-Roman times.


Yet organized animal welfare work only began in Dubrovnik circa 2001, with the formation of the dog rescue group Drustvo Za Zastitu Zivotinja. The group gained a shelter early in 2005, winning civic permission to put up fences and use outbuildings at a ruined artillery outpost overlooking the city. The stoneworks were probably built in Napoleonic times, but were used most recently by Serbians who shelled the local World Heritage landmarks in 1991-1992, killing about 250 residents.


Managed by Amica Sambrailo, who cofounded Drustvo Za Zastitu Zivot-inja with her sister Sandra Grljevic, the shelter houses about 100 dogs, none purebred Dalmatians but about 40% of Dalmat-ian build, with black-and-white coloration.


The cats of Dubrovnik are also mostly black-and-white. The surrounding cliffs and rugged shore were historically a stronghold of eagles and other birds of prey, depleted by human persecution during the 20th century but now making a comeback. When the raptors were many, black-and-white colors might have protected puppies and kittens among the stones and shadows below the aiires.


Cat welfare work is represented by shopkeeper Katarina Uremouic, who collects funds to feed cats at the end of a Dubrovnik alley.

CONTACT: Drustvo Za Zastitu Zivotinj, Put Kupara 48, Mlini, Dubrovnik 20207, Croatia; phone 091-591-8434. Katarina Uremouic, Za Karmenom, BR 2, Dubrovnik 2000 Croatia; phone 091-323-655.