World Animal Day: Croatia has laws, but animal welfare groups warn that enforcement still falls short

More than 1.1 million dogs and cats live in Croatia, while the country has made significant progress in animal protection legislation over the past two decades. However, on World Animal Day, observed on 4 October, animal welfare groups across Croatia warn that laws alone are not enough if they are not effectively enforced.

According to the latest available estimates from the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), Croatia had around 709,000 dogs and 419,000 cats in 2024. These figures are estimates rather than an official count of all pets in the country.

The animal welfare organisation Animal Friends Croatia told the Croatian News Agency Hina that one of the key problems remains the lack of an effective inspection and enforcement system. The organisation’s president, Luka Oman, said citizens expect reports of animal abuse and neglect to be investigated promptly and those responsible to be held accountable.

Vukovarske šapice: Having a law is not enough

Vukovarske šapice, an animal welfare group from eastern Croatia, also warned that enforcement is not merely a matter of principle. Instead of posting a customary World Animal Day message, the group dedicated the occasion to Dane, an elderly blind dog.

According to the group, one of Dane’s eyes had been knocked out and he can no longer see through the other. His case prompted the group to ask where the system meant to protect him was when he needed it most.

“Having a law is not enough. Having coordination groups is not enough. Having meetings, programmes, strategies and minutes is not enough,” the group said, calling on institutions to go beyond marking World Animal Day and instead respond to reports and enforce existing regulations.

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Mimi, a rescued dog adopted after living on a chain in Croatia. Photo: K. L.

Animal Friends Croatia also identifies enforcement as one of the biggest challenges facing animal protection today. Since Croatia adopted its first Animal Protection Act in 2006, a number of changes have been introduced, including a ban on killing abandoned animals in shelters, mandatory microchipping of dogs and stricter animal welfare rules.

From adoption to habitat protection

Other organisations used World Animal Day to encourage people to take practical action.

Grgina arka reminded the public that animals need protection every day of the year, not just on World Animal Day. The group encouraged people to adopt rather than buy animals, spay and neuter their pets, volunteer, provide temporary foster homes, donate to animal welfare organisations and report cases of neglect and abuse.

Noina arka, Udruga Zecovi and Zagreb’s Dumovec animal shelter took part in the city’s World Animal Day event at European Square. Noina arka presented its work and animals waiting for homes, while Udruga Zecovi collected donations for animals in its care and educated visitors about rabbit welfare. Dumovec also found homes for several dogs during the event.

The citizens’ initiative Protiv sječe highlighted another aspect of animal protection: preserving wildlife habitats. The initiative stressed that protecting animals also means protecting the places in which they live, pointing to the importance of trees for birds, insects and numerous other species.

Local authorities also joined the observance. The City of Beli Manastir reminded residents about the importance of adoption, microchipping, spaying and neutering, veterinary care and reporting animal neglect or abuse.

Laws matter only when they protect animals

Animal Friends Croatia argues that local authorities should carry out more systematic checks on dog microchipping and fund spaying and neutering programmes to reduce unwanted litters and the number of abandoned animals entering shelters. The organisation is also calling for a more effective specialised inspection system and tougher penalties for animal abuse and killing.

The messages shared across Croatia on 4 October differ in their focus, but point to the same underlying problem. Animal protection does not end when legislation is adopted, nor can it be reduced to a single awareness day.

As Vukovarske šapice put it, an animal does not know what the law says. It only knows whether it is in pain, whether it is afraid or hungry, and whether there is someone who will come to help.