Commissioner for the Environment calls for measures regarding stray animal welfare

On the occasion of World Stray Animals Day on April 4, the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare called for full implementation of protective measures at all administrative levels. The Office reported frequent daily incidents of animal abuse, poisoning, shooting, and abandonment, characterizing these not as isolated events but as a systemic reality. The statement emphasized that responsibility for these issues is shared between state institutions and society at large, citing lack of sterilization and illegal breeding as primary factors. Volunteers and animal welfare organizations currently bear a disproportionate burden in addressing these needs due to limited resources. Furthermore, the Office highlighted the failure to pass key legislation, specifically noting the rejection of the Regulations for Keeping Dogs for Private, Non-Commercial Purposes by the House of Representatives in March 2025. This legislative inaction, combined with ongoing gaps in policy enforcement, continues to hinder animal protection efforts. The Commissioner advocates for collective responsibility rather than the current reliance on private, under-funded initiatives.