ne zapustimo zapuščenih / let’s not abandon the abandoned

Projekt Ne zapustimo zapuščenih se je odzval na nujen in aktualen problem - predlog novele Zakona o zaščiti živali, ki je predvideval kar 80-odstotno zmanjšanje financiranja dolgotrajne oskrbe zapuščenih živali v zavetiščih. Takšen ukrep bi lahko drastično poslabšal dobrobit živali, ogrozil delovanje številnih zavetišč in zmanjšal že tako omejene kapacitete za sprejem zapuščenih živali.

Zveza za živali je zato v času trajanja akcije izvedla intenzivno zagovorniško kampanjo, ki je vključevala pripravo pravnih in strokovnih podlag, povezovanje z zavetišči, pridobivanje podpor deležnikov, neposredno komunikacijo z odločevalci ter javno kampanjo za ozaveščanje o posledicah zmanjšanja financiranja. Namen projekta je bil jasen: preprečiti sprejetje škodljive določbe ter doseči bolj pravično financiranje oskrbe zapuščenih živali.

Kaj smo dosegli

• Pripravljena obsežna strokovna podlaga – pravno in veterinarsko mnenje, finančna analiza ter podatki iz raziskave med zavetišči, ki so okrepili argumente proti zmanjšanju financiranja.
• Vključevanje deležnikov je bilo močno okrepljeno – sodelovanje z več kot 10 zavetišči, izvedenih več individualnih razgovorov in pridobivanje podpor drugih organizacij.
• Dosežen je bil neposreden vpliv na zakonodajo – koalicijski poslanci so na podlagi zagovorniškega dela Zveze vložili in sprejeli amandma, ki je zagotovil višje financiranje dolgotrajne oskrbe zapuščenih živali.
• Povečana je bila ozaveščenost javnosti – objavljen promocijski video, medijske objave in pozivi k podpori spremembam.

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The project Ne zapustimo zapuščenih responded to an urgent and highly topical issue—the proposed amendment to the Animal Protection Act, which envisaged an 80% reduction in funding for the long-term care of abandoned animals in shelters. Such a measure would have drastically worsened animal welfare, jeopardised the operation of many shelters, and further reduced already limited capacities for taking in abandoned animals.

During the campaign period, the Animal Welfare Alliance (Zveza za živali) therefore carried out an intensive advocacy campaign. This included the preparation of legal and expert analyses, cooperation with animal shelters, mobilisation of stakeholder support, direct engagement with decision-makers, and a public awareness campaign highlighting the consequences of the proposed funding cuts. The objective of the project was clear: to prevent the adoption of the harmful provision and to secure fairer funding for the care of abandoned animals.

What we achieved

• A comprehensive expert evidence base was developed, including legal and veterinary opinions, a financial analysis, and data from a survey of animal shelters, strengthening arguments against the proposed funding cuts.
• Stakeholder engagement was significantly strengthened, with cooperation involving more than 10 shelters, multiple individual consultations, and the mobilisation of support from other organisations.
• A direct legislative impact was achieved: coalition MPs, drawing on the advocacy work of the Animal Welfare Alliance, submitted and adopted an amendment ensuring higher funding for the long-term care of abandoned animals.
• Public awareness was increased, through the publication of a promotional video, media coverage, and public calls to support the legislative changes.