I got this in the mail today:
This summer, I visited the island of Hvar in Croatia on the Adriatic coast.
I was sickened by the widespread abuse of dogs and cats. Although not
everyone abuses and kills animals, there seems to be a cultural practice of
treating cats the same way many cities in the West treat rats. I stayed in
the residential section of the city of Stari Grad. Every night I listened to
cats being tortured and killed. I saw kittens tied up in airtight plastic
bags and thrown in garbage cans. (I was told this was one of many methods of
controlling their cat population), I watched cats intentionally run over by
cars and I listened to two week old kittens cry all day and night after they
were dumped off on vacant land without their mother and left to die.
After listening to a kitten cry all night and afternoon, I found it behind a
museum near the house where I stayed. Mind you this was in the center of a
densely populated town. Not one person came to rescue or feed this kitten.
Many of the employees at the tourist bureaus and business owners or managers
who spoke English denied any knowledge of these practices. Others would say
they were from elsewhere in Croatia and animal treatment was better in the
rest of the country. However, if I spoke to them at length, they would
occasionally slip and let on that similar abuses also occurred in their
hometown. Others were more truthful and admitted that they had a terrible
problem with the cat population. Common methods of controlling the cat
population were taking cats, especially kittens, on ships and throwing them
into the sea. Another type of animal control is done in the winter, when the
tourists are gone. That is when the government places poison throughout the
town. I was told this form of animal control had been practiced for over
twenty years.
Over the past ten years, owning purebred dogs has become fashionable in
Croatian society. During my stay I learned that many people take these dogs
to the coast using them as a status symbol only to abandon them when their
holiday is over. When I asked the town's veterinarian if there were any laws
against cruelty to dogs and cats, I was informed that there wasn't. His
excuse was that Croatia is a poor country and doesn't have the means for
better animal treatment. But, establishing laws protecting cats and dogs isn
't expensive. Croatia, might be considered to be a developing country but is
much more developed than other countries in Europe, such as Byelorussia or
Ukraine. Homelessness is uncommon. If Croatia's society and government
refuse to change their treatment of animals, perhaps people can help
persuade them to do so. Since one of their biggest industries is tourism,
the threat of a boycott might get their attention.
To observe these practices, one has to live with the natives in their
neighborhoods (they keep the tourist areas clear of strays.) Speaking a
Slavic language was helpful so that I could understand what the people said.
Every small action will help. Please take the time to let the Croatian
government know you do not approve of this behavior. Also spread the word
to others who might be able to help. Posting this letter on a web site or
reprinting it in a newsletter will help spread the word. The situation on
the Adriatic coast of Croatia is horrible. Please spread this information,
inform everyone you know. Help put pressure on the Croatian government to
implement and enforce humane animal welfare laws.
Thank you, Alexandra Yurkiw
CROATIAN CONTACTS
Israel
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia IN THE STATE OF ISRAEL
Contact:Svjetlan Berkovic
Address: Canion Ramat Aviv
40 Einstein St
P.O.Box. 6-7
Tel Aviv 69101
ISREAL
E-mail:[email protected]
Tel: 0097 23
643 8654, 643 8655
Fax:0097 23
643 8503
Croatia
Croatian Ministry of Tourism
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Contact:Bozidar Pankretic
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Branka Sosic (In charge of all animals in Croatia)
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 6106200
Tel: +385/1/6106/111, 6109200
Office of the President -Republic of Croatia
President of Croatia - Stjepan Mesic
Pantovcak 241
10 000 Zagreb
CROATIA
E-mail: [email protected]
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
Ivica Racan
Tel: +385/1/4569 201
Fax: +385/1/6303 019
ADMINISTRATION OF FORESTRY AND HUNTING
Zelijko Rendulic
Tel: 01/6106-203, 6105-205
Fax: 01/6109-203
LEGISLATION OFFICE
Contact Snjezana Bagic
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Tel: +385/1/4569 244
Fax: +385/1/4569 386
MINISTRY OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Contact: Ivan Jakovcic
E:mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Fax: 4569 335 6303 183
MINISTRY OF ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION
Contact: Bozo Kovacevic
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Fax: +385 1 3772 555
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S AGENT AT THE EUROPEAN COURT
E-mail: [email protected]
STATE INSPECTOR'S OFFICE
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
ADMINISTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL POLICIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Contact: Miroslav Cozic
Tel: 01/6106-206
Fax: 01/6109-202
CROATIAN PARLIAMENT
[email protected]
U.S.A
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the United States of America
Contact:Ambassador Ivan Grdesic
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected] <mailto
[email protected]>
Tel:202 588 5899
Fax: 202 588 8937, 588 8936
Permanet Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations
Contact: Ambassador Ivan Simonovic
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Tel: 001 212 986 1585
Fax: 001 212 986 2011
Address::820 Second Avenue
19th Fl.
