The public enterprise "Lajka" caught 101 stray dogs across Skopje in August, while 86 reports came in from the public. So the crews did more work than was asked of them - a difference of 15 animals nobody specifically reported, but which went through treatment anyway.

The veterinary unit performed 103 reproductive control procedures: 70 spayings of females and 33 neuterings of males. The enterprise points out that the focus on females is not accidental - spaying a female cuts off the breeding line entirely, while neutering a male only removes one of many.

Every dog caught went through a veterinary examination, treatment, rabies vaccination and microchipping. After treatment, 66 dogs were returned to their home locations.

Where there are most

The most catches were in Gjorče Petrov - 20 dogs against 14 reports. Fifteen each in Kisela Voda and Gazi Baba, 14 in Čair where residents sent only five reports, 10 each in Butel and Šuto Orizari, six each in Aerodrom and Centar, and five in Karpoš.

The gap between the number of reports and the number caught per municipality is a data point worth more than it looks. In Čair, five reports produced 14 caught dogs. That means either there are considerably more animals there than people report, or residents have stopped reporting because they expect no response.

Six dogs who waited years

Of 19 adoptions last month, six involved animals that had lived in the shelter for years. Aron, Džin, Volter, Čoko, Rudi and Dare found homes in the first half of August.

That is the number showing where the system hits its limit. Catching, sterilising and returning to location works - it is mechanical, repeatable work measured in a report. Adoption is not mechanical. It depends on whether a person turns up, and for six dogs that person turned up after several years of waiting.

"Lajka" has set up a partnership with the Wolt Macedonia platform for direct donations, placed donation boxes in the Diamond, East Gate and City Mall shopping centres, and is calling for temporary fosterers. A public enterprise asking for boxes of blankets and food bowls in shopping centres says something about the budget it has been given.