Animal category: Canines

European Parliament: written answer to question E-001682/25: Turkish law that allows the killing of roaming dogs and cats

Question: Sebastian Everding (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), Erik Marquardt (Greens/EFA), Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), Tomáš Kubín (PfE), Maria Zacharia (NI). Answer: Mrs Kos on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

In response to concerns about the mass slaughter of stray dogs in Turkey, the Commission points out that animal welfare is not regulated at EU level for third countries. However, it supports the actions of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),of which Turkey is a member, to promote international standards on the ethical management of dog populations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Regional Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe - Annual report - 2024

Regional animal welfare platform for Europe / WHOA

Published in 2024

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) European Regional Platform on Animal Welfare, created in 2013, supports all 53 European countries in the progressive implementation of WOAH standards, notably in the realms of transport, slaughter, management of stray dogs, animal welfare during emergencies caused by extreme natural events, and working equines. Since 2024, it has been putting its fourth action plan into operation, which responds to the needs of member countries and the results of an external evaluation.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Pigs, Poultry

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-001104/25: Management of stray animals in the EU

Question: Nikos Pappas (The Left). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

European Commission answer to a question from a Member of the European Parliament on the measures it envisages for the management of stray animals in the Member States. No common legislative framework is planned for stray animals other than those kept in shelters, but funding is being put in place via the WHOA regional platform to facilitate the application of international standards.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Agriculture Committee votes on first EU rules on welfare of dogs and cats

Hana Raissi

Published in 2025

Press release announcing the adoption by the European Parliament of groundbreaking rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, including compulsory electronic identification and a ban on breeding establishments for animals with extreme characteristics.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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European Commission - Welfare of dogs and cats

EU Commission

Published in 2025

Information published by the European Commission outlining the stages of the revision of the regulations on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, the new draft of which was published on December 7, 2023.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°5678 : Vente des animaux domestiques en animalerie et à la question n°4997 : vente d’animaux sur internet

Questions: Mr Philippe Fait (Pas-de-Calais (4th constituency) - Ensemble pour la République) and Mr Bruno Bilde (Pas-de-Calais (12th constituency) - Rassemblement National). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Answer to a question from French Assembly members concerning the actions taken to circumvent the ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops introduced on January 1, 2024 intended to restrict impulse purchases and abandonment. Without a clear system of penalties, online sales with in-store collections are continuing.  The Government states that it plans to tighten regulation and controls, notably via a dedicated pet welfare plan launched in May 2024.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Instruction technique DGAL/SDSBEA/2025-254 du 14-04-2025 : Certificat d'engagement et de connaissance délivré avant acquisition d'un animal de compagnie

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Update to the DGAL technical instruction of 14/11/2022, invoving changes to the content of the compulsory certificate of commitment and knowledge that must now be issued prior to the acquisition of a pet.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite aux questions n°3208 : Application de la loi visant à lutter contre la maltraitance animale, et n°3072 : Vente illégale d’animaux sur Internet

Questions: Ms Lisa Belluco (Vienne (1st constituency) - Écologiste et Social). Mr. Kévin Pfeffer (Moselle (6th constituency) - Rassemblement National). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Questions from two Deputies to he Government on loopholes in the application of the 2021 law against animal abuse, particularly in the area of illegal sales of animals on the internet and the persistence of certain practices in pet shops. In response, the Ministry lists the actions it has already undertaken (decrees, controls, tools for verifying online ads) and announces a national plan for pet welfare, constructed around five axes. A regulatory review is also underway to better supervise the keeping of animals in pet shops in connection with online sales.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

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The Dark Side of the Moon: A Good Adoption Rate Conceals the Unsolved Ethical Problem of Never-Adopted Dogs

Corsetti, S.; Natoli, E.; Malandrucco, L.

Published in 2025

Study on the application of the Italian no-kill policy to domestic dogs, based on data from the Muratella shelter in Rome for the periods 2012-2016 and 2018-2022. Despite a high adoption rate, the significant number of dogs remaining in shelters for life raises important ethical issues.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories:Canine

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°1079 : Mise en œuvre du plan pour le bien-être animal

Question: Corinne Vignon (Haute-Garonne (3rd constituency) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Corine Vignon (Ensemble pour la République) has asked the Ministry about follow-up actions following the national pet welfare plan launched in May 2024. The Government reminds her that this plan aims to combat abandonment and abuse through coordinated actions between ministries and those active in the sector. It is based on five axes, including improving knowledge, training, strengthening regulations and funding. Interministerial governance and tools such as the "Ma sécurité" platform will enable better monitoring and more effective application of measures.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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