As part of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, the Faculty of Economics in Osijek is carrying out the „12 Months – 12 Volunteer Actions“ initiative. After the successful stand-up show by Vlatko Štampar in January, the second volunteer activity was carried out in February.
On Friday, February 27, an event called „Take a Friend from the Shelter for a Walk“ was organized, during which students and staff from the Faculty visited the Osijek Shelter for Abandoned Dogs run by the Pobjede Association. About twenty students and staff participated in the activity, walking the dogs housed at the shelter. On this occasion, volunteers donated food and toys for the dogs.
During the visit, about twenty dogs were walked. Although the planned walking time was around 30 minutes, many walks spontaneously extended, which confirms a high level of engagement and a positive atmosphere among the participants. After the walk, participants toured the shelter grounds and learned about the conditions in which around 180 dogs live.
The shelter is known for giving dogs daily time outside their kennels in fenced-in runs, where they can move freely, play, and socialize with other dogs. This provides them with an additional level of welfare and a better quality of daily life, in addition to the already spacious and properly equipped kennels. During the tour, students and staff had the opportunity to hear more about individual dogs and their life stories, as well as to expand their knowledge on responsible dog care and the proper procedure for finding a stray animal.
It is particularly noteworthy to emphasize that some students, encouraged by their positive experience, signed a volunteer agreement with the Asylum, further confirming the success of this initiative. Representatives of the Asylum thanked the Faculty for the visit and the long-standing cooperation.
This activity continued a series of volunteer initiatives through which the Faculty systematically promotes social responsibility, solidarity, and active involvement in the local community.
Sara Aščić
