The population of owned dogs and cats in the European Union is estimated to be more than one hundred million animals.
DG SANCO's publicity for the new study
The Directorate-General for Health and Consumers of the European Commission (DG SANCO) recently launched a study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices in the EU Member States.
The aim of the study is to collect and analyse information on the breeding, keeping and trade of dogs and cats in the EU, including import and export. The study focuses on the economic development of the pet sector, the welfare of dogs and cats and the protection of EU citizens (both from financial damage and health risks). The study will assess if there is a need for EU measures to improve the situation, such as information and education campaigns, technical support for stakeholders and authorities, or EU legislation.
Different online questionnaires are addressed to a variety of stakeholders in order to collect the information needed for this study. Moreover, the opinions and experiences of EU citizens – both pet owners and non-owners – will also be investigated.
Questionnaires are available for the following categories: research institutes, veterinary organisations, dog and cat dealers, breeders, private veterinarians, citizens, dog trainers, dog and cat shelters, non-governmental organisations, and breeder associations/organisations.
This is the first EU study ever carried out on such a topic, so AnimalWelfareAndTrade is pleased to circulate DG SANCO’s invitation to everyone to contribute to the achievement of the project’s goals by filling in the questionnaire by the end of July 2014.
