“If adoption is an option, our highest priority is that the animal finds a beautiful, safe, and long-term home.”
— Bruno Jelović
Our approach
We see adoptions purely as an option for a very small minority of our dogs. With this, we clearly differentiate ourselves from most organizations – we do not want to transport Bosnia’s dogs across Europe and place additional strain on existing animal shelters or even risk overburdening them. Why do we mention placing a strain or overburdening them?
Many people have good intentions and want to help by adopting a dog. However, they often only realize later that adopting a street dog requires a great deal of time, patience, and dedication. In many cases, people do not have enough time or patience, and these dogs unfortunately end up in shelters. This is exactly where we want to make a difference. On the one hand, we aim to provide dogs with a safe life in their own country – on our ranches, where they can live a beautiful life in freedom. This means giving them a future where they lack nothing.
However, if one of our dogs has the opportunity for a truly wonderful home, an adoption application has been submitted, and we have verified the conditions, then there is nothing standing in the way of an adoption.
What you need to consider
If you are interested in one of our dogs, you are welcome to send us an email at info@savethedogsbih.ch and include a picture of the dog that caught your interest. We will then send you the adoption form. Further information about the dog and the next steps will be provided after we receive your completed form.
Please be aware of how much time a former street dog or a dog that has lived on a chain or in a cage will need with you. They do not yet know basic commands such as “sit” or “down,” and being house-trained is something completely new. It is like having a puppy that starts at “zero” in a home environment, possibly already with some existing habits.
Please also consider whether the dog is permitted in your place of residence. In some countries or regions, for example, certain breeds (so-called listed dogs) or dogs with cropped ears or tails are prohibited.