Montenegro heat wave endangers abandoned horses on Podgorica outskirts

A heat wave that swept western Europe this week reached the Balkans, with temperatures in Podgorica, Montenegro, climbing to almost 40 °C (104 °F). Animal‑welfare activists warned that dozens of unattended horses were left roaming the city's outskirts without shelter, water or food. activist Marta Darmanović said the situation was “unbelievable” and highlighted the lack of any large‑animal shelter, noting that Montenegro’s EU accession bid requires adequate animal‑welfare legislation.

Municipal Inspection head Branko Kovačević said authorities have established shelters for dogs and cats and are working within existing regulations to address larger animals, but “nobody is responsible” for providing the horses with water or food. The heat wave also broke temperature records in France and set a new national high in Hungary, underscoring broader regional extremes. Temperatures are expected to fall later in the week.