"Animal collector" problems

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: I am writing this in the name of our Society for the Protection of Animals of Ljubljana. : We are turning to you for support regarding a problem that has arisen in our country(Slovenia, Europe). Let me first introduce you to this problem. : Thankfully, we don't have many "animal collectors" in our small country, but we do have one causing great concern to us. This lady, Milena Mocivnik, has been collecting animals for 15 years now. She has between 300-400 dogs in her back yard at the moment. Ms. Mocivnik is showing all typical signs of Animal Collector Syndrome. She refuses to give animals for adoption; animals are not treated when ill or injured and if they are seriously ill or hurt, they are left to die without veterinary care; dogs are not neutered nor segregated by sex. Not many puppies survive because they are eaten; there are many cases of cannibalism; we've even managed to trace some dogs that were stolen, to her, etc. As most collectors, she also has the ability to attract sympathy for herself, no matter how abused her animals are; is refusing to accept reality - she insists that ill dogs are healthy; that overcrowding does not subject animals to severe stress and related diseases; that they are comfortable this way. : Somehow she has always managed to avoid attention of the authorities and - which is even worse, she has gained public support. Regrettably the public are unaware what the real situation is, she is being portrayed as a Good Samaritan helping poor animals. This is why we are having difficulties presenting the true situation. : Finally, our authorities have decided that enough is enough. In January she was given an order by the Veterinary Administration of Slovenia to clear her back yard of animals before the end of March. They have even agreed to help by vaccinating and microchipping all the animals. She will then be allowed to keep up to five dogs, in line with the Slovene Animals Protection Act. : If she does not give those dogs for adoption by the end of March, all dogs will be taken from her and moved to another location where they will all be treated and evaluated by a group of national and international veterinarians together with representatives of Slovene NGOs for Animal Welfare. Animals that are incurably ill or injured and are suffering will be humanely euthanised and all the other animals will be neutered and rehomed by NGOs for Animal Welfare. The biggest share of rehoming will of course fall on our Society for the Protection of Animals of Ljubljana, since Ms. Mocivnik has her dogs just outside our Capital, Ljubljana. This way the authorities will work hand in hand with us NGOs in assisting those animals. : Now we come to the problem. Some months ago, Ms. Mocivnik was offered help from the Austrian Society 'Tierhilfe Sueden'. We all applauded the offer since our best interest is helping those animals. Since Ms. Močivnik will not let any of our SPA members to enter her premises, we were pleased someone would get in to help those dogs. : But the problem is that their goal, besides helping those animals, is allowing this collector to keep 50-80 animals, which we believe is unacceptable. : Propaganda is now being spread internationally to show Slovenia as barbaric country that refuses to help those animals and that all dogs taken from Ms. Mocivnik will be killed. But in fact, Slovenia is one of few countries where euthanasia of healthy companion animals before 30 days after the animal has been found is against the law and is prosecuted by Criminal Law by up to 3 months imprisonment. The Veterinary Administration of Slovenia has also agreed that for the animals from Ms. Mocivnik the 30 days time limit will be prolonged for 6 months to 1 year - until animals are successfully rehomed. : We believe that the Tierhilfe Sueden, as many before them, have been mislead in this issue and we are very sorry we cannot have warmer cooperation with them. However, we would be very pleased if they too will assist with evaluation and rehoming those dogs after they are rescued from Ms. Mocivnik. : Our request for you is, since Tierhilfe Süden have obviously been mislead, please don't support their demands regarding this issue as that would mean helping the animal collector keep animals. Please, let our authorities take those animals which will NOT BE KILLED and give those dogs the opportunity for normal life, God knows they deserve it! : If you need any more information please do not hesitate to contact us. We also ask you to spread the word about this situation! : Best regards : Urska Dolenc : Here is a link to a page with pictures of animals rescued from the place. It is in slowenian but wait for the pictures to load.. They are in the middle of the page. : http://www.drustvo-zascita-zivali.si/aktualno.htm : : Please write a letter of protest to Tierhilfe Sueden : birgit.reuter@tierhilfe-sueden.de

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