New York, N.Y. 1007
U.S.A.
Belguim
European Union, Bruxelles
Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak
Adress:Avenue des Arts 50
B-100, Bruxelles, Belguim
E-mail: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Fax: 0032 2 6465664
Tel: 0032 2 5000930
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
IN THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel:003 2 644 6510, 644 6932
Fax: 0032 2 512 0338
France
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
In the French Republic
Contact:Ambassador Marko Zaja
Address: 39, avenue Georges
Mandel
75116 Paris
FRANCE
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0033 153
700 280
Fax: 0033 153
700 290
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE - PARIS
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: (0033) 1 45 00 99 55
Fax: (0049) 1 45 00 99
United Kingdom & Ireland
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN, NORTHERN IRELAND AND
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Contact: Ambassador Andrija Kojakovic
Address:21 Conway Street
London W1P 5HL
Uniterd kingdom
E-mail: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected]
Tel: 0044 20 73872022, 73871144
Fax: 0044 20
7387031, 7387093
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE
2 The Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace Road
London W6 9ER
Tel: 029 8563 7979
Fax: 020 8563 2616
E-mail: [email protected]
Italy
Rome
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
In the Italian Republic
Contact: Ambassador Drago Kraljevic
E-mail:[email protected]
Tel: 36307650, 36307300, 36307704
Fax: 36303405, 36303269
Address: Via Luigi Bodio 74-76
00191 Rome
ITALY
Croation NationTourist Office
Informativni ured u Rimu
Via Umbria 15
Rome
Contact: Jelena Poklepovic
Tel:39 06 42 010 525
Fax: 39 06 42 010 639
Milan
Consulate Gereneral of the Republic of Croatia in the Italian Republic
Contact: Mladenka Sarac Roncevic
Tel: 805 1772
Fax: 8051541
Address: Via Dante 9/4
20123 Milan
ITALY
Ente Nazionale Croato per il Turismo
Piazzale Cadorna 9
20123 Milano
Contact: Claudio Stojinic
Tel: 2 86 45 44 97
Fax: 39 02 86 45 45 74
39 33 5822 9760
E-mail: enteturismocroato@eubia
Switzerland
Permanent Mission of the republic of Croatia to the United Nations, Office
in Geneva
Contact: Ambassador Spomenka
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0041 22
7403243, 7403244
Fax: 0041 22
740 3251
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN THE SWISS CONFEDERATION
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0041 31
9526659, 9526663, 9526749, 9526750
CANADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
229 Chapel Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Y6
Tel: 631-562-7820
Fax: 613-562-7821
E-mail: info@croatiaemb <mailto:info@croatiaemb>
GERMANY
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE - FRANKFURT
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: (0049) 69 25 20 45
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE - MUNICH
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (0049) 89 22 33 44
Fax: (0049) 89 22 33 77
Netherlands
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
IN THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS
Contact: Ambassador Muljacic Jaksa
Address: Amalistraat 16
NL-2514 JC The Hague
The Netherlands
E-mail:[email protected]
Tel: 0031 07 362 3638
Fax: 0031 07 362 3195
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD - NETHERLANDS
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: +31 20 405 7067
FINLAND
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN
THE REPUBLIC OF FINDLAND
Contact:Zeljko Bosnjak
[email protected]
Tel: 00358 9, 6222 232, 6222 321
Fax: 00358 9, 6222 221
SWEDEN
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
IN THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN
Contact: Branko Caratan
E:mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Tel: 0046 8
6788310, 6784220, 6783415, 6783419
Fax: 0046 8
6788320
NORWAY
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN
THE REPUBLIC OF NORWAY
Contact: Jagoda Vukusic
Address: Drammensveien 82
0271 Oslo
Norway
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0047 22
442 233
Fax: 0047 22
443 900
This summer, I visited the island of Hvar in Croatia on the Adriatic coast.
