For many years, Exit has reported on the mass poisoning of stray dogs in Tirana and Durres. Despite the pressure and outrage around the issue, the culling not only continues, but it appears that methods are being exported to other parts of the country.
Teams of volunteers in the capital of Tirana have been monitoring the local street dogs. They feed them, take care of them, and even provide medical care when needed. Others are plucked from the street, vaccinated, and shipped off to loving homes in Switzerland, Germany and beyond. But not all are this lucky.
Every year, thousands of dogs go missing from Tirana’s streets. Video footage provided to Exit shows municipal vans rounding them up and taking them to a state veterinary centre in Kombinat. Here, the municipality claims they are neutered and rehomed or released, but activists have evidence they say proves they are executed.
Animal Rights Groups Suspect Municipal Involvement in Poisoning of Tirana’s Street Dogs
Others that remain on the street are fed food laced with poison which leads to the animals suffering a long and painful death.
In 2020, the Municipality of Gjirokaster was accused of poisoning stray dogs and cats throughout the city. Meat laced with poison was found and many animals died. Municipal workers were reportedly caught on CCTV and several citizens denounced the acts to the media. One of the journalists who covered the story, who wished for her name not to be mentioned again in connection with the case, said is essentially considered non-grata in the city now, following her reporting.
Activists Claim Municipality of Tirana Murdered Almost 1000 Street Dogs in a Year
The Municipality denies poisoning any street dogs.
Meanwhile in January, BIRN reported that mass poisoning of stray dogs was taking place in Lezhe and Korce.
Photos of poisoned animals appeared on social media and activists say they believe the municipality is behind it.
Killing stray animals is not only a criminal act, but a public health issue, particularly if poison is used. Placing laced meat in a public area can cause a significant risk to humans and other animals and wildlife.
Authorities in both Lezhe and Korce confirmed with the media that they are not investigating any of the spates of killings, despite the fact a law has been broken and the possible impact on the public. The respective municipalities said they sterilized dogs and were facilitating programmes to take care of them.
Activists in Tirana meanwhile accused the municipality of misusing funds earmarked to neuter or take care of the animals. They claim the animals are poisoned and dumped in landfill instead, incurring a much lower cost. Various claims were filed with law enforcement authorities but to date, there has been no outcome.
Meanwhile in Tirana, activists say around 1000 dogs are killed every year.
In November last year, Martin Buschmann, a member of the Animal Protection Party, representing Germany in the EP has sounded the alarm over the “mass killing of street dogs in Albania.”
In a Facebook post, the MEP writes that “in Albania, street dogs are being mass killed by the government”. As such, he announced he will be filing a written request regarding Albania’s EU accession and meeting criteria.
He notes that as a candidate, Albania must follow EU regulations on animal protection. His post continues by detailing that the Municipality of Tirana, headed by Erion Veliaj, has captured animals and instead of sterilizing them, has poisoned them.
“Their dead bodies are then disposed of at the municipal dump. We have to assume that thousands of street dogs have died this cruel way in recent years,” he wrote.
The MEP noted that these crimes have been evidenced by video footage, photos, testimony, and investigations, adding that petitions and protests have taken place over the issue.
“How will the prospects of the start of the entry negotiations with Albania be influenced by the fact that Albania seems to be missing any minimum standards in animal protection and for the other the protests of the egg genes being ignored by citizens?”
Buschmann also noted that there are legitimate questions over whether Albania has met the criteria for joining the EU.
https://exit.al/en/2021/04/03/stop-killing-our-best-friends-citizens-protest-against-poisoning-of-stray-dogs-by-tirana-municipality/
