Year 2005.

The European Basketball Championship/2005. in Belgrade, Sponsored by FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball) is stained with blood due to the massive extermination of hundreds upon thousands of Companion Animals (Dogs and Cats (Pets)).

Behind the Scenes of the 2005 European Basketball Championship

Prior to the current Serbian administration, Serbian politicians promised to improve  animal welfare laws yet the horrendous conditions for all animals still exists in Serbia.

Today these same politicians ignore the pleas and cries from their own citizens and individuals abroad including Brigitte Bardot to stop the torture and murder of animals The following photographs depict how the current Serbian administration is administering animal control. These animal control methods were employed at an accelerated rate prior to the European Basketball Championship

Caught dogs and cats are transported on “Dog Catcher” trucks which also contain the bodies of dead animals that have already been poisoned and have been lying in the streets in cities and towns throughout Serbia.

Today, dog catchers have new- white truck, but the brutal methods of catching (with bare wire) ARE THE SAME.

Serbian streets continue to be inundated with companion animals (dogs and cats). Animal control in Serbia consists of; paying hunters for each animal killed (hunters present the animal’s tail for payment), poison such as T-61 and Kreozan which kills by suffocation, drenching the animal with gasoline and burning them to death and other barbaric methods such as beating, stoning and hanging.

These brutal killings have accelerated in the capital city of Belgrade, this past year in what seems to be a state sponsored massacre. The government’s objective appears to be to present the city as an attractive destination for tourists visiting sporting events such as the “Belgrade Marathon” and the “European Basketball Championship”. Even dogs that are sterilized (spayed / neutered) by reputable organizations such as “Foundation Brigitte Bardot” and fed by animal loving Serbian citizens have disappeared. According to these citizens, what is even more astonishing is the lack of coverage by the Serbian media of this slaughter. Serbian media continues to portray friendly dogs as rabid, vicious killers to their audience which makes one wonder, have things really changed since the media controlled Milosevic regime? Serbian media continues to portray dogs as rabid vicious killers to their audience.

We all strongly condemn the inhumane killing of stray dogs and cats on the street of Belgrade and in Serbia in preparation for the  2005 “European Basketball Championship” or at anytime.

Written by Alexandra Yurkiw @ 2005.