I was sickened by the widespread abuse of dogs and cats. Although not
everyone abuses and kills animals, there seems to be a cultural practice of
treating cats the same way many cities in the West treat rats. I stayed in
the residential section of the city of Stari Grad. Every night I listened to
cats being tortured and killed. I saw kittens tied up in airtight plastic
bags and thrown in garbage cans. (I was told this was one of many methods of
controlling their cat population), I watched cats intentionally run over by
cars and I listened to two week old kittens cry all day and night after they
were dumped off on vacant land without their mother and left to die.
After listening to a kitten cry all night and afternoon, I found it behind a
museum near the house where I stayed. Mind you this was in the center of a
densely populated town. Not one person came to rescue or feed this kitten.
Many of the employees at the tourist bureaus and business owners or managers
who spoke English denied any knowledge of these practices. Others would say
they were from elsewhere in Croatia and animal treatment was better in the
rest of the country. However, if I spoke to them at length, they would
occasionally slip and let on that similar abuses also occurred in their
hometown. Others were more truthful and admitted that they had a terrible
problem with the cat population. Common methods of controlling the cat
population were taking cats, especially kittens, on ships and throwing them
into the sea. Another type of animal control is done in the winter, when the
tourists are gone. That is when the government places poison throughout the
town. I was told this form of animal control had been practiced for over
twenty years.
Over the past ten years, owning purebred dogs has become fashionable in
Croatian society. During my stay I learned that many people take these dogs
to the coast using them as a status symbol only to abandon them when their
holiday is over. When I asked the town's veterinarian if there were any laws
against cruelty to dogs and cats, I was informed that there wasn't. His
excuse was that Croatia is a poor country and doesn't have the means for
better animal treatment. But, establishing laws protecting cats and dogs isn
't expensive. Croatia, might be considered to be a developing country but is
much more developed than other countries in Europe, such as Byelorussia or
Ukraine. Homelessness is uncommon. If Croatia's society and government
refuse to change their treatment of animals, perhaps people can help
persuade them to do so. Since one of their biggest industries is tourism,
the threat of a boycott might get their attention.
To observe these practices, one has to live with the natives in their
neighborhoods (they keep the tourist areas clear of strays.) Speaking a
Slavic language was helpful so that I could understand what the people said.
Every small action will help. Please take the time to let the Croatian
government know you do not approve of this behavior. Also spread the word
to others who might be able to help. Posting this letter on a web site or
reprinting it in a newsletter will help spread the word. The situation on
the Adriatic coast of Croatia is horrible. Please spread this information,
inform everyone you know. Help put pressure on the Croatian government to
implement and enforce humane animal welfare laws.
Thank you, Alexandra Yurkiw
CROATIAN CONTACTS
Israel
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia IN THE STATE OF ISRAEL
Contact:Svjetlan Berkovic
Address: Canion Ramat Aviv
40 Einstein St
P.O.Box. 6-7
Tel Aviv 69101
ISREAL
E-mail:[email protected]
Tel: 0097 23
643 8654, 643 8655
Fax:0097 23
643 8503
Croatia
Croatian Ministry of Tourism
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Contact:Bozidar Pankretic
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Branka Sosic (In charge of all animals in Croatia)
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 6106200
Tel: +385/1/6106/111, 6109200
Office of the President -Republic of Croatia
President of Croatia - Stjepan Mesic
Pantovcak 241
10 000 Zagreb
CROATIA
E-mail: [email protected]
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
Ivica Racan
Tel: +385/1/4569 201
Fax: +385/1/6303 019
ADMINISTRATION OF FORESTRY AND HUNTING
Zelijko Rendulic
Tel: 01/6106-203, 6105-205
Fax: 01/6109-203
LEGISLATION OFFICE
Contact Snjezana Bagic
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Tel: +385/1/4569 244
Fax: +385/1/4569 386
MINISTRY OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Contact: Ivan Jakovcic
E:mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Fax: 4569 335 6303 183
MINISTRY OF ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION
Contact: Bozo Kovacevic
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Fax: +385 1 3772 555
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S AGENT AT THE EUROPEAN COURT
E-mail: [email protected]
STATE INSPECTOR'S OFFICE
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
ADMINISTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL POLICIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Contact: Miroslav Cozic
Tel: 01/6106-206
Fax: 01/6109-202
CROATIAN PARLIAMENT
[email protected]
U.S.A
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the United States of America
Contact:Ambassador Ivan Grdesic
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected] <mailto
[email protected]>Tel:202 588 5899
Fax: 202 588 8937, 588 8936
Permanet Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations
Contact: Ambassador Ivan Simonovic
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Tel: 001 212 986 1585
Fax: 001 212 986 2011
Address::820 Second Avenue
19th Fl.
