Ben Madilynn
Animal protection must not remain on the shoulders of individuals, volunteers and animal lovers, as has been the case for years. A systemic solution is necessary, where asylums do not represent the final, but the initial step in caring for animals, announced the candidate for councilor in the Capital City Assembly, Tamara Tomić, in front of the list “Turnaround – It can’t be like this anymore – Srđan Perić”.
“The current situation in Podgorica is such that the construction of new shelters will not solve the problem, because the awareness of irresponsible owners and non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act remain a big challenge,” Tomić said.
She added that a change in the system is needed, which will ensure a stricter criminal policy and greater responsibility of animal owners.
How much someone donates to shelters is a nice gesture, but what is much more important is how much the institutions, led by those in responsible positions, have done to permanently solve this problem, Tomić emphasizes.
“Volunteer organizations and animal lovers have been providing significant support for years and rescuing dogs that would have been euthanized according to the rules of the asylum. These dogs now live in warm homes, which indicates the humanity and commitment that the system must recognize and support,” Tomić said. .
She states that she understands that caring for sick and abandoned animals is challenging, both financially and emotionally.
“However, the citizens, through their taxes, already finance the asylums, which means that this money must be used more efficiently. In order to solve the problem on a long-term level, in the next mandate of the local government, the Urokret will ask for more resources for the asylums, but also the introduction of a more rigorous punishment for irresponsible owners, which will fill the city budget and create funds for planned expenses”.
Despite claims that there are more important things than protecting animals, as Tomić said, our attitude towards animals also reflects our attitude towards the law and social responsibility.
Respecting the Law on identification and registration of animals is of crucial importance, she adds.
“The city annually spends significant funds on compensation for dog bites, which can be reduced through systemic measures such as sterilization and castration. By introducing subsidies for these procedures and more rigorous control of the law, we can solve the problem in the long term. Changing the penal policy and supporting citizens through subsidies and education will be steps that will enable a more sustainable system of animal protection and greater responsibility of owners, contributing to a better attitude of society towards animals and their well-being, concludes Tomić.
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