The society divided the odious draft law on euthanasia of animals

Social activists, actors, parents with many children, priests and even psychiatrists discussed the problem of humane treatment of animals in Russia in the context of their possible legalized killing in the future. “The Humane Law on the Responsible Treatment of Animals is a guarantor of the humane development of the country,” a press conference on this topic took place simultaneously with the second reading of the scandalous bill “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals,” which actually blesses the euthanasia of our smaller brothers.

They said that they wanted to postpone the second reading of the bill, which was unpleasant in all respects, until the last, but it did not work out. Nevertheless, numerous protests against the adoption of the new law are taking place all over the country, and the #AgainEuthanasia flashmob is being actively promoted. Video clips against the killing of our smaller brothers are sent to social networks from the regions.

Experts warned that the bill, not yet being adopted, had already managed to raise a monstrous wave of livelihood, for example, in the Astrakhan and Orenburg regions. Cruelty breeds reciprocal cruelty. This is just quite logical.

Yes, animals thrown out into the street often become aggressive. But who is to blame for this?

Dogs (by the way, the future law also applies to cats) are on the street against their will. But getting rid of pets by negligent owners is practically not controlled by anyone and is not punished as much. The budgets allocated for sterilization and arrangement of animals go somewhere in the wrong place.

“What are we teaching our children? We throw animals out into the street, and even pretend that the animals themselves are to blame for this, ”Natalya Karpovich, head of the Regional Public Organization Association of Large Families of the City of Moscow, is indignant.

Negative feedback on the bill has already been given by the State Legal Department of the President of the Russian Federation, the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on Ecology and Sustainable Development, the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media. The total number of votes against this initiative, reflected in several petitions, is currently more than 1 million 270 thousand people.

It is important to note that after the introduction of the new norms, the regions will have the right to independently decide on the procedure for the massacre of stray animals – how to get rid of them, what will be enough funds for, which, of course, runs counter to generally accepted norms and the same federal law No. 498 “On Responsible Treatment with animals”.

We must honestly admit that our society is also actually divided on this issue. Including territorially. Central Russia and large metropolitan areas, primarily Moscow and St. Petersburg, are categorically against the bill. Because there is a program for sterilizing abandoned animals, dog shelters are constantly being opened, tens of thousands of volunteers are working on this problem.

Vologda is named among the regions most successfully coping with homeless animals. So, in 2023, 79 animals without owners were caught here, including 58 dogs and 21 cats. From January to the present, 32 animals have been released into the wild. All animals are vaccinated, spayed and microchipped.

“But if you find yourself in Siberia or the Far East, then they will tell you that, on the contrary, it is necessary to resolve the issue with homeless animals in a different way, since they attack people and that its acceptance is vital,” social activists share.

And this is another side of the coin. Aggressive mongrels attack people, especially children – yes, they attack. Sometimes to death. Do you need to do something about it? Certainly, it is necessary.

Is it cheaper to kill than to build shelters? Yes, cheaper. Execution cannot be pardoned.

But, paradoxically, “the regions with the worst rates of homeless animal attacks receive the largest subsidies and lobbi the most for this law,” says Mikhail Shirvindt, a well-known Russian TV presenter. “But the budget is huge. I believe that they are unfairly implementing the old law and therefore they want a new one to be passed, since they cannot cope with it. And then they will have new opportunities … “

Until recently, even the legislators themselves did not know what changes would be made to this initiative and whether the most odious proposals would be removed from there at the last moment.

“This law is not about education. This is a law that it is easiest to get rid of the weak, the sick, the unwanted,” the public believes.

Today the weakest are stray dogs. And tomorrow – who?