Five animal shelters received support in the framework of the EU-funded project “Help our Small Friends”. It goes to dried food, medicines or renewal of equipment for the animals without owners kept there to benefit from better conditions.

In a news conference hosted by IPN, Elena Culighin, head of the National Environmental Center, said the support was provided for five animal shelters chosen at a contest that also implied the offering of improved veterinary services, like sterilization or medical care.

Irina Yakovennko, who leads the association “Jiva” and who organized the animal shelter “Barbos”, said that she has looked after animals without a home for many years. The shelter was founded spontaneously as they needed to house animals. The shelter became overcrowded swiftly. The services there need to be improved and the adoption of animals should be encouraged.

“The lack of food, cages, vaccines and other staff is the most serious problem experienced by shelters. That’s why we are grateful to the implementers of the assistance project. We now drafted an adoption concept. We are to receive cages. We will develop this mechanism. We also received food for animals and this is substantial aid for us,” stated Irina Yakovennko.

Anastasia Radu, of the National Environmental Center, noted that the adoption of animals should be a conscious and responsible process. “There are three questions that you need to sincerely respond: will I be able to feed this animal daily, for several times? Will I be able to daily walk this animal to satisfy its needs? Will I be able to take it with me on trips or I have in whose care to leave it? If you have at least one “no” answer, you should better give up as the animal is not a toy. The positive emotions are enormous, but the responsibilities are also big. If you are ready, I urge you to adopt an animal,” said Anastasia Radu.

Within the project “Help our Small Friends”, experts designed a bill to protect animals, including as regards their maintaining, breeding, selling and transportation. The bill that the experts want to become law is to prevent and punish cruelty to animals. The bill also regulates the maintaining and keeping of records of animals without owners.

Note: IPN News Agency gives the right of reply to persons who consider they were touched by the news items produced based on statements of the organizers of the given news conference, including by facilitating the organization of another news conference in similar conditions.