Ukrainian legislation must provide domestic and stray animals with the most effective protection possible and work in practice. To this end, animal welfare organizations and parliamentarians have drafted a series of amendments to draft law No. 11328.
According to the organization UAnimals, lawyers from the animal welfare team worked on their recommendations and proposals for two weeks. Members of parliament and representatives of other communities were also involved in this work.
The common task is to "polish" the document
Draft law No. 11328 aims to increase responsibility for cruelty to animals and ban a number of inhumane practices. Parliament supported the document in its first reading on January 15.
During the preparation for the second reading, there is an opportunity to make amendments so that the law will actually work after its adoption.
People's deputies Yulia Ovchinnikova, Kira Rudyk, and Viktoria Syumar, as well as lawyers from the organizations UAnimals, URSA, and AZOU, worked on the amendments to the document.
UAnimals also reported that the recommendations took into account the comments of the Main Scientific and Expert Directorate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (GNEU). Other parliamentarians were also able to propose their own amendments.
In order for the amendments to be included in the text of the law, they must be reviewed by the Subcommittee on Forest Resources and Biodiversity and the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management.
Animal cruelty will finally become illegal
Passing bill No. 11328 should fundamentally change the treatment of domestic animals. Initiated by the public and members of parliament, the document will prohibit cruel practices that threaten the health and life of animals or cause them unjustified pain.
"We have been fighting for this bill since July 2024, and we thank everyone who helped spread the word before the first reading. Adoption at the second reading is the final step to ensure the proposed changes for animals become law," UAnimals emphasized.
EcoPolitic has covered in detail the changes that the document will introduce to Ukrainian legislation. In addition to defining clear terminology, which will finally allow for the precise classification of crimes against animals, bill No. 11328 will establish a number of prohibitions. Among them:
- performing surgical interventions without medical necessity, in particular ear cropping and claw removal;
- hindering the feeding of stray animals;
- keeping animals on a chain without walks.
The European Union is working on a law to regulate the breeding and domestic keeping of cats and dogs. Mandatory requirements include chipping, a ban on inbreeding, and specialized training for staff at shelters and breeding facilities.
The Polish government recently banned the breeding of animals for fur. All fur farms must be completely closed by 2033.
