Three days, one park, and plenty of wet noses. "Lajka Fest" in Skopje's City Park managed something that rarely happens here - to gather institutions and citizens around a problem everyone usually pretends doesn't exist: stray dogs.

The event, organized by the public enterprise "Lajka" - Skopje, was not just an exhibition of pets for adoption. It opened with a panel discussion at the Skopje City Council, with representatives of the Veterinary Faculty, the Food and Veterinary Agency, civic organizations and experts from Zagreb, Sarajevo and Spain. The topics were concrete - spaying, responsible ownership, and the role of local government.

Then came two days of interactive programming in the park, with over 50 registered participants, more than 20 sponsors and partners, and strong interest from families, children and pet owners. A chance for education, but also for adoption - because behind every stray dog, as the festival reminded everyone, there usually stands human irresponsibility and abandonment.

And here's the point worth remembering. The stray-dog problem in every Macedonian town usually boils down to two extremes - either an endless passing of responsibility between institutions, or calls to "solve" it by the most brutal method available. A festival that offers spaying, education and adoption instead is a rare example of a normal, civilized approach. The only question is whether it will stay a one-off event for a good photo - or really be the start of a system that solves the problem at the root.