Stray Animal Care in Kosovo

The large number of stray dogs in Kosovo today is closely linked to the Kosovo War (1998–1999), when hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. Many dogs were left behind or became separated from their families in the chaos of the conflict. 

Since then, the situation has worsened. Uncontrolled breeding, continued abandonment, and limited animal welfare systems have led to a growing population of stray dogs across the country. Many animals struggle to survive, facing hunger, disease, and harsh weather, while their presence also raises concerns for public health and safety. 

Attempts to manage the population, including the large-scale killing of stray dogs and placing thousands of dogs in shelters, have not provided sustainable or humane solutions. Over 50,000 dogs continue to live on the streets.  

Over the past years, Kosovo has taken significant steps to transition from outdated practices to a more humane and sustainable approach to dog population management. 

The country banned culling and introduced Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR), later implemented mandatory microchipping and registration while prohibiting animal abandonment. Although challenges around data, veterinary capacity, and community engagement persisted, these measures laid important groundwork. 

In 2022, Kosovo introduced a new national strategy to manage the stray dog population. However, an initial proposal allowed for the euthanasia of healthy dogs after just 14 days in shelters, but thanks to the strong advocacy of local organisations, including our partner Animal Rights Foundation, supported by FOUR PAWS, this approach was successfully challenged and revised in 2023. Today, Kosovo’s framework promotes humane dog population management and recognises the CNVR method as a key method.  

New shelter regulations define minimum standards for facilities housing companion animals and ensure that euthanasia is only used in justified individual cases, not as a routine measure.
 

This marked an important first step towards a brighter future for stray dogs in Kosovo 

Despite this progress, the situation continues to require urgent attention and assistance. Therefore, FOUR PAWS decided to follow up on our efforts for stray dogs: from lobbying with national and municipal authorities to establishing reliable partnerships with local NGOs, as well as partnering with local veterinary clinics to directly sterilise, vaccinate, and treat stray dogs in need of help. 

While important progress has been made, the situation for stray dogs in Kosovo remains challenging. 

FOUR PAWS will continue working with local partners, authorities, and communities to create sustainable, humane solutions, ensuring a better future for both animals and people.