A group of activists insist that the Chisinau municipaliy must put into practice the existing Animal Rights Regulation. While the document was approved several years ago, they claim that its provisions remain merely on paper.

Dozens of petitions and requests sent to local authorities remain unanswered, said Olga Ghersh, animal rights activist, during a press conference on Wednesday.

Ghersh stated that for many years activists like her have been campaigning for more effective regulations and a law to improve the situation for pets and stray animals both in the capital and at the national level

Since 2019, in the municipality of Chisinau, the issue of stray animals has been managed by the municipal waste management company Autosalubritate. Activists were persistent, they filed numerous applications, checks were made at the Municipal Animal Shelter, they came up with suggestions. Meanwhile, the authorities have only proposed the creation of a new municipal company to be in charge. Otherwise, the situation is slow to improve. At the Municipal Shelter there are still no adequate conditions for the strays captured in Chisinau, say the activists.

Olga Ghersh says that last year a collective petition was sent to 25 MPs from three parliamentary groups, as well as to President Maia Sandu. The authorities were asked to promote a law to protect animals. This year, PAS lawmaker Iulia Dascălu initiated public consultations on a draft law on animal protection, improved at the suggestion of civil society.

Diana Iurna, also an animal rights activist and volunteer, said that the adoption of the law in question will bring multiple benefits. This law will protect animals from cruelty and exploitation. It will also increase the level of education, contributing to the development of empathy and responsibility among the country’s citizens.