09/02/20 In Germany, walks for dogs are mandatory, in Croatia they suffer on chain
Animal Friends Croatia warns of shortcomings in law enforcement
- We are lagging behind Europe: We do not have a rulebook on animal housing conditions at the state level
Animal Friends Croatia welcomed Germany's announcement that it would introduce the obligation to walk dogs through its legislation. He warns that while in Austria future caregivers have to take a course in order to be able to get a dog at all, they pay the so-called tax on dogs and have an ombudsman for animal protection, and Germany is now introducing mandatory walks, Croatia does not even have a rulebook on the conditions of keeping animals at the state level!
In Croatia, some basic conditions for keeping pets are prescribed, such as, for example, a ban on the permanent tethering or confinement of dogs in a box, mandatory vaccination against rabies, microchipping, and reproduction control. But even that is not implemented, so we still have many dogs on leashes, unwanted killed puppies and kittens due to non-neutering, about 30% of dogs not marked with a microchip, and just as many who do not get vaccinated against rabies. Although all of this is prescribed, veterinary inspection is rarely controlled, and penalties are almost never imposed.
Dog breeders are a special problem, and Germany had this in mind when it decided to prescribe regular walks. Breeders often keep dogs in small boxes from which they sometimes do not come out for years, but serve exclusively for the production of puppies. Such dogs are not considered pets, but means of production. "For years, we have been pointing out that the entire purchase and sale of pets in Croatia is in the gray economy zone, completely invisible to the state, and despite the fat earnings, breeders do not pay taxes or duties. Such conditions are provided by the state, which obviously does not care about the regulation of the pet market ", point out Animal Friends Croatia, calling for the adoption of animals instead of buying them.
They add that in addition to not having clear regulations for dogs and cats, it is especially problematic that in Croatia there are no clear legal regulations on the conditions and prohibition of keeping exotic animals for pets, which is bad for animals, humans, and the environment. This is evidenced by the recent example of a python escaping in Zagreb when a guardian left it in the garden. "Such potentially dangerous species are sold without any control, despite the fact that regulations exist, and the problem arises when people who have acquired such a 'pet' realize that they cannot take care of it. Many associations, already overburdened with the care of dogs and cats, also take care of snakes, exotic birds, turtles, etc. animals that people abandon or run away from. This is a great burden for them because Croatia does not have specialized shelters for such animals ", says Animal Friends Croatia.
They conclude that the legal proposal given by Germany is in line with scientific evidence that pets need a sufficient amount of activity and contact with their environment, including other animals, nature, and people. Such regulation will contribute to the fact that the dog is owned only by those individuals who are really ready for the enormous responsibility that animal care carries, and for which the Association stands.