Danilovgrad Municipality: Authorities to determine the circumstances of the animal abuse case in Klikovače

The Municipality of Danilovgrad announced today that it expects the competent state authorities to conduct a detailed investigation and fully determine all the circumstances of the animal abuse case in Klikovače, including the responsibility of the persons who kept the animals in extremely poor conditions.

In Klikovače, near Danilovgrad, one of the most serious cases of animal abuse in Montenegro was discovered yesterday - animal protection activist Daliborka Rešetar, acting on a report from locals, found more than 30 Staffordshire bull terriers in extremely poor conditions, without adequate food and water, visibly starving and in poor health.

The Municipality of Danilovgrad issued a statement today stating that they strongly condemn any form of abuse and inhumane treatment of animals, following the case discovered yesterday in the settlement of Klikovače.

"We are concerned about the information about a large number of dogs that were found in extremely poor conditions, without adequate care, food and water. Such cases represent a serious violation of the law and the basic principles of humane treatment of animals. We would like to emphasize that, according to the currently available information, these are owned, purebred dogs that were kept in boxes, and not abandoned dogs from public areas. The competent municipal services have not previously had any reports or information that would indicate the existence of such a situation at the location in question," the Danilovgrad Municipality said in a statement.

The local administration added that "from the moment the information was submitted to the competent authorities, the services acted in accordance with their jurisdiction and immediately became involved in resolving this case."

"We expect the competent state authorities to conduct a detailed investigation and fully establish all the circumstances of the event, including the responsibility of the persons who kept the animals in such conditions. Of particular concern are the allegations that the person who kept the animals at the location in question is now denying ownership of them. We expect the competent authorities to establish all the facts and circumstances of this case through the investigation, including the identity and responsibility of the persons who were obliged to provide the animals with adequate care, accommodation, food and water. We consider any avoidance of responsibility in such cases unacceptable and condemn any attempt to avoid responsibility to the detriment of animal welfare," the statement reads.

The Municipality of Danilovgrad said that in order to protect and benefit animals, in cooperation with the relevant institutions, veterinary services and animal protection organizations, they will provide all necessary logistical support so that the dogs can be safely cared for.

"The Danilovgrad Municipal Company is supporting activists and volunteers in relocating the dogs to a safe location, where they will be provided with appropriate conditions and necessary veterinary care. Also, in order to preserve the scene of the incident and prevent any relocation of the animals before the competent authorities have completed their actions, the municipal police were present at the location during the night. In this way, supervision of the animals was ensured until their relocation and the implementation of all necessary procedures," the Danilovgrad Municipality said.

The statement also states that the Municipality of Danilovgrad, through its Spatial Planning Program and planned budget for 2026, has allocated 30.000 euros to begin building a shelter for dogs.

"Such cases further confirm the need to strengthen capacities for the protection and care of animals and will accelerate our activities so that we can respond even more efficiently to similar situations in the future. The Municipality of Danilovgrad expresses its gratitude to the civic activists, volunteers and animal protection organizations whose engagement contributed to the discovery of this case and the finding of temporary accommodation for the dogs. Their quick response, dedication and cooperation with the competent services represent an important contribution to the protection of animal welfare and confirm the importance of partnership between institutions and the civil sector in solving such problems," the statement said.

The Municipality of Danilovgrad once again appeals to citizens to report any suspected case of animal abuse or neglect to the competent authorities in order to enable timely response and prevent such situations.