01 March More animal welfare through uniform animal welfare standards for dogs and cats. An important and long overdue step to improve the welfare of our four-legged friends!
Yesterday, at the meeting of the Interparliamentary Group on Animal Welfare, we discussed the new legislative proposal for the protection of cats and dogs - the law is intended to provide new rules and standards for the welfare of these animals that are bred or kept in breeding facilities, pet shops and animal shelters. To this end, the traceability of animals will be improved through identification and registration, also to prevent illegal trade, especially in puppies.
In addition, for the first time, breeding facilities across the EU must comply with minimum standards for the breeding, housing, care and treatment of these animals.
Spanish hunting dogs, i.e. galgos and podencos, in particular can benefit from this. Because these dogs are raised in the cruelest way possible, are wounded and even tortured to death when they are no longer needed.
The Commission was able to confirm to me that Galgos and Podencos are also covered by the new animal protection law. This is extremely important for their protection, as they have so far been exempt from national animal protection laws as hunting dogs in Spain. We must no longer accept such loopholes for the Spanish hunting lobby and their barbaric cruelty to animals.
I spoke on Deutschlandfunk radio about Spanish hunting dogs and their protection. You can find out more in this article:
The entire recording of the meeting of the Interparliamentary Animal Welfare Group on the new EU animal welfare law for dogs and cats can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxyJHk7w2-I&t=3s