It's been eleven days since our dog Laza died, since he swallowed some kind of terrible poison that killed him in ten minutes despite quick veterinary help. It's harder for me now than it was that Monday. That's when we started, in the morning hours, on a short routine - and it will turn out to be - tragic walk. We believed that at least we were in our street - safe. I feel worse than in the days that followed his death. There is no anger in me, no anger, but only unadulterated, pure sadness. Sadness as such, as the teacher-choreographer would say in Goran Marković's legendary film "Masters, masters".
The emptiness in the heart, in the eyes, in the apartment, on the bed - to some extent is filled by Laza's old friends, our four cats who are closer to us these days than ever before. Anyone who knows animals well will know that this is no confabulation. Admittedly, the cat Meša Baždarević, who used to accompany Laza and me on walks, now ignores my trips to the nearby store. Don't follow me. I guess I'm not overly interesting to him, or I don't act as an adequate protection against various dangers. Laza protected him from other dogs.
Autopsy and toxicological analysis
As I was informed, the autopsy was done very quickly, probably the next day. She did not answer the question of which poison killed Laza. The tissues were sent for toxicological analysis to the Belgrade VMA. The findings should be available soon, reportedly in about two weeks.
At the moment I have a doubt that I have not yet begun to resolve. Since the Novi Sad prosecutor's office ordered an autopsy and analysis, the findings will probably be forwarded to him and the police. I do not know when I, as the injured party, will have access to the results. I don't even know when the public will find out which poison kills relatively large dogs in record time. Some veterinarians asked me to forward the findings to them, so that they know what they are facing, because they say they have never seen anything like this before.
We may not be informed immediately, "in the interest of the investigation". But I guess we won't wait long, if for no other reason - the fact that it is already clear that this is a substance that is dangerous not only for animals, but also for people, especially children.
What if some careless child's ball had wandered into the apparently monstrously carefully crafted poisonous mixture? I won't even think about it.
Silent institution
In the meantime, information is circulating on the Internet about new cases of poisoned dogs and cats in various parts of Novi Sad. Death is supposedly also express. It is difficult to find out how reliable the information is, because people are not used to reporting such cases to the police, even if they are so-called. owner's pets. What is said, they have no trust in institutions. Hardly anyone cares about "wanderers". My soul hurts when I think of how many of them have perished in the justice of God, tasting a delicious and deadly street meal.
There is a lot to be said in favor of the fact that the information is correct. If not all, then many. On Šodros, where Laza and I used to walk almost every day, today there is not a single abandoned dog, and there were quite a few. These were Laza's friends, always cheerful and cheerful, good-natured, full of trust in human beings. Where did they go?
In addition, on that tragic Monday, while we were waiting for the inspector who would approve taking over Laza's body and taking it to the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, the Zoo Hygiene worker was given the task of picking up the bodies of three dead dogs from public areas. And we waited a maximum of ten minutes.
Why don't the Zoo Hygiene, Veterinary Inspection, Police and Municipal Police release data on how many dead animals are "picked up" daily in Novi Sad? Is that a big problem? And it would mean. Why not give an estimate of what causes these poor animals to lose their lives? Which parts of the city are possibly contaminated if poisons are suspected? Thus, they would warn people to take care of themselves, children, and dogs! Maybe they don't want to create panic? But panic is born precisely when institutions are silent and pretend to be dead.
Even a small effort could yield results. Information on the number of animals killed, education of citizens that killing animals is a criminal offense that can lead to imprisonment... Then, the police talk with people who live in the area where the poisons were placed. To gather information and send a message that someone is taking care of it all. And that would be a step forward. And the biggest would happen if some poisoner was criminally responsible.
Laza's ghost on Šordos
It is up to all of us to encourage people to report cases of killing and abuse of animals to the police, even if it doesn't seem to make much sense. There is, and relatively simple to implement in the age of new media, a possible project to establish a warning system, an alarm for areas where poisons are found. With the quick reaction of the veterinary inspection, of course.
The fact that Laza's death was the reason for dozens of media articles holds back my sadness. Thank you to my colleagues who recognized the importance of this, until now, mostly neglected topic. I perceive the contributions as pressure on institutions to do their job, and as a message to citizens to protect their animal friends, and as a sensitization of the general public, but also as a message to poisoners that they will no longer be able to commit crimes in the dark and in silence, completely carefree.
If Laza's death takes a millimeter step forward, if it saves the lives of at least some dogs and cats, then it was not - to be clearly pathetic - in vain.
We cremated his body. We save the powder. Together with our friends, we will spill it at his favorite place for walking, swimming and rolling in smelly substances - Šodroš. May his spirit watch over all the dogs who carelessly roam and run around here, alone or with their human companions. And may he protect this Novi Sad natural oasis from all evil people.
