WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE SERBIA - ANIMALS - AFA - Animals First Aid - hese Women are Serbia’s Last Hope for the Abandoned. We must help them.

 

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Credit: Jelena’s Sanctuary in Association of Animals First Aid (AFA) These Women are Serbia’s Last Hope for the Abandoned. We must help them. Dear friends, In a corner of Serbia where political chaos and economic collapse have made animal welfare nearly invisible, two brave women are standing against the tide of suffering. Jelena and Vera are not just rescuers—they are the last line of defense for the forgotten. Jelena runs a sanctuary where the barking never stops and the bills never rest. She recently had to buy low-quality food just to keep the dogs from starving. She has endured power cuts, aggressive strays, and desperate mothers giving birth on damp concrete. But what broke her was having to choose between medicine and food. Kindly contribute by making a donation today! Credit:  VeraVita Vera: caring for dogs who’ve survived the worst Vera is caring for dogs who’ve survived the worst—parvovirus, broken bones, and brutal abandonment. Her beloved Živkica suffers worsening seizures, and her vet can’t even start treatment because there's no money left. The shelter fence is falling apart. If it gives way, the dogs will rush into the road. Vera is terrified they’ll be hit by cars or vanish into the wild. Both women have taken in more animals than they can afford to feed. Some are staying with friends to avoid dangerous overcrowding. Vera’s friend is caring for a group of unvaccinated puppies riddled with fleas, worms, and ticks. They urgently need vaccines and immune support. Kindly contribute by making a donation today! Credit:  VeraVita These are not once-off emergencies. This is daily life. Then there’s the surgery. One female dog required a femoral osteotomy. She’s recovering now, but tore her stitches trying to remove her collar. Vera had to move her to a calmer space. The expenses for surgery and aftercare are growing—and there’s still a massive food debt hanging over them. And Serbia is not an easy place to fundraise. Many locals have given up hope. Prices rise, wages don’t. Compassion fatigue and political stress mean Vera and Jelena are completely alone. Kindly contribute by making a donation today! Credit: Jelena’s Sanctuary in Association of Animals First Aid (AFA) That’s why this appeal must be different. We want to move beyond patchwork crisis aid—and build a long-term solution. Animals First Aid is launching a Sustained Support Fund to help Jelena and Vera cover monthly food, medical care, and infrastructure costs. It means they can vaccinate before puppies get sick. It means Živkica can get her epilepsy meds. It means safer fencing, fewer accidents, and a real future for the animals in their care. We are asking for your help today—because these two women are holding back a tidal wave of suffering with nothing but their hearts. Kindly contribute by making a donation today! Credit:  VeraVita Please, give what you can. A monthly donation of $25 helps provide food and basic meds. - $50 covers a vaccination cycle for a puppy. - $100 repairs a section of the fence. Every gift counts. We’ll send updates regularly, with the animals you helped, the stories you changed, and the hope you created. Let’s stand by the ones who never give up—even when the world forgets them. Donate now to support Vera and Jelena. Because no one should have to beg to save a life. Kindly contribute by making a donation today! We cannot do this without you. Please, join us to keep these beautiful animals alive. Your compassion has always been the force behind our mission, and with your continued support, we can transform suffering into safety and despair into hope. Thank you for being part of our journey. By donating this cause you will be helping  “Vera Vita” and “Jelena’s Sanctuary” in Serbia. Phone (US): +1 773 300 2544 Animals First Aid (AFA) is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to saving and improving the lives of animals in urgent need. Through compassionate partnerships and global collaboration, we provide immediate care, shelter, and long-term solutions for abused, abandoned, and neglected animals. Every donation directly supports life-changing interventions, ensuring animals receive the love, safety, and healing they deserve. Animals First Aid is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States (EIN: 99-1042428), and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Together, we can continue making a difference, one precious life at a time.