Udruga 9 života (NGO 9 Lives)

NGO "9 Lives" was founded in 2011 and has the status of a non-governmental, voluntary, humanitarian and non-profit legal entity with rights, obligations and responsibilities whose goals are not in conflict with the Constitution and the Law. The NGO works for the common good and its activities provide a visible social value which improves the quality of life of the community, without the intention of making a profit.

Since the Republic of Croatia, especially in our city, Osijek, has no service and there or shelter that meets the conditions for keeping cats, our primary task has become to care for and fight for the welfare of cats. The NGO has 5 active members - volunteers and a small number of external associates (who help with transportation, photography, etc.) and is funded exclusively by donations from citizens. Two members have additionally opted for education for a veterinary technician. One graduated last year, the other should graduate this year.

We have tried to direct the working of our NGO for the long run, so we reduced the cost of going to the vet’s, because we have trained staff who can, of course, following a veterinarian’s instruction give therapy, vaccinations, treat wounds, and provide first aid especially in cases when we receive an injured cat during the night hours. NGO leased a small space of 25m2 from the City of Osijek, which has been transformed into an infirmary with the capacity for 9 cats (as allowed by our Law).

The monthly veterinary bills for our NGO, even with our ability not to take each cat to the vet’s due to our educated staff (and taking in consideration that the cat in question is mildly injured or has a minor cold), range from HRK 10,000.00 (€1321.24) and up (for example, veterinary bills for operations and treatment of sick cats, and castrations for the month of November 2020 amount to a total of HRK 21,715.50 (€2869.07).

With the help of donors from outside of Croatia, we have managed to raise enough funds to buy a house in a nearby village, which we are now trying to adapt and turn into the first cat shelter in Croatia.

The first major thing that requires work is the roof, and then comes electricity, doors etc.

Since we need to raise quite an amount for the roof and other major repairs (13243.84) to be more exact, we are in dire need of funding!