Ukraine ban on killing stray dogs for Euro 2012 football championship
The huge numbers of stray dogs killed in the Ukraine as we approach the Euro 2012 football championship may soon be at an end after the country acceded to pressure from Western animal pressure groups.
Ukraine is hosting the Euro football championship in the summer of 2012 and to 'clear' the streets in preparation, thousands of stray dogs have been killed, reportedly by poisoning or injection with illegal substances and resulting in an agonising death.
WARNING – video may cause distress!
Following outrage by local and international animal protection groups, including a meeting with Naturewatch representatives – a British group who campaign against animal cruelty in the Ukraine - environment minister Mykola Zlochevsky said that he wanted to stop the deaths of “those poor stray animals for half a year and build shelters together”.
The ban would be legally binding. UEFA has welcomed the measures and is “looking forward to their successful implementation”. UEFA says that it has repeatedly asked the Ukranian authorities for “appropriate measures to be developed that respect the dignity of animals”.
However, due to the massive stray dog population – tens of thousands - and the time and money needed to build shelters to house them, it may prove problematic to enforce the ban and new measures. Some dogs may be 'sterilised' and released.
Reports are unclear whether the ban on killing is a temporary measure and if it would remain in force after the championship in June.
Story submitted by Lucky Star
on 27-11-2011, 05:05 PM