Landfills Feed Kosovo’s Massive Stray Dog Population

Vienna/Prishtina, 28 May 2026

• Across Kosovo, landfills have become major hotspots for abandoned and free-roaming dogs
• Kosovo’s stray population is enormous with a low average sterilisation rate of only 11%
• More than 50,600 dogs are roaming the streets with the largest stray population living in Pristina region
   

For years, Kosovo has been grappling with an enormous stray dog population due to uncontrolled breeding, abandonment and inadequate animal welfare systems. As landfills have emerged as a particular hotspot for stray dog populations, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, together with local partner veterinarian Albatrit Halili, carried out a Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) programme from 11 to 22 May at a landfill in Podujeva municipality. During the two-week operation, more than 100 stray dogs were neutered, vaccinated and treated for urgent injuries. To improve the welfare of stray dogs, FOUR PAWS has been active in the country since 2023, advocating and implementing humane, community-led dog population management programmes.

Both illegal and legal landfills are frequently used by owners to abandon their pets and unwanted litters. Often these sites are unfenced and allow for easy access to food waste for stray dogs. Yet conditions on these sites are particularly harsh and unsanitary with no access to clean drinking water or shelter. Dogs on landfills are constantly at risk of injury from sharp objects hidden in the rubble and are often less accustomed to human contact and very fearful, making it more difficult to approach them.

In Kosovo, more than 50,600 dogs are living on the streets, many of them suffering from hunger, disease, and other severe hardships. A 2024-2025 survey from FOUR PAWS in partnership with Kosovar Animal Rights Foundation, revealed that with a total estimated number of 11,300 stray dogs, Pristina is the region with the highest stray dog populations in Kosovo.

In Podujeva municipality, which is part of the Pristina region, an estimated 3,000 dogs are currently living on the streets, equating to around 42 stray dogs per 1,000 inhabitants. Since 2024, FOUR PAWS has been working to help and stabilise the dog population in Podujeva municipality, in cooperation with local partner veterinarian Albatrit Halili, through regular CNVR activities. To support long-term, sustainable impact, FOUR PAWS also strengthened local capacity by inviting veterinary students from the Kosovo Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to participate on site and gain first-hand experience in CNVR implementation during the operation in May.

To support local municipalities, FOUR PAWS together with Animal Rights Foundation is holding dog population management workshops in all of Kosovo’s seven regions. The animal welfare organisation already delivered the first two of a total of seven workshops in Peja and Prizren region from 19-22 May. During the workshops, FOUR PAWS is sharing its expertise and findings of the street dog population survey to aid with the development of targeted, municipality-specific action plans.