Dear readers,

some of you may know how much I love animals. Ever since I was a baby, really, I’ve been enjoying their unconditional love and company and I’ve tried to return these wonderful gifts as much as I could (here’s me with a cat my mom saved from death when he was only six days old and left all alone).

I owe this love to my family, who’s been dedicated to helping animals for the better part of the 20th century. Even my great-grandfather, who was a Muslim priest, loved animals, especially cats, and paid extra attention to whom he would give kittens to – only people with cows and sheep, who could, therefore, provide milk and other food to the little ones (and that was about a hundred years ago at least). Looking back at the path I’ve taken in my life so far, it has been filled with animals and much effort to improve the state of their welfare here in my town and elsewhere.

This was the reason why my colleague Mevlija, my uncle Hajrudin and I founded the Animal Protection Society “Warm Paw” in Velika Kladuša. Now, more than two year later, we can also look behind and marvel at what we’ve accomplished so far, with the help of like-minded people here: our colleagues, friends, volunteers. But this is just the beginning.

Yesterday I received news which brought me immense joy and now I am spreading it, proud and humbled at the same time by the honour bestowed upon me: I have become the World Animal Day Ambassador for Bosnia and Herzegovina! Here you can read the entry at the official website of the World Animal Day initiative at:

http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/ambassadors/bosnia-herzegovina/

Here’s the news on the official website of Warm Paw.

I will do everything in my power to fulfill my duties as a World Animal Day ambassador and strive further to raise awareness on animal rights. I’m so honoured by this title and happy to be a part of such extraordinary team of animal advocates around the world!