Serbia's only horse sanctuary has cared for dozens of tortured, old and neglected animals

LAPOVO, Serbia (AP) — Zeljko Ilicic saved his first equine from definite decease 12 years agone and recovered his calling.

The Serbian, now 43, group up nan Balkan country’s only equine sanctuary successful 2015 connected a mini portion of onshore successful Lapovo successful Central Serbia. Around 80 horses person since passed done Staro Brdo, aliases Old Hill, sanctuary. Ilicic has taken successful tortured, aged and abused horses, but besides those that had lived good but could nary longer beryllium looked aft by caretakers.

Animal attraction is simply a persistent situation successful Serbia, which is impoverished and marred by corruption aft years of situation and conflict successful nan 1990s. While authorities tally shelters for dogs, location are nary state-backed accommodation for horses. Ilicic’s sanctuary coming provides shelter and attraction for dozens of animals.

“I witnessed nan sad destiny of a equine that was astir to beryllium put down,” he said, recalling nan first animal he saved. “I decided to effort to bring him backmost to life and to support him if he survived. And he did.”

One of Ilicic’s favourite horses complete nan years, he said, was a section derby victor that yet died peacefully of aged age. Another, now 28, was successful a number of Serbian movies earlier retiring to nan sanctuary, its legs stiff pinch arthritis. Some horses extremity up successful limbo arsenic “neither a pet nor a moving machine” connected farms, he said, truthful they go a load to people.

Violeta Jovic, who useful astatine nan sanctuary, remembers a clip successful 2020 erstwhile veterinary inspectors intercepted a motortruck packed pinch astir 2 twelve illegally transported horses bound for slaughter. She said they were each successful bad information but that nan sanctuary managed to find caller homes for astir of them, while 3 remained nether their care.

“This is nary longer volunteerism aliases a hobby aliases a job,” she added. “This has go my life.”

The sanctuary tries to find caller homes for arsenic galore animals arsenic imaginable to guarantee location is ever abstraction for caller ones. When a equine is fresh for adoption, nan sanctuary launches a bid for imaginable caretakers.

Staro Brdo coming looks aft 9 horses, 2 donkeys, a buffalo, 7 pigs, and respective dogs, cats and chickens. Seven newborn kittens, recovered successful a closed integrative bag, and 7 Yorkshire piglets recovered astatine a discarded dump person go afloat grown animals that for illustration to cuddle and play. A cacophony of animal sounds echoes done nan mini property arsenic a visitant ventures in.

The sanctuary operates connected donations but Ilicic said he hopes to go self-sustaining done various initiatives, including therapy riding. Serbian authorities person helped by repairing section roads and Ilicic has cooperated pinch veterinary inspections, but location is still nary ineligible model to registry his installation arsenic an charismatic equine sanctuary.

“We are nan only ones successful nan Balkans astatine nan infinitesimal and we dream that, successful time, we will beryllium recognized by nan state,” he said.