Dear Friends of the animals around the World,

Recently you could have seen hideous pictures from Croatia, the pictures of hanged cats and dogs that are killed in our country. Croatian Hunter’s law approves that, which is frequently misused by hunters who kill these animals with no reason. Status of animals in Croatia is crushingly poor and the only thing that could improve such condition is the international support to our demands.

Thanks to all recent international protest we have managed to get a huge media attention, and the highest structures of our Government have also reacted to our outcries. We were invited to President's Cabinet, after a short negotiation we were asked to draw up a new draft bill on Animal Welfare in Croatia.

Animal Welfare law in Croatia needs to be changed. Our main demands are bans on animal circuses, testing of cosmetics and household products on animals, fur farms, animal transport, killing of endangered animal species, killing of strays, religious killings, and ban on using animal in promoting purposes. Our bill also includes important changes in animal farming, slaughtering, and animal experimentation, as well as better treatment of all animals and better moral status of all species.

With this changes Croatia would become one of the countries with best Animal Welfare Act and it could use as an example to all other countries. The bill could help to correct injustice treatment of animal in Croatia, and it could also help to make an important step for animal rights around the world. We need your help to put the pressure on our government and to bring out this bill.

Visit the site www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/htmlen/land-of-cruelty.html where you can see why Croatia is the land of cruelty and why the Animal Welfare Act needs to be changed immediately.

The main economic source of Croatia is tourism, and as tourist season is approaching our Government is more sensitive to international demands. Croatian Government takes immense pains to join the European Union and therefore any international criticism deteriorates greatly those efforts. That is why tourist boycott of Croatia, criticism and international protests against Croatia's entering to the EU could cause enormous damage to Croatia.

Please do the following:

FORWARD THIS LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL MEDIA AND ALSO TO YOUR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES.

SEND THIS LETTER TO FOLLOWING ADDRESSES OF CROATIAN AUTHORITIES AND MEDIA:

 sabor@sabor.hr;  office@president.hr;  uei@vlada.hr;  ministrica-turizma@mint.hr;  info@htz.hr;  office@mps.hr;  prijatelji-zivotinja@inet.hr;  hrt@hrt.hr;  vecernji@vecernji.net;  vjesnik@vjesnik.hr;  vijesti@ccn.hr

PUT AS CC:

 eheb@telus.net;  envinfo@cec.eu.int;  eurobarometer@cec.eu.int;  elarg-info@cec.eu.int;  eac-culture@cec.eu.int;  editor@reuters.com;  cnn@cnn.com;  editor@usatoday.com;  letters@thetimes.co.uk;  letters@nytimes.com;  redaktion@welt.de

COPY THIS TEXT AND SEND E-MAIL WITH PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ADDRESSES:

Dear Honourable Officials,

Please support the action of Animal Friends Croatia (Prijatelji zivotinja) and adopt their bills on Animal Welfare Law of Croatia. President of Croatia Mr. Stjepan Mesic is setting a great example for all other world leaders by showing his compassion and will to change the current situation, which will be appreciated by all compassionate people around the world.

By acceptance of the new bill Croatia could become a bright example to all other countries and it will surely help your efforts to become an EU member and it will also help the promotion of your country and your tourism.

The way Croatia treats animals is really disgraceful and if you will not take any action to change this shameful condition I will have to personally insist not to admit Croatia to the European Union and I will also encourage other people on boycotting Croatian tourist season and Croatian products.

Please make the necessary steps of putting Croatia on the top of compassionate and non-cruel countries and moving it from the bottom of the same list.

I will be waiting for your positive reply and a statement from Animal Friends Croatia (Prijatelji zivotinja), but will also start writing protest letters to media and authorities in my country and other major media from around the world, which is something that will damage your politics and tourism.

Looking forward to positive changes in your country,

YOUR NAME:

_________________________

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

You can sign the petitions on our web site www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr where you can also get more information on our organisation and how to become our member or supporter.

Animal Friends Croatia was established six months ago in October 2001. The organisation aims are the promoting of animal rights and animal welfare, as well as vegetarianism. Within these six months we have achieved enormous success and we have mounted various interesting campaigns. During this half-year period hundreds of Croatian citizens joined our organisation and supported our campaigns.

As we are a young NGO, we are working with no financial support and with very simple equipment.

WE NEED YOUR HELP - financial if possible, but materials like books, videotapes and other promoting materials are welcomed also. Every kind of help is urgently required.

The number of our transfer account is:

Zagrebacka banka

SWIFT ZABA HR 2X

2500-01579436

Our address is:

Prijatelji zivotinja

Gunduliceva 21a

10000 Zagreb

Croatia

Europe

Moreover, we would like to be informed about your actions and campaigns in which we could take part in with our contribution.

Thanks in advance.

For the animals,

Prijatelji zivotinja/ Animal Friends Croatia

Zagreb, Croatia

 prijatelji-zivotinja@inet.hr

www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr