Just after 12 o’clock, GRH received a call from the Liotard team that the Written Declaration on Dog Population Management has been supported by more than half of the Members of the European Parliament. Many volunteers across Europe, amongst whom GRH, have lobbied with their MEP’s to get their support.
This Written Declaration asks for Members States to adopt comprehensive dog population management strategies and anti-cruelty laws, with the aim to harmonise animal welfare standards across the European Union. This marks a significant shift to developing EU legislation in this matter.
As a strong supporter for animal welfare and the one who brought galgos to the European podium, Kartika Liotard (United Left) tells us: “Every year numerous written declarations are presented, most of which never get the majority of signatures within the European Parliament, needed for further action. The fact that a majority of the Members of European Parliament has signed this declaration, shows the great interest in decent and
respectful treatment of animals. Now they have also shown this concern for stray animals.”
Though the declaration is written with stray dogs in mind, overall dog welfare issues are addressed. The indiscrimate breeding and subsequent dumping of galgos has left many of them living in dire straits on streets, fields and motorways or are they are dumped in the
perrera’s, which is the ultimate and extreme measure of Spain to deal with unwelcome
dogs. The cruelty inflicted upon some of them is worse than one can imagine.
This declaration lifts these issues to a European level by calling on Member States to steer clear of these extreme measures, adopt a strategy for dog control and stringent anti-cruelty laws. Strategies for dog control by Spain must include regulation of the breeding and dumping of galgos, since this is a major cause of so much misery.
The written declaration will now be send to the European Commission to take further action in this matter. This can be a notoriously slow process, but with all the support hopefully this time action will be as loud as words.
For more information, look here.
