Croatian animal‑rights groups schedule protest demanding new protection agency

The animal‑rights organization Prijatelji životinja announced a demonstration titled “Stop cruelty toward animals” for Saturday, 27 June 2026. The protest will begin at 10 a.m. on King Tomislav Square in Zagreb and aims to gather citizens and other animal‑protection NGOs.

Organisers say repeated cases of animal neglect, abuse and killings reveal a dysfunctional system lacking effective oversight. They demand the creation of a dedicated animal‑protection inspection, stricter enforcement of the existing Animal Protection Law, accountability for agencies that ignore reports, improved micro‑chip control, and systematic sterilisation programmes for dogs and cats. The group stresses that animal welfare should not rely on volunteers and calls on the public to sign a petition for veterinary‑inspection reform.

The rally seeks to press the Croatian government to enact and apply concrete legal measures that prevent cruelty rather than reacting only after tragedies occur.