Animal Welfare in Bosnia: How HelloBello Helps Street Dogs in Bihać

For us, animal welfare means far more than pure compassion – it is an expression of our responsibility towards living beings who are by no means worth less than we are. At HelloBello Hilft, we have dedicated ourselves to helping where animals have hardly a voice: on the streets, at landfills, or in overcrowded animal shelters. Our commitment is based on the conviction that every dog deserves care, safety, and hope – no matter where it lives.

For us, it is not an option to look away. That is why we integrate our help directly into our business strategy: With every new customer, a portion of that goes to meaningful projects – from food donations and neutering to life-saving medical missions. This is how we combine sustainable entrepreneurship with real animal welfare – worldwide.

A striking example of this is our animal welfare trips to Bosnia. In December 2024, we traveled with the association “Ein Herz für Hunde” to Bihać for the first time and experienced firsthand the extent to which street dogs fight for their survival: among piles of garbage, without regular food, water, or medical care. These experiences showed us once again: Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a big difference – for these animals and for all of us. And that is exactly why we are traveling to Bihac again in June 2025 – to be able to achieve even more!

The situation in Bihać is appalling: Numerous dogs roam the city's landfills in search of food and water. The hygienic conditions are catastrophic, many animals are sick, injured, or abandoned. HelloBello actively supports local animal welfare initiatives – through food donations, medical care, and the promotion of adoptions.

Through the cooperation with “Ein Herz für Hunde” on site, we can help specifically. The association team regularly cares for the dogs at landfills, provides them with water and food, offers medical help, and rescues sick or helpless animals. These are then taken to the animal shelter. These continuous efforts are essential to alleviate acute distress and contribute to improving living conditions in the long term.

Our first trip to Bihać in December 2024 was an experience that deeply moved us all. Eight team members, mostly from Austria, traveled together with the association "Ein Herz für Hunde" to help the local street dogs. With us in our luggage: hope and a car full of donated goods – food, snacks, and treats, to bring the dogs a little relief in their difficult daily lives. The visit to a landfill in particular will always remain in our memories: We encountered dogs that were so thin and suspicious, yet curious and partly full of trust, as if they had been waiting for us. It was a moment full of tears, out of compassion and overwhelm, but also a moment that showed us how much every little gesture counts.

An unforgettable moment was the rescue of the little dog Lucky-Lou. Sick, frightened, and alone, she sat on the edge of the piles of garbage, hidden under our car. Today, just a few months later, she is healthy, happy, and above all – loved. She now lives with her forever family, and her story reminds us that every trip, every donation, and every minute of help for these dogs makes a crucial difference.

Half a year after our first trip, we returned to Bihać in June 2025 – this time in the sweltering summer heat. Already upon arrival, we noticed that the situation had changed: Fewer dogs were looking for food, but that was deceptive – many withdrew into the cool forests during the day and remained undetected. The summer brought its own challenges, such as heat, parasites, and water shortages. Our focus was on setting up water stations, removing ticks, and providing medical care for dogs with skin problems and injuries. But despite our efforts, we were also confronted with particularly painful moments.

One such experience was the discovery of a dead puppy, sunburnt, in the middle of the street. We buried it quietly, as well as other dead dogs we found in the tall grass – a sad sign of the merciless circumstances. But we were also able to offer hope: We rescued two orphaned, seriously ill puppies and immediately provided them with medical care. We also encountered Bärli, a shy, injured dog who built deep trust when he felt that we were there for him. This trip showed us once again that real animal welfare is often painful, but necessary – and that every saved life counts.

These two trips to Bosnia have shown us how deep the suffering of stray dogs can go – but also how much hope is in every helping hand. The images and stories we brought back still haunt us. They remind us every day why it is so important to look, to drive, and to help.

In the future, we also want to continue to be active with HelloBello hilft where dogs have no voice. Further missions are already in the planning – because animal welfare does not stop at the national border, and the suffering of these animals knows no calendar. Together with the association Ein Herz für Hunde, which performs this unimaginably difficult work at regular intervals, we want to achieve even more, rescue more, and change more.

If you would like to support us in this, there are many ways:

• Donations help us cover food, medication, and transport costs.

• Coming along means: providing direct help on site, caring for dogs, giving love.

• Adopting gives an animal not only a home, but a new life.

• Sharing raises awareness – the more people find out about it, the larger the circle of help becomes.

A very special thank you goes to the team from Ein Herz für Hunde, which pushes itself day after day to give the dogs in Bihać dignity, protection, and hope. Your commitment deserves the highest recognition – and imitation.