Breeding Control of Companion Animals
The Animal Protection Act prescribes: "The owners of companion animals must ensure the controlled reproduction of animals which are under their control. The owners must take care of the offspring of their own companion animals in accordance with the provisions of this Act or, in the case of uncontrolled reproduction, when they do not want to take care of the offspring, they shall bear the costs of their taking care of." (Article 48, paragraphs 5 and 6)
Animal Friends suggests a change and supplement to the existing article, so it says: "The owners of companion animals must take care of their pet's offspring in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and in the event of being unable to take care of them, they should bear the expense of their fostering. Dog and cat owners must ensure breeding control by neutering/spaying or some other permanent method, except if they desire the offspring who they then need to take care of."
Explanation: The largest number of animals in shelters belongs to unwanted pets' offspring. If an animal is not intended for breeding, there is a risk of them breeding without control, and practice confirms that almost no one ever bore the cost of rehoming unwanted offspring of their pet, nor were they sanctioned because of abandoning animals, thus breaking the provisions of the Animal Protection Act on a daily basis. There are too many abandoned and stray animals and they pose a great financial burden to local communities and citizens, which is why the responsible guardians should be sanctioned if they don't rehome the offspring they are taking care of. A clearly defined legal provision should improve the enforcement of the Act.
The proposal from Animal Friends for this change to the Animal Protection Act is from the year 2012.
![Puppies in a shelter - source: www.ziher.hr [ 57.99 Kb ]](/data/image_3_7922.jpg "Puppies in a shelter - source: www.ziher.hr [ 57.99 Kb ]")
