Around 500 people are estimated to have participated throughout the evening. Some attended the concert, others stopped by specifically to make a donation, while several participants joined with their pets.

The response from the local community was extremely positive, both during the event and on social media, with many people expressing their willingness to continue supporting the project.

More than 5,000 BAM raised for shelter dogs

Thanks to the generosity of those who participated, 5,220 BAM were raised through ticket donations alone.

The international GoFundMe campaign has also reached €1,072 and remains active, allowing supporters from outside Bosnia and Herzegovina to contribute to the initiative.

WagWag is also awaiting further contributions, including support announced by the Mayor of Banja Luka and several individuals who have pledged to help.

All funds raised will contribute to the construction of additional outdoor enclosures at the Banja Luka public shelter, giving more dogs the opportunity to spend time outside their kennels, move freely and benefit from sunlight, fresh air and environmental stimulation.

Building on the progress already achieved

The initiative follows the progress made in 2025, when seven outdoor enclosures were successfully constructed thanks to volunteers and donors.

For dogs that may spend months or even years in a shelter while waiting for adoption, access to these spaces can make a significant difference to their physical and psychological wellbeing, helping to reduce stress and encouraging natural behaviours.

The success of the concert represents another important step towards improving their daily lives and shows how cooperation between volunteers, citizens, institutions and international supporters can lead to concrete improvements for animals.

The fundraising campaign continues

Those wishing to support the project can still contribute through the international GoFundMe campaign:

Help shelter dogs in Bosnia experience the outdoors again

Every contribution will help  WagWag and OIPA continue expanding the outdoor areas available to dogs at the Banja Luka public shelter.

L'articolo Banja Luka stands with shelter dogs: around 500 people join OIPA Bosnia’s fundraising concert proviene da OIPA.

Dogs living in public shelters may spend months or even years waiting for a family. During this time, access to outdoor areas, natural light, fresh air and regular exercise is essential for protecting their physical and psychological wellbeing.

For this reason, UG WagWag, OIPA’s official representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is working to build additional outdoor enclosures for dogs housed in the public shelter of Banja Luka.

The initiative aims to offer more animals the opportunity to move freely, explore their surroundings and enjoy a healthier and more stimulating daily routine while waiting to be adopted.

Improving the lives of shelter dogs

UG WagWag works actively to protect animals in Bosnia and Herzegovina through sterilization programmes, public awareness initiatives and projects designed to improve shelter conditions.

Despite the continuous commitment of volunteers, the infrastructure currently available at the Banja Luka public shelter remains insufficient to meet the needs of all the dogs housed there.

Many animals have limited access to:

• outdoor movement and exercise;
• natural sunlight and fresh air;
• environmental stimulation;
• adequate space to express natural behaviours.

Long periods spent in confined or unstimulating environments can increase stress, frustration and anxiety, negatively affecting both the health and behaviour of shelter dogs.

The construction of outdoor enclosures has therefore become a key priority for OIPA’s local representative.

Seven outdoor enclosures built in 2025

Thanks to the support of volunteers and donors, seven outdoor enclosures were successfully constructed during 2025.

These spaces have already brought tangible improvements to the dogs’ quality of life, providing them with:

• more room to move and exercise;
• regular exposure to daylight and fresh air;
• better ventilation;
• increased environmental stimulation;
• reduced stress and behavioural frustration.

The goal is now to expand the project so that more dogs can benefit from these improved conditions.

Music and solidarity for the animals

To support the next phase of the project, UG WagWag is organizing a humanitarian concert in Banja Luka.

Event details

Date: Friday, 31 July 2026
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: New Amphitheatre near the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economics, Banja Luka
Performer: Rock Oktet
Minimum donation: 10 BAM

All proceeds raised during the concert will be dedicated to the construction of additional outdoor enclosures for dogs living in the public shelter.

The event brings together music, local participation and solidarity, demonstrating how community initiatives can generate practical and lasting improvements for vulnerable animals.

Why outdoor enclosures matter

For a shelter dog, an outdoor enclosure means far more than additional space.

It provides the opportunity to run, explore, interact with the surrounding environment and experience sunlight and fresh air. These activities support physical health, encourage natural behaviour and help reduce stress and anxiety.

For dogs facing a prolonged stay in a shelter, access to an outdoor area can make a significant difference to their daily lives, offering them greater dignity, comfort and wellbeing while they wait for adoption.

