The protest gathering was reaction to a statement of the Director of Veterinary Administration on October 18, broadcast on First Channel of Radiotelevision of Serbia announcing possible changes of the Animal Welfare Law. The protest was organised by citizens of Belgrade and supported by animal protection societies Alfa, Humans for Animals and Phoenix.
The responsible authorities do not practice the existing Law and corresponding regulations, so that problems with abandoned animals can not be solved properly. Representatives of the institutions are trying to desinform wider public that existing strategies and legislation are not effective, but actualy authorities simply do not apply them. Media support them and contribute to panic and mass hysteria.
What we demand from authorities would be to bring into effect existing Law or to resign, if they are not able to do this, and to let leading of this Sector to those that are able to do this in a human way and in accordance with EU regulations and existing Animal Welfare Law. With this purpose seven animal protection societies signed memo to the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management. Those were: ALFA, Phoenix, Humans for Animals, Animal Protection Society of Mladenovac, Animal Protection Society of Novi Sad, Liberty for Animals and Help Animals. The protest has been supported also by many public figures and companies.
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