We’ve decided to share a secret with you. This secret is known and kept by members of our organization (and surely some others) and some independent volunteers. This secret is sometimes public, but in those moments, it is neglected and almost entirely unnoticed.
Anonymous volunteers in the streets of the city “steal” dozens of stray animals every year. Quietly, when no one is around, often without announcements on pages and with as little noise as possible. Those who start calls to organizations with, “Please, post this. But you know… Don’t mention me…“. These people, their posts, and the animals they quietly, without much fuss, removed from the street, seem to go unnoticed. Their pleas for help are the quickest to be forgotten. But why so secretly? Due to the judgment of their surroundings, of course. Because of neighbors angry at the world, because of business owners who hate animals, because of colleagues who think it’s a waste of money. Volunteering in our city is often easier if it’s done secretly.
And so begins this secret story – the story of Volunteer X and Volunteer Y
This story is not fictional. Let’s slowly get to know Volunteer X and Volunteer Y. They have been feeding cats around their buildings for years. When one wouldn’t have money, the other would help to get food for all the cats. When the other wouldn’t have a car, the first would drive every animal to the vet. When neither had a way to continue, they would turn to our organization. Volunteer X and Volunteer Y pay most veterinary expenses themselves or with the help of friends and acquaintances. They also often have debts with veterinarians. When the debts become too large, they turn to the organization and ask it to take on part of the debt. The current debts of Volunteer X and Volunteer Y, individually and through NGO WagWag, are around 1000 KM (and if you want, you can help them by sending a donation to PayPal donate@wagwag.club).
What’s the score? (Well, this isn’t a game)
Maybe it isn’t a game, but there is a result. From the New Year until now:
Over 30 animals rescued from the street
Over 15 street cats fed every day
Over 20 assists to other volunteers (with capturing and transport)
In the rest of the blog, you can see photos and brief information about some of the rescues Volunteer X and Volunteer Y participated in this year.
- “Cat Frida, rescued in Borik, Kordunaška street near the towers. The cat was losing hair, was very scared, hiding, extremely thin. Volunteer Z brought food and sand, new sleeping pillows, and Frida’s first toys, and especially through donations helped make Frida’s treatment faster and better. We placed her in temporary accommodation; she gets quality food and drinks Animastrat; we did all her tests, including hair loss from stress…The cat is now well, has received vaccines, and now needs to be spayed. We are looking for a permanent home for her.”
- “Cat Victoria, hit by a car in Kordunaška street, left with a broken jaw, an eye knocked out from the impact, and she will never see from the other eye again. Victoria had even more love and care because Volunteer Z was always there when she could from work and with donations every time. We saved her, operated on her at BL Vet, she was in Vet Medik for a while, received therapy, Animastrat.. was in temporary accommodation. She is now adopted in Germany.”
- “Cat Zućo, was found in terribly bad condition in the Vrbanja neighbourhood.. we immediately went to get him, to Vet Medik for treatment, did tests, he has FIV, very weak immunity, then we had to fight sinusitis, chronically, it returns.. he had to eat special food for a while, now he eats everything. Animastrat every day, probiotics.. he is cuddly and tame, looking for a home.. soon vaccines and castration.. recovering from sinusitis for the third time. Only love saved Cat Zućo, which he had from all sides, a lot of care and cuddles from volunteers, and especially Volunteer Z, who always thinks about the details: the comfort the cat must have, warmth, and the highest quality food, of course, donations as much as we can, and they came from all sides.”
- “The Cat from the garage has chronic bronchitis. We sterilized her, and she is now fine. We are returning her to the location because she is quite wild and not for adoption. She had kittens; one stayed, and we saved it, in temporary care.”
- “Cat that couldn’t use her back legs, found near Slap, along with another kitten from the same litter. Vet, x-rays, food, urination at the vet every day two or three times. The cat was adopted by a wonderful person, Q, and the cat walked again and enjoyed life. Another kitten from the garages adopted by Q, had eye inflammation, now they enjoy together.”
- “A Colorful, sweet cat from the garages and her kittens were saved, and they are in temporary care, receiving their first vaccine.”
- “Šarplaninac left alone in the yard, the owner, who was already elderly, got sick.. relatives couldn’t take him.. they wanted to call the shelter. Neighbours fed Medo. When we came for him, the neighbours cried for him. We found him temporary care, visited him daily, walked, and gave him love. He was in BL for three months. Volunteer Z walked Medo every day for three months, three hours each time, taking him out of the box he was in, cuddling him and promising him a dream home. And she succeeded… Medo was adopted in France in a small place near Lyon, where he has a big yard and wonderful people who love and appreciate how wonderful he is!”
- “Terrier dog, Basty, 4 years old, wandering around Mejdan exhausted, bitten, full of ticks, in dreadlocks, moving with difficulty. He was constantly being posted; who would save him… then we took action and took him to the vet; he got Simparica, already treated.., and had a mark. Took him for grooming and bathing. We found temporary care for him and got vaccines for infectious diseases.. soon he went to Germany through W and is now waiting for adoption.. he’s posted.”
- “Female dog Mirna, now posted for adoption as Santana. I found her in the Zotović area, limping a bit, took her to the vet and found out she was about 8 months old. Sterilized… She got her first vaccine and got sick, got parvo.. the fight started: infusions, vitamins, immune-boosting cocktails, injections, expensive serum.. daily with her just to survive. Luckily, Mirna is fine and recovered. She also went to Germany through W and is waiting for people to adopt her. We have a debt in Vet Medic, about 400KM.. but Mirna is in the right place, and that’s important. They named her Santana.”
- “A dog we saved is also a Husky that wandered around Ramići for days. He was hit in the jaw.. couldn’t eat, and was already exhausted.. we did many posts about him. Q and I sat down, found him and take to the vet.. the chip was read and the owner found.. who came for him. Their Husky had escaped, and they were looking for him. The owner was grateful we found him because he would have died if we hadn’t taken him to the vet.”
- “Dogs from Drvar: We saved a mother and two puppies. Q and I went to Drvar. We brought them, dewormed them, vaccinated them, and temporarily cared for them. One puppy was immediately adopted in BL. The mother and other puppy were treated further, sterilized, and are now going to Germany for adoption this Friday or next.”
- “Beki, the dog that often wandered around Bema, was everyone’s and no one’s. We saved him with an injured leg, temporary care, vaccines, castration, papers, and a passport. Volunteer Z spent hours with Beki, cuddling him and playing with him endlessly because Beki had special energy that needed to be followed. She whispered to him every day that he would be the happiest dog in the world! And he is! Happily adopted in Germany.”
- “Yellow kittens saved from the street, with eye problems, have been to the vet, got antibiotics, applied ointment, and given Animastrat. They are in temporary care, waiting to recover and get vaccinated.”
- “Mona is the mother of 9 puppies.. We saved her pregnant because everyone at the bar in Trapisti was kicking her.. now in temporary care.. waiting for the first vaccine.”
We must emphasize that this blog talks about Volunteer X and Volunteer Y as people who committed to specific animals from the street and followed their needs from rescue to adoption. By telling their story, we do not want to diminish the contributions of others who participated in donating or finding homes for these animals because without them these rescues wouldn’t be possible. Thank you, Volunteer X, for taking the time to write short descriptions of some of the rescued animals. And don’t forget, the next time you see an anonymous post on social media – it might be from Volunteer X and Volunteer Y. Help them if you can.
