Sports teacher opens shelter for abandoned street dogs in Kosovo

(4 Nov 2023)
KOSOVO DOG SHELTER

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 3:04

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bakshi, Obiliq, Kosovo - 29 October 2023

1. Various of free roaming dogs at shelter
2. Various of shelter owner Lulzim Prenku with dogs, hugging them
3. Various of dogs at shelter
4. Various of Prenku hugging dogs, getting licked by dogs
5. Various of dogs at shelter
6. Prenku taking care of dogs
7. Close of dog
8. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Lulzim Prenku, owner of dog shelter:
“We take the dogs from the streets, those who need care to a veterinarian. In many cases, we take them to the shelter, vaccinate them, sterilize them and they are ready for adoption. The moment a dog comes to the shelter, he is open for adoption.”

9. Close of dog
10. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Lulzim Prenku, owner of dog shelter:
“There are about 400 dogs in this shelter. I can’t really say exactly how much time it has taken to collect them, but they gradually come and go."

11. Wide of shelter and dogs
12. Close of dog
13. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Perparim Pacolli, dog carer:
“When they come here, we check them if they are okay, if they have a problem, if they need care. Then we continue with their cleaning and hygiene. Then we take them on different activities, like taking them out for a walk, they need walking, they need different games, and everything else the dogs need.”

14. Wide of dog shelter

LEADIN:

With assistance from international animal organizations, a sports teacher in Kosovo has turned his dream into a reality - opening a shelter for stray dogs.

STORYLINE:

Lulzim Prenku’s 5,000 square meter (1.23 acre) shelter in Bakshi village, Obiliq municipality, 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of capital Pristina, has rescued around 400 dogs from the local area.

Whenever he sees a street dog, he picks it up.

Others are brought in by members of the public or organizations.

With a devotion to dogs, 32-year-old Prenku realised the small shelter at his home wasn't enough, so he pushed to open a much larger one.

“We take the dogs from the streets, those who need care to a veterinarian. In many cases, we take them to the shelter, vaccinate them, sterilize them and they are ready for adoption. The moment a dog comes to the shelter, he is open for adoption,” says Prenku, a sports teacher by profession, who spends all his free time with the canines.

“There are about 400 dogs in this shelter. I can’t really say exactly how much time it has taken to collect them, but they gradually come and go," he adds.

Free-roaming dogs, many of them abandoned by previous owners and found on streets, can often turn into a nuisance in cities - when no one takes care of them, they may become hungry and even attack people.

Prenku says all they need is love, food and care.

Dogs at the shelter are of all breeds, from the little Piknizer, to big Dobermans and Pitbulls.

Here, they get all the care they require, starting with vaccinations, sterilization and other healthcare.

Divided in nine areas based on their breed, the dogs are cared for by four temporary workers and several volunteers.

“When they come here, we check them if they are okay, if they have a problem, if they need care," explains Perparim Pacolli, one of the people in charge.

"Then we continue with their cleaning and hygiene. Then we take them on different activities, like taking them out for a walk, they need walking, they need different games, and everything else the dogs need.”
Some 150 dogs have so far been adopted by people coming from as far as Germany, Austria and Sweden.
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