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Animal Friends filed a criminal complaint for abandoning a cow and calf
Croatia🏛️ PoliticsProgressiveOverlooked by conservatives11 days ago

Animal Friends filed a criminal complaint for abandoning a cow and calf

The animal rights organization 'Prijatelji životinja' has filed a criminal complaint against the owner of a cow and calf in Zadar for allegedly abandoning them, leading to their suffering and death. According to publicly available information, the animals were left unattended for nearly a month in high summer temperatures without access to water or shelter, resulting in the cow's death. After the cow died, its body was left to decompose for at least a week, while the calf remained nearby until a citizen intervened by providing food and water after significant media pressure. The organization is requesting the local state prosecution to urgently investigate the case, identify the owner through animal identification tags and the National Register of Domestic Animals, obtain documentation on police and inspection actions, and confirm whether an official autopsy was conducted on the dead cow and a veterinary examination of the surviving calf. They argue this is another example where timely action by veterinary inspectors could have prevented the tragedy.

A video showing two horses collapsing while pulling a tourist carriage on smooth stone pavement near the end of the Sinjska Alka festival has sparked public outrage and calls for legal restrictions on horse-drawn carriages. The footage, which circulated widely on social media, shows the animals struggling to rise after falling, with bystanders pulling them by their tails among other actions. The Animal Friends Association, a local animal welfare group, has demanded a legal ban on using horses for tourist carriages following the incident. The video was recorded during the final moments of the Sinjska Alka, a traditional Croatian festival held annually in Sinj. According to the association, the horses were subjected to a combination of factors including the smooth stone surface, high temperatures, physical strain, the weight of the carriage, noise, and crowd congestion. These conditions, they argue, place both physical stress on the animals and pose safety risks to people nearby. The association warned that the fall of a horse weighing several hundred kilograms or a sudden reaction from a startled animal could result in injuries to pedestrians and passengers in the carriage. Snježana Klopotan Kačavenda, coordinator of projects at the Animal Friends Association, expressed concern over the treatment of the horses. She stated that the public is rightly shocked by the video because responsibility should not be shifted onto the horse simply because it slipped. It is shameful, she added, that such treatment of horses is presented as a tourist attraction rather than questioning how it became possible for someone to order the use of animals under such conditions. The association emphasized that tradition and tourism promotion cannot justify exposing animals to unnecessary stress and physical exertion. They cited European cities that have either restricted or abolished horse-drawn carriage tours, including Malaga, which revoked the last 25 licenses for such rides in October 2025. The association argued that the well-being of animals must not be placed behind spectacle, tourism, or tradition, and that it is time for traditions to change. The incident has raised concerns about the working conditions of horses used in tourist activities, particularly during hot summer months when they are exposed to sun, heat, and physical strain. The association pointed out that horses are not machines that can be cooled down with water and continue working. The conditions in which they are used represent burdens that cannot be justified by the need for tourism or event promotion. The association also highlighted previous incidents involving falls of horses, riders being thrown off, and animals running into crowds, resulting in injuries to people. These cases, they noted, do not indicate that horses are aggressive or disobedient, but rather that they can react to fear, pain, and feelings of threat, especially when trapped in crowds without escape routes. The Animal Friends Association strongly condemned the use of horses for pulling carriages and called for a legal ban on this practice. They pointed out that in an era where there are various motorized vehicles available, there is no justification for reducing horses to transportation tools solely for entertainment, tradition, or tourist attractions. As a result, more and more cities are reconsidering the use of horses for tourist rides and implementing strict limitations to protect the well-being of the animals, including bans on work during high temperatures, as seen in Rome. Some cities have completely eliminated this practice, with Malaga serving as the latest example. The association urged organizers of tourist events and municipalities to stop using horses as transport means and tourist props, emphasizing that the well-being of animals must take precedence over spectacle, tourism, or tradition. If the well-being of animals is placed behind spectacle, tourism, or tradition, it is time for traditions to change.

5 reports

N1 Hrvatska logoN1 HrvatskaIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 8013 days ago
Animal lovers are calling for a ban on tourist carriages after a horse fall in Sin

The animal rights organization 'Prijatelji životinja' has called for a legal ban on using horses for tourist carriage rides after a video emerged showing two horses falling while pulling a carriage on a smooth stone surface during the closing of Sinjska alka festival. The footage showed the horses struggling to get up as people pulled them by their tails. Snježana Klopotan Kačavenda, coordinator of the organization’s projects, criticized the treatment of animals as a tourist attraction and questioned how such practices could be allowed under high temperatures and physical strain. The group warns that the combination of smooth surfaces, heat, physical exertion, noise, and crowds poses both safety risks for humans and unnecessary stress on the animals. They argue that tradition and tourism promotion cannot justify exposing animals to such conditions and cite European cities like Málaga, which revoked 25 licenses for horse-drawn carriages in October 2025, as examples of progressive measures.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a moral and ethical concern regarding animal welfare, emphasizing the negative impact of traditional tourist activities on animals. It criticizes the commercialization of animal labor and calls for regulatory change, aligning with left-leaning perspectives that value,

Why factuality (85): This article provides detailed information about the incident and the response from 'Prijatelji životinja', including quotes from Snježana Klopotan Kačavenda. It also mentions the broader context of using horses for tourist purposes and references the example of Málaga. The information is consistent

Why objectivity (80): While the article presents the concerns of the animal rights group, it uses slightly more descriptive language when discussing the potential dangers, which may lean toward emphasizing the negative aspects. However, it does not take a clearly biased position and remains focused on the reported facts.

HRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija) logoHRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija)State / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 7511 days ago
Animal Friends filed a criminal complaint for abandoning a cow and calf

The animal rights organization 'Prijatelji životinja' has filed a criminal complaint against the owner of a cow and calf in Zadar for allegedly abandoning them, leading to their suffering and death. According to publicly available information, the animals were left unattended for nearly a month in high summer temperatures without access to water or shelter, resulting in the cow's death. After the cow died, its body was left to decompose for at least a week, while the calf remained nearby until a citizen intervened by providing food and water after significant media pressure. The organization is requesting the local state prosecution to urgently investigate the case, identify the owner through animal identification tags and the National Register of Domestic Animals, obtain documentation on police and inspection actions, and confirm whether an official autopsy was conducted on the dead cow and a veterinary examination of the surviving calf. They argue this is another example where timely action by veterinary inspectors could have prevented the tragedy.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a legal complaint filed by an animal rights group regarding the abandonment of livestock. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the reported events and the organization’s

Why factuality (85): This article mirrors the content of the first, providing similar details about the criminal complaint filed by the animal rights group. It includes specifics about the animals' treatment, the legal consequences, and the requested actions from authorities. It aligns closely with the first article and

Why objectivity (75): The article maintains a similar tone to the first, focusing on the severity of the situation and the need for action. While factual, it carries a somewhat activist tone, emphasizing the ethical implications of the case rather than presenting it purely as a legal matter.

tportal logotportalIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 7511 days ago
Animal Friends in Zadar: They filed a complaint for animal torture against a cattle farmer

The animal rights organization 'Prijatelji životinja' has filed a criminal complaint against a cattle owner in Zagreb for animal cruelty and abandonment, alleging that two animals suffered severe neglect. According to the group, the cow and calf were left unattended for nearly a month in extreme heat, leading to the cow’s death. The body was left to decompose for at least a week, while the terrified calf remained with the corpse. A citizen intervened by providing water and food, eventually saving the calf after public and media pressure. The organization demands immediate police investigation, identification of the owner through livestock tags and registry data, and official documentation of police and inspection actions. They argue that proper veterinary inspection could have prevented this tragedy and call for a stronger animal protection system in Croatia.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a systemic failure in animal protection laws and criticizes the lack of action by authorities, including the veterinary inspection. It emphasizes the need for institutional reform and highlights the role of civil society in holding officials accountable. While not a '

Why factuality (85): The article reports on the animal rights group 'Prijatelji životinja' filing a criminal complaint against an animal owner for animal cruelty and abandonment. It provides specific details about the animals' conditions, including exposure to extreme heat, lack of water, and the death of the cow. These

Why objectivity (75): The tone is informative but leans slightly towards advocacy, as it highlights the suffering of the animals and calls for official documentation. While factual, there is some emotional emphasis on the plight of the animals, which may influence reader perception.

Telegram.hr logoTelegram.hrIndependentProgressiveFactual 80Objective 8513 days ago
Animal Friends reacted to the anguished footage of the horse from the Sinaia Alka: Shameful, the public is rightly horrified

The animal welfare organization 'Prijatelji životinja' has condemned a video showing two horses falling while pulling a carriage during the Sinjska alka event in Croatia. The footage sparked public outrage due to the apparent mistreatment of the animals, which were being used under dangerous conditions including hot surfaces, high temperatures, and heavy physical exertion. The organization criticized the practice of using horses for tourist attractions, arguing that such treatment is unethical and unnecessary given modern transportation alternatives. They emphasized that horses are not machines and require proper care, especially during summer months. The group has previously reported incidents of horse falls and injuries, attributing them to fear, pain, and lack of space rather than aggression. They call for legal restrictions on the use of horses for tourism, citing examples like Rome and Malaga where such practices have been restricted or banned.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as an ethical and moral concern regarding animal welfare, emphasizing the exploitation of horses for tourism and calling for legal action against such practices. It uses emotive language ('sramotno', 'zabrinuta') and highlights the suffering of animals, aligning with a左翼

Why factuality (80): This article closely mirrors the content of the first article, providing the same details about the horse footage and the response from 'Prijatelji životinja'. It includes additional context about the conditions under which the horses were being used and references the same examples of European citi

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a balanced and objective tone, presenting the concerns of the animal rights group without emotive language or subjective interpretation. It focuses on the facts and implications of the situation without advocating for any particular viewpoint.

tportal logotportalIndependentProgressiveFactual 75Objective 8013 days ago
A video of a horse in front of the Sinja arch has upset the public: they want to ban tourist carriages

An animal rights organization called 'Prijatelji životinja' has requested a legal ban on using horses to pull tourist carriages after a video surfaced showing two horses falling while pulling a carriage on a smooth stone surface near the end of the Sinjska alka festival. The video shows the horses struggling to get back up while being pulled by people, including by their tails. The group criticized the incident, stating that the responsibility cannot be placed on the horse for slipping and that such treatment of animals should not be presented as a tourist attraction. They warned that the smooth stone surface, high temperatures, physical strain, noise, and crowds pose a risk to both the horses and people nearby. The organization cited European cities like Málaga, which banned such tourist rides in late 2025, arguing that tradition and tourism should not justify unnecessary stress and physical burden on animals.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue through the lens of animal welfare and criticizes traditional practices for prioritizing spectacle over ethical treatment of animals. It emphasizes the need for regulatory change and cites examples of European cities banning similar activities, suggesting a progressive,左

Why factuality (75): The article accurately reports the incident involving the horse footage from Sinjska alka, citing the animal rights organization 'Prijatelji životinja'. It references the specific concerns raised by the organization regarding the treatment of horses and provides context about similar actions in Euro

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral and informative, focusing on the concerns raised by the animal rights group without introducing personal bias or emotional language. The article presents the issue as a public concern rather than taking an overtly political stance.

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