Pavlos Neophytou
The long-debated issue of the "dog law" in Parliament, which seeks to address numerous concerns of both animal welfare organizations and local authorities, is nearing its conclusion.
After a year and a half of discussions in the competent Environment Committee—a process that moved slowly due to differing positions among the involved parties—the final text of the law is expected to be brought to the plenary session 4 to 5 weeks after Parliament reconvenes in January, as Charalambos Theopemptou, the chairman of the Committee, told K.
It is important to note that one of the most contentious issues discussed during the meetings was the euthanasia of stray dogs collected by local authorities. After a year and a half of disagreement among the involved parties, the member MEPs met and unanimously decided to remove euthanasia from the law.
This change is expected to provoke reactions from the state and local authorities, who had disagreed during the discussions. The concern is that by removing euthanasia, any stray dog collected will require care for the rest of its life.
State responsibility
Asked how the state would manage the large numbers of stray dogs once euthanasia is removed, Theopemptou stated that finding a solution would now be the state's responsibility. He pointed to the government's plan to create regional shelters and suggested that stray dogs should be placed there.
He also referenced an amendment he had previously proposed, which did not pass, that would have banned the sale of pet dogs. Instead, people interested in adopting a pet would be required to do so through shelters rather than purchasing from pet stores.
Once Parliament reconvenes after the Christmas holiday period, the final draft of the law will be sent to the relevant parties for feedback, allowing for the final decisions to be made.
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