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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS
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MONTH: March 2006
Is Belgrade rabies panic covering for dog /cat skinners?
BELGRADE––A dog pogrom started in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, just before the January 2006 escalation of dog-killing in Bucharest.
The Belgrade pretext was an alleged rabies outbreak that appeared to have been proclaimed by animal control officials trying to keep a lucrative fiefdom.
“Belgrade activists obtain-ed heavy documentation,” e-mailed ANIMAL PEOPLE reader Jelena Zaric, “that instead of using donations for animals’ sake, dogcatchers were killing the animals. There is no need to remind you,” Zaric opined, “that Serbia is known for dog and cat fur, and for inhumane treatment of stray animals.
“On January 27,” Zaric continued, “Belgrade animal advocates obtained information that city officials would announce a rabies outbreak in two days, after Belgrade activists filed a complaint about illegal activities that surround a couple of city officials and one leading animal welfare organization.
“On January 30, city officials declared a high state of alert, saying that rabies emerged with a fox who was found dead in Novi Beograd,” a Belgrade suburb.
“So far, there is no proof that the fox existed, nor that any fox had rabies,” Zaric said on February 1. “It’s interesting that the guy who reported the dead fox had the same last name as the city veterinarian. They claim they don’t want to show the fox, who is now decomposing, as they found her 20 days ago.
“A very aggressive media campaign created panic and violent responses,” Zaric said. “People walking their pets in parks were stoned, chased, and threatened.”
No Serbian rabies outbreak was reported to any of the international authorities who track zoonotic diseases.
Two weeks later, Zaric updated, “Nothing seems to be happening, except that a judge sent inspectors to investigate.”
Zaric forwarded web sites indicating that the Belgrade dog killing started five months after the mayor pledged in September 2005 to introduce free microchipping and anti-rabies vaccination of pets.