EU DOG & CAT ALLIANCE REACHES 50 MEMBERS
Posted: 9/7/2015
Alliance establishes itself as the largest EU network of dog and cat welfare organisations
Today (9th July), the EU Dog & Cat Alliance welcomed its 50th member organisation – the Argos Animal Welfare Society from Greece. The Alliance now represents 50 dog and cat welfare organisations from 17 EU Member States.
The EU Dog & Cat Alliance was launched in October 2014 after concerns that there are around 61 million owned dogs and 66 million owned cats in the European Union but little EU legislation to protect them. There is a wide variation in national legislation on dog and cat breeding and trade across EU countries, and cross-border activities can have a huge impact on human and animal health and welfare as well as consumer protection. The Alliance was formed at a crucial time to call for EU actions to protect these animals.
Since its launch, the Alliance has met with key decision makers in Brussels including the European Commission, national government representations and Members of the European Parliament. It has also published a National Legislation Report to provide important information on the current legislation in all 28 of the EU’s Member States. This ground-breaking report was the first of its kind and provides much needed evidence as to why EU legislation on the breeding and trade of dogs and cats is needed.
Together with the Parliament Magazine, the Alliance will hold its first event in the European Parliament on 22nd September this year. The event will be hosted by Nicola Caputo MEP and the speakers will include Andrea Gavinelli, Head of the Animal Welfare Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety.
