New European Citizens’ Initiative calls for stronger protection of stray and shelter animals

A new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is advocating for stronger protection of stray and shelter animals, both within and outside the European Union (EU). The initiative calls on the European Commission to propose measures that would enhance the welfare of stray dogs, cats, and animals in shelters, and ensure that EU policies and funding do not contribute to their suffering. The organizers are pushing for sustainable approaches to stray animal management, including population control, sterilization, vaccination programs, veterinary care, and animal welfare education.

The ECI also aims to address the use of dogs and cats for scientific purposes, improve animal welfare conditions in EU trade and association agreements, and ensure that EU funding is contingent upon compliance with minimum standards for the protection of stray animals. While the initiative is partially registered with the European Commission, further support is needed to garner the one million signatures required to bring it before the Commission for consideration.