A unique protest took place this Thursday in Tirana, where dozens of citizens, activists, and volunteers marched through the capital demanding justice for the dogs and cats that have reportedly been poisoned in recent days.

Protesters raised the alarm over what they describe as a recurring, inhumane, and criminal practice targeting stray animals, calling for investigations and transparency from the authorities.

During the march, one citizen also addressed the opposition leader, urging him to intervene in the matter and put pressure on the responsible institutions.

Activists emphasized that for years in Albania there have been reports of poisonings, disappearances, and abuse of animals—often carried out, according to them, with public funds but without any legal accountability.

“This is a national call for justice and accountability,” the organizers said, urging an urgent response from Albanian institutions and international attention to the situation.

The activists’ demands:

• Immediate end to the poisoning and any other form of extermination of stray dogs across Albania.

• Criminal prosecution and dismissal of any individual or state employee who abuses their duty and commits crimes against animals.

• An investigation by SPAK into the use of public funds by municipalities for managing stray dogs, as well as transparency regarding the number of animals taken into veterinary shelters and their fate.

• Involvement of EU structures to strengthen the legal framework and ensure effective enforcement of penalties, rather than having laws that exist only “on paper.”

• Engagement of foreign organizations and embassies in support of the cause for animal protection.

• Daily access for volunteers to the Tirana Veterinary Shelter and to any other facility where stray dogs are kept.