An unidentified individual shot one of the dogs near the railway line in Podgorica, while the other dog, which spent time with the injured female, is presumed dead.

Ratka Tanjević, a dedicated volunteer at the Vreli Ribničke shelter for abandoned animals in the Konik district, shared this with “Vijesti.” Tanjević has been volunteering four hours a day and is currently providing temporary care for the wounded dog.

The veterinarian’s report indicates that the female dog was wounded by a firearm, as confirmed by an X-ray revealing the presence of a bullet.

The incident has not been reported to the police because volunteers expressed that “people prefer to invest their time helping the dog rather than filing reports.”

They emphasized the need for trust in the system for reporting incidents, lamenting that this trust is lacking, especially since past issues, such as the killing of pet dogs in Berane, remain unaddressed. They also referenced a case in the Tuški put area of Podgorica, where multiple dogs died from poisoning, and the suspect was subsequently released.

Recently, animal rights activists have protested the actions of the Basic State Prosecutor in Rožaje, who dismissed charges after police detained suspects involved in dog fighting, claiming there were no criminal elements present.

The ODT clarified that, based on the collected information, police concluded that the dog owner did not seek any personal gain from the situation.

“Given all information gathered, the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office has determined that this is a misdemeanor (Article 51, Paragraph 1, Item 8 of the Law on the Protection of Animal Welfare). The critical reason for classifying this as a misdemeanor, rather than a criminal offense related to dog fighting (Article 309a of the Criminal Code of Montenegro), is the necessity of ‘mercenary’ benefit for its classification as a crime, which was absent in this case,” announced the Rožaje Prosecutor’s Office.

In response, animal rights activist Nikola Jočić stated he would appeal to the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, the Prosecutorial Council, and the Animal Protection Council regarding the organization of dog fights in Rožaje. He highlighted that based on the claims from organizers and abusers, it remains indeterminate whether any selfish motives were involved.

Concerning the female dog injured by gunfire, Ratka Tanjević informed “Vijesti” that she hadn’t seen her at her usual spot by the railway for several days:

“She was missing for six or seven days. She enjoyed roaming with her owner’s dog from the neighborhood. When I found her, she was severely injured, and I initially suspected she had been attacked with an axe. After taking her to the vet, they scanned her back and discovered she had been shot at close range with a shotgun… They were astonished that her lungs weren’t punctured, given the proximity of the shot. Just think of the pain she endured and what she has been through… Her companion is likely dead somewhere, as they were never apart,” she recounted.

Volunteers suspect the dogs were shot in the Old Airport neighborhood, as they were often seen in that area, frequently coming from the railway.

“Who walks around the Old Airport armed? Where is the law? Where are the authorities? What kind of place are we living in?” Tanjević questioned.

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