Support the campaign from anywhere in the world

Those who cannot attend the concert can still support the project through the international GoFundMe campaign:

Help shelter dogs in Bosnia experience the outdoors again

Every donation, regardless of its amount, contributes to the construction of another enclosure and helps provide more shelter dogs with access to movement, sunlight, fresh air and safer living conditions.

Through the work of OIPA’s representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, local volunteers, citizens and international supporters can join forces to achieve concrete improvements for abandoned animals.

Support the campaign and help give shelter dogs in Banja Luka a healthier and more humane life.

L'articolo Help Shelter Dogs in Banja Luka: OIPA Bosnia Raises Funds for New Outdoor Enclosures proviene da OIPA.

The event created an important space for dialogue around a growing issue: the increasing exposure of women activists to online attacks, insults, and gender-based discrimination. Participants shared firsthand experiences, highlighting how digital violence is not limited to the online sphere but often has real consequences on personal safety, mental health, and daily life.

A key contribution came from Dr. Marija Kelber, who addressed the psychological impact of online violence and provided insights into how individuals can maintain emotional resilience in challenging digital environments. Her intervention helped frame the discussion within a broader understanding of how constant exposure to negativity can affect confidence, motivation, and public engagement.

Beyond the challenges, the webinar emphasized the importance of solidarity and mutual support. Participants identified common patterns in how women in animal protection are targeted online and exchanged strategies for responding to these situations, reinforcing the need for a stronger, more connected community.

This discussion highlighted a crucial message: women working to protect animals should not face intimidation or harassment for their commitment. The digital space must become a safer environment where activism can thrive without fear.

Watch the full recording of the webinar, now available below with English subtitles, to hear directly from the voices and experiences shared during this important discussion.

L'articolo OIPA Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Webinar: “Women Volunteers in the Digital Space” proviene da OIPA.

what they needs

Given the large number of cats, food costs are significant, and expenses for litter, cleaning and other care items have increased drastically.

Musa needs as much food as possible to help his cats survive the winter.

 

You can make the difference. Even a small donation can mean a lot for Musa and all the cats of his shelter in Mostar

L'articolo Donations for Wagwag proviene da OIPA.

The facilities are run by the many volunteers on the ground and have become necessary because of the large number of strays that have so far not been effectively managed by institutions. Most sterilization projects conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina have focused on dogs, and often the financial burden have fallen on volunteers. Cities do not have municipal cat shelters, and the vast majority of municipalities do not allocate budget funds for projects to reduce the number of stray cats.

Cat Hotels in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wag Wag’s Cat Hotels, in addition to offering strays the chance to live in dignity, want to provide long-term solutions. The goal is to provide a safe shelter that can also be a stall for all those stray cats in need of veterinary care. This is also especially important to protect the volunteers themselves, who are often exposed to verbal attacks from irresponsible citizens as well as vandalism of food and water containers and threats.

The construction of these Cat Hotels was made possible by donations from businesses and individuals. If you would like to know more about this project or contribute to the construction of other shelters find their website here.

L'articolo Cat hotels born, OIPA Bosnia and Herzegovina built homes for stray cats proviene da OIPA.

OIPA delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the member league association Wag Wag in Banja Luka are collecting donations to buy food for stray cats. This time they want to support some dedicated volunteers who feed 30-40 street cats each. Volunteers who care for these cats and for which a substantial amount of monthly food is needed are often retirees or individuals in difficult social circumstances.

While WagWag does its best to sterilize and provide medical care for these cats, they cannot cover food costs.

Your assistance with food donations would significantly improve cats’ quality of life, as finding them permanent homes in Bosnia is almost impossible.

Together we can guarantee these animals a daily meal

How to help? Make a donation to OIPA – specifying “OIPA for Bosnia” – or support our project SAVE A STRAY

 

UPDATE  – OIPA DELIVES 83 KG OF FOOD TO WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS IN BANJA LUKA

A wonderful video to celebrare amazing volunteers and their true love for the homeless cats they daily feed and care for ❤️!

We were honoured to help these ladies and their cats with 83 kg of food (just a small gift) and we hope next time to collect more donations for the cause and give them a better contribution! ❤️ A special thanks goes to our member league association and OIPA representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina WagWag for what they do for animals in Banja Luka (and for this video 😍)

 

Supporting our project “Save a Stray” you can help us make more gifts to homeless animals 👉 https://donorbox.org/stray-animals-are-suffering-in-many-countries-help-us-save-a-stray

L'articolo SOS FOOD FOR STRAY CATS IN BOSNIA. HELP OIPA GUARANTEE THEM A DAILY MEAL proviene da OIPA.