The Aalborg Zoo in Denmark recently caused an uproar by posting on Facebook, asking people to bring in their healthy animals if they don't want to care for them any longer. These animals are then euthanized and fed to other zoo animals, a practice that has sparked widespread condemnation.

In 2025 alone, Aalborg Zoo has taken in and euthanized 137 rabbits, 53 chickens, 18 guinea pigs, and 22 horses -  The thought that beloved animals end this way shakes me profoundly and contradicts all compassion and respect owed to sentient beings.

This practice is ethically unacceptable and undermines trust in animal welfare. Pets once loved as companions are degraded to feed. We demand an immediate ban on this practice, a government investigation, and clear legal regulations.

Choosing to welcome a pet into your home is a lifelong commitment. Animals age, they may fall ill, and our own circumstances can change - but none of this erases the responsibility we owe them. Offering an easy way out undermines this duty and risks fostering a mindset where animals are bought impulsively and discarded just as easily, weakening the bond of care and loyalty that defines true guardianship. We must stand firm: companionship demands dedication, not convenience.

It is unimaginable and unacceptable that pets once cherished as companions are turned into “surplus goods” judged solely by economic criteria. This degrading treatment of sentient beings must stop.

Our pets are partners, and we bear responsibility to protect them. Each has the right to a life treated with dignity and respect. Allowing this practice to continue risks losing our ethical principles and compassion.

Furthermore, based on my legal understanding, the actions of Aalborg Zoo and the actions of the pet owners concerned, violate the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (CETS No. 125), particularly Articles 3 and 4, which prohibit causing unnecessary suffering and require proper care respecting animals’ needs. This treaty must be upheld to protect our companion animals.

Please help us be the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves. Sign this petition and help us stop this cruel practice. Together we can ensure no other pet becomes fodder.