In the human-animal relationship, the dog does not care if its owner resides in a mansion or on the street, what is their religion or the color of their skin. Love, care, affection and respect are enough to earn a dog’s trust. But even so, many of them are thrown to the streets as garbage. We will tell the story today of a big-hearted man who has decided to change his life … and many others.
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When Sasha opened his shelter in 2008, he probably didn’t expect it to become so overcrowded
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
And by “overcrowded” we mean 750 dogs living there at this very moment
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
It all started in 2008, when Sasha Pesic was returning to his home in the Serbian city of Nis after a long day, and happened to meet four abandoned puppies along the way. The scene moved him to such an extent that even without financial conditions, he began a plan to help them. This small display of love, dedication and solidarity started something that eventually made him one of the leading defenders of animals in Serbia.
Sasha didn’t close the door to any of the poor four-legged friends that needed his help
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Along with 6 volunteers, Sasha opened a shelter to provide home and food to all four-legged furry creatures without discrimination. All this, thanks to the contributions and donations he receives from various parts of the world. And if that wasn’t enough, he knows all of their names, vaccinates them, sterilizes them and even gives them an identification microchip.
Together with other volunteers they care of the dogs and make sure they all get vaccinated and sterilized
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
See Sasha in action rescuing puppies in the video below
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
The shelter currently has over 750 dogs, has rescued 1,200 and about 400 of them have been adopted by people around the world. Pesic is an excellent example for your country and the world. But like any superhero … he has his enemies. And in this case, it is the landowners where the shelter is located who are requesting their departure.
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Fortunately, a petition signed by thousands of people has led to the authorities giving up, and although the matter is not permanently settled, Pesic is grateful that his dogs still have a home. The shelter is overcrowded, as Sasha himself admits, but for now, he has no better alternative.
“The problem here is in the system and the institutions that should be taking care of this,” Sasha told Bored Panda. “They are broken and corrupted and cause even more damage rather than actually helping the situation.”
“The other problem is in the irresponsibility of the owners who don’t neuter their dogs and leave them outside when they don’t want them anymore. Reasons vary from ‘I got a baby and I can’t take care of the dog’ to ‘I don’t need it anymore.'”
“There is confusion and carelessness towards animals here that causes a lot of problems of these kinds.”
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
“I receive zero assistance from the government and some vets are actually charging me more than regular prices because they think I have a lot of money from donations. I’m all on my own and I cover the veterinary treatment and everything necessary out of donations and my own pocket.”
The total number of dogs that Sasha has saved is around 1200
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
Image credits: sashashelterserbia
People can visit Sasha’s Patreon page: patreon.com/sashashelter to become Patrons and help him to cover the huge fixed costs that he has each month. They go to up to $20k per month and that is the goal he is aiming for on Patreon. Sasha wants to build a sustainable income source so he can secure the future of the shelter.
For one-time payers, you can use PayPal: sasha.pesic.shelter@gmail.com
You can watch a video from Sasha’s Shelter below
“These dogs just need a little love, food and care, many come to the shelter sad and scared but in time their joy is returned,” Sasha says with pride.
Let’s hope his good work can continue until all the abandoned dogs of Nis are properly looked after!
Here’s what people had to say about the sad, yet heartwarming story
I've had a privilege to go there twice and meet Sasha. You wouldn't believe the amount of positive energy there and that feeling when you are surrounded with 100s of dogs at the same time :) What he does is heroic and I feel he needs to get more attention, help and credits worldwide!
This warms my heart... All dogs deserve a second chance! Everyone, if you are able, please adopt, don't shop. There are several dogs such as these who need a home. It may not seem like much, but when you buy a dog from a pet shop, there will be a pretty high chance a puppy mill has sold it to them. If you don't know what those are, please google it! Stay kind everyone. :)
It's hard to believe that there are people who still don't know that breeders treat animals like a mere commodity, that these dogs are inbred, will have many medical issues and will suffer. Once again: don't shop, adopt....please.
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Really great! Specially that they neuter all dogs so they not only help these dogs, but also prevent having more stray dogs in the future. Thank you Sasha & friends.
This was my first question when I read the headline ha ha great to hear!
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Is his surname really Pesić? Because that would actually mean "little dog". It fits so well, it feels like a pseudonym.
Isn't little dog called psić in Croatian? But it *is* similar, I guess. Probably a very happy coincidence that this guy called Pesić also loves and takes care of dogs _____ Edit: Daria, thanks for reminding me, I did hear pes and hear (and used) peso and yes, it's just a dialect; but I guess it's possible and plausible that that's where the name Pesić originality came from (with suffix "-ić" added to it just like with many other surnames on Balkan)
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He's def another godsend, hopefully more people donate to him so he can continues to save these poor doggy.
