Our Story
Kiki’s Hope for Animals is a small organisation with big ambitions. For over a decade, we have been working tirelessly to support stray, abandoned, and vulnerable animals across various regions of the Balkans.
Our team is made up of a small, but dedicated group of rescuers working on the ground throughout the Balkans, supported by an administration and fundraising team based in the UK. Together—with the help of our incredible supporters from across Britain and around the world—we work to transform lives, one animal at a time.
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Our dedicated team, with experience, enthusiasm and compassion, volunteer their time to run Kiki’s Hope for Animals CIC (Registration number: 14671453).
In many regions across Europe, the concept of responsible pet ownership is still developing—and in some areas, it is almost non‑existent. Neutering is frequently viewed as unnecessary or even unnatural, leading to an unending cycle of unwanted litters, stray animals, and, tragically, widespread suffering.
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Throughout the Balkans, remarkable work is being carried out by a small number of dedicated individuals and organisations. However, the lack of established animal welfare infrastructure means that the challenge remains immense, and countless animals still face hardship every day.
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At Kiki’s Hope for Animals, our aim is to support and strengthen these efforts. We work to break the cycle through rescue, care, education, and practical assistance—helping to build a kinder, more sustainable future for animals in the Balkan region.
The Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns led to a significant rise in animal abandonment across Serbia and other Balkan countries. At the same time, many UK residents chose to purchase puppies from breeders, resulting in fewer rescue dogs being adopted. Restrictions on pet travel and export to the UK further limited the number of animals able to leave the region, and in recent years UK import regulations have tightened even more, creating additional barriers for rescue organisations.
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Compounding this, the financial crisis affecting Europe—intensified by the Ukrainian conflict—has driven living costs sharply upward. As families struggle to cope, many people can no longer afford to keep their pets. This has caused a dramatic increase in abandonment and placed even greater pressure on already overwhelmed rescuers and shelters.
We now have more animals in our care than ever before, and we face a daily struggle to cover even the most essential costs—most critically, food and veterinary support. To make matters more challenging, we have had to outsource the kennelling of many of our dogs to external facilities. While this ensures their safety, it comes at a prohibitively high cost, with our monthly outsourced kennel bill now reaching nearly €5,500 (based on €50 per dog per month).
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For the first time in our organisation’s history, we have accumulated significant debts over the past 12 months. This situation is unsustainable, and we must now take decisive action to protect the future of the animals who rely on us and to ensure we can continue our vital work.
We are now reaching out to our supporters and fellow animal lovers for help. Unlike many rescue organisations, we recognise that not all animals can be rehomed. Some of our dogs, due to trauma or complex needs, will remain with us for life. Many of our cats arrived with long‑term health issues and also require permanent care. This lifelong commitment is central to our ethos—but it comes at a significant financial cost, and it means our running expenses are consistently higher than those of many other rescues.
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Regardless of these challenges, our mission remains the same: to save lives and end suffering. Every day, our team works tirelessly to provide safety, medical care, and compassion to animals who would otherwise face unimaginable hardship.
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We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far. Hundreds of animals have been rescued, rehabilitated, and are now living safe, happy lives across the UK and Europe. We want this lifesaving work to continue because the animals of Serbia and the surrounding regions desperately need help—help that, for now, can only come from those outside the region who are willing to stand with them.
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With your support, we can continue to be their lifeline.
Thank you for reading our story and we hope you will consider helping our animals in one way or another.
Contact
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch!
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