New York, N.Y. 1007
U.S.A.
Belguim
European Union, Bruxelles
Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak
Adress:Avenue des Arts 50
B-100, Bruxelles, Belguim
E-mail: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Fax: 0032 2 6465664
Tel: 0032 2 5000930
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
IN THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel:003 2 644 6510, 644 6932
Fax: 0032 2 512 0338
France
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
In the French Republic
Contact:Ambassador Marko Zaja
Address: 39, avenue Georges
Mandel
75116 Paris
FRANCE
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0033 153
700 280
Fax: 0033 153
700 290
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE - PARIS
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: (0033) 1 45 00 99 55
Fax: (0049) 1 45 00 99
United Kingdom & Ireland
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN, NORTHERN IRELAND AND
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Contact: Ambassador Andrija Kojakovic
Address:21 Conway Street
London W1P 5HL
Uniterd kingdom
E-mail: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected]
Tel: 0044 20 73872022, 73871144
Fax: 0044 20
7387031, 7387093
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE
2 The Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace Road
London W6 9ER
Tel: 029 8563 7979
Fax: 020 8563 2616
E-mail: [email protected]
Italy
Rome
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
In the Italian Republic
Contact: Ambassador Drago Kraljevic
E-mail:[email protected]
Tel: 36307650, 36307300, 36307704
Fax: 36303405, 36303269
Address: Via Luigi Bodio 74-76
00191 Rome
ITALY
Croation NationTourist Office
Informativni ured u Rimu
Via Umbria 15
Rome
Contact: Jelena Poklepovic
Tel:39 06 42 010 525
Fax: 39 06 42 010 639
Milan
Consulate Gereneral of the Republic of Croatia in the Italian Republic
Contact: Mladenka Sarac Roncevic
Tel: 805 1772
Fax: 8051541
Address: Via Dante 9/4
20123 Milan
ITALY
Ente Nazionale Croato per il Turismo
Piazzale Cadorna 9
20123 Milano
Contact: Claudio Stojinic
Tel: 2 86 45 44 97
Fax: 39 02 86 45 45 74
39 33 5822 9760
E-mail: enteturismocroato@eubia
Switzerland
Permanent Mission of the republic of Croatia to the United Nations, Office
in Geneva
Contact: Ambassador Spomenka
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0041 22
7403243, 7403244
Fax: 0041 22
740 3251
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN THE SWISS CONFEDERATION
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0041 31
9526659, 9526663, 9526749, 9526750
CANADA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
229 Chapel Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Y6
Tel: 631-562-7820
Fax: 613-562-7821
E-mail: info@croatiaemb <mailto:info@croatiaemb>
GERMANY
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE - FRANKFURT
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: (0049) 69 25 20 45
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE - MUNICH
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (0049) 89 22 33 44
Fax: (0049) 89 22 33 77
Netherlands
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
IN THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS
Contact: Ambassador Muljacic Jaksa
Address: Amalistraat 16
NL-2514 JC The Hague
The Netherlands
E-mail:[email protected]
Tel: 0031 07 362 3638
Fax: 0031 07 362 3195
CROATIAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD - NETHERLANDS
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: +31 20 405 7067
FINLAND
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN
THE REPUBLIC OF FINDLAND
Contact:Zeljko Bosnjak
[email protected]
Tel: 00358 9, 6222 232, 6222 321
Fax: 00358 9, 6222 221
SWEDEN
Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
IN THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN
Contact: Branko Caratan
E:mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Tel: 0046 8
6788310, 6784220, 6783415, 6783419
Fax: 0046 8
6788320
NORWAY
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN
THE REPUBLIC OF NORWAY
Contact: Jagoda Vukusic
Address: Drammensveien 82
0271 Oslo
Norway
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 0047 22
442 233
Fax: 0047 22
443 900