Maybe I missed it, but is there contact info for donations? I'm pretty tired today, but I scrolled through twice and couldn't find it. We'd love to send what we can.
God bless them all. Truly heros! I'm by far not rich. But sent them what I could! Way to go Sasha! Much respect! From Chicago!
Watching the video when the pups just automatically followed him to his car just shows the eternal bond they have with humans even after being abandoned they still wanted to be with us and trust again.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain, American writer (1835 - 1910)
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First thought: How incredibly caring... Second thought: that's A LOT of poop to clean up.
You can learn a lot about a person based on how they treat even the tiniest animal. Sasha truly must have a heart of gold.
The vets are charging him more? Shame on them. People with a big heart, like Sasha, will never get rich, they are just doing more, giving more for the cause, usually get little recognition. I would like to tell those veterinarians, you are a disgrace!
The people of the Serbian city of Nis discard dogs like trash, shame on them!
That is happening everywhere in the world....some people are sub-human monsters.
Load More Replies...
Here you go!: patreon.com/sashashelter
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How lovely of him! I admire everyone who wants to help like this, not asking anything in return. Especially lovely dogs, strays are treated quite poorly in Serbia. And he is Serbian like me!
Don't think that person is in need of a wife :-) But every Euro or Dollar is worth spend to help his cause!: patreon.com/sashashelter
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He can live without any firearms to protect himself and his family with those ......
Wait for it, how many will disapprove of these dog's living conditions. How will miss the goodness of this story?
They look skinny, dirty and unhealthy and they dont have a owner with them
Load More Replies... I've had a privilege to go there twice and meet Sasha. You wouldn't believe the amount of positive energy there and that feeling when you are surrounded with 100s of dogs at the same time :) What he does is heroic and I feel he needs to get more attention, help and credits worldwide!
This warms my heart... All dogs deserve a second chance! Everyone, if you are able, please adopt, don't shop. There are several dogs such as these who need a home. It may not seem like much, but when you buy a dog from a pet shop, there will be a pretty high chance a puppy mill has sold it to them. If you don't know what those are, please google it! Stay kind everyone. :)
It's hard to believe that there are people who still don't know that breeders treat animals like a mere commodity, that these dogs are inbred, will have many medical issues and will suffer. Once again: don't shop, adopt....please.
Load More Replies... Really great! Specially that they neuter all dogs so they not only help these dogs, but also prevent having more stray dogs in the future. Thank you Sasha & friends.
This was my first question when I read the headline ha ha great to hear!
Load More Replies... Is his surname really Pesić? Because that would actually mean "little dog". It fits so well, it feels like a pseudonym.
Isn't little dog called psić in Croatian? But it *is* similar, I guess. Probably a very happy coincidence that this guy called Pesić also loves and takes care of dogs _____ Edit: Daria, thanks for reminding me, I did hear pes and hear (and used) peso and yes, it's just a dialect; but I guess it's possible and plausible that that's where the name Pesić originality came from (with suffix "-ić" added to it just like with many other surnames on Balkan)
Load More Replies... He's def another godsend, hopefully more people donate to him so he can continues to save these poor doggy.
Maybe I missed it, but is there contact info for donations? I'm pretty tired today, but I scrolled through twice and couldn't find it. We'd love to send what we can.
God bless them all. Truly heros! I'm by far not rich. But sent them what I could! Way to go Sasha! Much respect! From Chicago!
Watching the video when the pups just automatically followed him to his car just shows the eternal bond they have with humans even after being abandoned they still wanted to be with us and trust again.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain, American writer (1835 - 1910)
Load More Replies... First thought: How incredibly caring... Second thought: that's A LOT of poop to clean up.
You can learn a lot about a person based on how they treat even the tiniest animal. Sasha truly must have a heart of gold.
The vets are charging him more? Shame on them. People with a big heart, like Sasha, will never get rich, they are just doing more, giving more for the cause, usually get little recognition. I would like to tell those veterinarians, you are a disgrace!
The people of the Serbian city of Nis discard dogs like trash, shame on them!
That is happening everywhere in the world....some people are sub-human monsters.
Load More Replies... Here you go!: patreon.com/sashashelter
Load More Replies... How lovely of him! I admire everyone who wants to help like this, not asking anything in return. Especially lovely dogs, strays are treated quite poorly in Serbia. And he is Serbian like me!
Don't think that person is in need of a wife :-) But every Euro or Dollar is worth spend to help his cause!: patreon.com/sashashelter
Load More Replies... He can live without any firearms to protect himself and his family with those ......
Wait for it, how many will disapprove of these dog's living conditions. How will miss the goodness of this story?
They look skinny, dirty and unhealthy and they dont have a owner with them
Load More Replies...
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