Orce Gjorgievski announces expansion of treatment capacity for homeless dogs, likely at new site

Skopje's mayor, Orce Gjorgievski, announced that the city has secured funding to expand capacity for treatment and care of homeless dogs, but the work will most likely take place at a new site because the current Public Enterprise Laika facility cannot be extended due to unresolved urban planning restrictions.

Gjorgievski said the expansion process is expected to begin by the end of the year and that city services are already looking for alternative locations.

Urban planning blocks expansion at existing site

“The existing site was built illegally in the past and the detailed and general urban plans do not allow us to expand the capacity there. We are looking for another option and I believe that by the end of the year we will start the process of completing the build-out of capacities, perhaps at another location that we are currently identifying,” Gjorgievski said.

The mayor emphasized that while financing has been arranged, construction or additions at the present Laika site are impossible until the urban-planning issues are resolved.

Gjorgievski also assessed that visible progress has been made in handling the problem of homeless dogs in the capital, but he warned the issue is not yet fully resolved. City services are tasked with finding a solution that will provide better conditions for sheltering and treating animals and allow a more efficient response to the long-standing problem.

Photo: press material from the event