Launched by Gisela Urban

To the European Parliament
60 rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60
B-1047 - Bruxelles/Brussels
 
Subject: Urgent appeal to end the cruel killing of street dogs in the European Union, especially in Romania
 
Honourable Members of the European Parliament,
 
It is with deep horror and growing concern that we turn to you to highlight a serious and unacceptable practice that is still widespread in many parts of the European Union, particularly in Romania and Spain: the cruel and unnecessary killing of street dogs in disregard of animal rights and the EU's obligations to safeguard animal welfare. 
 
The cruel fate of so-called. Hunting dogs: especially in Spain. At the end of their use, for example for hunting, the dogs are often killed or disposed of in an inhumane way. Some are tied to trees until they strangle themselves, abandoned, burnt, drowned, doused with acid or thrown into wells. In rare cases, they end up in overcrowded rescue centres where animal rights activists try to place them. More often, however, they are handed over to so-called perreras (killing centres), where they are usually killed within 20 days.
 
Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union clearly states that the welfare of animals as sentient beings must be fully taken into account. All Member States are required to promote and ensure animal welfare. Yet we see daily reports of the brutal treatment of street dogs in several EU countries, particularly in Romania, where dogs are cruelly captured, confined to overcrowded shelters and kept in inhumane conditions. In many cases, the lives of these animals end in a cruel killing that is neither necessary nor justified.
The practice of so-called ‘Stray Dog Management’, which is often supported by EU funding, leads to the systematic destruction of street dogs and denies them the basic right to life, protection and care. Instead of promoting humane solutions such as neutering and placing animals in loving hands, in many cases the animals are brutally killed, which is against the fundamental principles of the European Union.
 
We urge the European Parliament:
 
Take immediate action to ensure that EU funds are not used for the brutal killing of animals.

Stricter controls and oversight on the use of EU funding in countries that are proven to be in breach of animal welfare laws, particularly in relation to street dog management in Romania.

Promote humane alternatives to the killing of street dogs, such as nationwide neutering programmes, placement in shelters or adoption.
Strengthening animal welfare directives at EU level and implementing these laws in all Member States so that animal welfare is not only guaranteed on paper but also in practice.

Curbing the illegal killing of animals and penalising responsible authorities and companies that condone or even encourage these cruel practices.

The time to act is now. The EU has a moral and legal obligation to promote animal welfare and ensure that animals are treated with respect and dignity in all Member States. It is unacceptable that animals in the European Union continue to die cruelly simply because they have no owner or live in a difficult situation.
 
We appeal to the European Parliament to finally take the necessary steps to stop these cruel killings and create real, humane solutions. Animals deserve protection and it is our duty to stand up for them.
We thank you for your attention and hope for a swift and consistent response.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Gisela Urban, Germany
 
Co-petitioners:
Rainer Gaertner. Germany  
Angelika Remiszewski, Dortmund, Germany
Birgit Stepka, 4644 Scharnstein, Austria 
Cleo Schülein, 72461 Albstadt, Germany
 Philipp Pauleit, Heinsberg, Germany