Owners on vacation, pets on the street: More than 10,000 dogs and cats abandoned every year in Croatia

Novi listIndependentCenter12 hr. ago

In Croatia, over 10,000 dogs and cats are abandoned annually, with summer months seeing a significant increase in such cases. Many pets are left behind when their owners go on vacation, leading to animals ending up on the streets or in shelters. The animal rights organization 'Prijatelji životinja' has been running a campaign for 24 years to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership and the consequences of abandoning animals. They emphasize that abandoning pets is both irresponsible and illegal, with penalties including up to two years in prison if the animal dies or multiple animals are abandoned. The organization highlights that many people still view pets as temporary toys rather than lifelong companions, leading to abandonment due to factors like aging, inconvenience during vacations, or lack of care.

Bias read (Center): The article discusses a social issue related to animal welfare and legal consequences, but does not take a clear stance on any political matter. It presents information from the animal rights organization without overtly favoring one side politically.