Zorica's Shelter for Stray Animals

Zorica Damjanovic from Novi Sad lives at the farm nearby village Budisava with her 220 dogs

Novi Sad – Golden retriever Plavi, who is happy to see any visitor, Bruno and Pepe who have recently been found on a railway track, 13-year old Stela and 114 other abandoned dogs have found their new home in a shelter nearby village Budisava, close to the city of Novi Sad. Zorica Damjanovic, the owner of the shelter which was founded within the Animal Protection Society 'European Initiative 17' says for 'Politika' that everything had started in the nineties, when she noticed that her daughter Jelena was very scared of the stray dogs. In order to overcome this fear, she bought her a pet dog, a maltese Bella. Zorica remembers that soon after that a stray dog appeared in front of their building. They named him Klempa, fed him and cared for him, protecting him from some of the neighbors who were not so friendly.

'That was when I decided to do whatever I could to help all abandoned, hurt, beaten and molested dogs to find a shelter. With my friend Slavica I made a first shelter in the woods close to the Veterinarian faculty in Belgrade. That was where we cared for around sixty dogs every day. Soon other people heard about that. In the meantime I moved to Novi Sad, and now I find all my pleasure in this shelter, where I keep struggling for the welfare of these dogs. People ask me what benefit I get from doing this, how much do I earn from this, and instead of answering to them, I invite them to visit the shelter 'Bella' and see for themselves' - says Zorica.

The shelter was founded five years ago, when the president of the Society for Animal Protection Djurdjevo, Ms. Monika Brukner, met Zorica and decided to buy the farm where the shelter is now. Zorica used a former stable building to make a room for a living and a kitchen, and she planted some flowers and trees... Although everything still looks quite modest, Zorica thinks it's a beautiful place:

' The neighbors from the village are bothered with the shelter, especially with barking of the dogs, so we receive serious threats: that they will poison the dogs, or call hunters to shoot them. I can not understand such an attitude that dog's life is worth nothing in this country, that a dog does not deserve to live' - says Zorica, and adds that with time people are getting used to what she does. Some neighbors are even asking her to help them sterilize their pets.

The 'Bella' shelter is the only shelter in the area of Novi Sad. When the location for the shelter was considered, all the legal regulations were respected such as the distance from the nearest settlement, nearest houses etc. The proud owner says that from recently all dogs are vaccinated and marked with electronic chips. 

'We need around 400 kg of food each day: 200 loafs of old bread, a bag and a half of meat, around 60 kg of granules. Good people are helping me, those who love animals, but most of all Novi Sad Humanitarian Center and Pero Mandic. I am in a constant struggle for additional amounts of food, but look at these dogs - they look great' - says Zorica proudly.

The Mayor of Novi Sad, Maja Gojkovic, has recently brought a decision to publish a tender for accommodation of stray cats and dogs in a shelter. The city is willing to finance if with 17 million dinars. Zorica says that the conditions of this tender are suitable only for those who already have tens of thousands of euros, but not for her who is taking care of her animals only with a help of good people's donations.

'They keep asking me what am I doing with all these dogs. I don't do anything, except for making it possible for them to live! My heart breaks when I have to refuse to accept a new dog into a shelter, because everything is full. Nevertheless, I do hope for better days' - says Zorica.