The petition to ban chaining dogs, launched by the Friends of Animals NGO, has so far been signed by more than 40,000 people, the association said, adding that associations of veterinarians also support the effort.

The NGO said that it had sent a letter to the government, calling for urgent amendments to the Animal Welfare Act, adding it expected a positive response.

In a letter of support for the campaign, Croatian Veterinary Chamber head Ivan Zemljak said the campaign will contribute to raising the standards of animal protection and welfare in Croatia.

Dogs are social animals, and their long-term confinement or chaining can cause serious damage to their physical and mental well-being, said veterinarian Tatjana Zajec.

Dogs that are chained do not get sufficient playtime and activity, they are not taught to socialise with other animals and humans and can therefore become dangerous for everyone around them, veterinarians warn.