Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković visited the city’s animal shelter, the first registered facility of its kind in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, to emphasize the importance of animal care and adoption. During the visit, he met with the shelter’s new director, Stijepan Lazarević, and highlighted the critical need for additional support during the winter and holiday season.

The shelter, a project by the City of Dubrovnik, provides a safe haven for abandoned animals. Since opening, it has cared for over 170 dogs, with 40 currently housed in climate-controlled spaces and a large outdoor play area. With a capacity for 73 dogs, it continues to operate in line with high welfare standards.

This facility is part of the “Adopt Žarkovica” initiative, launched to resolve issues related to the unregulated animal shelter on Žarkovica Hill. Led by Ana Ivelja, the project facilitated the relocation of over 260 animals and laid the foundation for the current shelter. Ivelja remains a key figure as the facility’s head caretaker.

The shelter has urged residents to adopt rather than buy pets this winter, with a special appeal for older dogs and puppies. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the shelter invites citizens to visit, meet the animals, and take them for walks.