Euro-MP celebrates after Ukraine announces an end to barbaric annual stray dog slaughter
19 October 2006
THE mayor of Ukrainian capital Kiev is to appoint a special advisor to stamp out cruel and abusive treatment of thousands of stray dogs in the city following a campaign by Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas and animal welfare charity Naturewatch.
The decision should mark the end of decades of abuse by the city authorities- who have been rounding up thousands of strays and slaughtering them before processing the carcasses into hats, gloves, soap - and even dog food.
Dr Lucas, vice-president of the European Parliament's cross-party animal welfare and protection group - and of the UK-based RSPCA - wrote a letter to Ukrainian president Viktor Yushcenko earlier this year asking him to intervene to halt the cruelty and bring Ukraine closer to EU animal protection standards.
The South-East England Euro-MP also hosted a special screening of Naturewatch's undercover evidence for fellow MEPs, and a briefing for campaigners to meet parliamentarians and discuss the issue. She also co-sponsored a Written Declaration - the European Parliament's equivalent of an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons - calling for the EU to intervene.
Though the EU has no legislation on the treatment of 'companion' animals, Ukraine is a member of the Council of Europe, which requires all members to 'collect and destroy animals humanely'.
Dr Lucas said: "The treatment of stray dogs in Ukraine is absolutely barbaric and unacceptable - as undercover video evidence collected by Naturewatch testifies.
"This is fantastic news and I congratulate Naturewatch on persuading the Ukrainian authorities to take the issue seriously and end this cruelty onceand for all."
The special advisor will be appointed in consultation with Naturewatch and should be in post by Spring 2007.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
Further details of Naturewatch's work in the Ukraine can be found at www.naturewatch.org
