Naturewatch thanks UEFA for help on stray dogs

UEFA has been thanked for its key role in persuading the Ukrainian authorities to immediately stop the killing of stray dogs and implement measures that respect the dignity of animals.

In a letter to UEFA President Michel Platini, Naturewatch, a UK-based, non-profit animal welfare campaigning organisation, expressed its appreciation for UEFA's successful and concerted efforts, which resulted in an immediate ban on the killings being announced last month.

Naturewatch's campaign and fundraising director John Ruane wrote: "I am grateful to UEFA for taking this matter up with top government officials over the past two years ... I am pleased to inform you that on 13 November in Kyiv, I had a meeting with the minister of the environment, Mr Mykola Zlochevsky. He agreed to adopt amendments to the Ukrainian legislation regarding the treatment of stray animals, and acted upon a further Naturewatch request of an immediate moratorium on the killing of stray animals to be implemented."

Mr Ruane added that Mr Zlochevsky had asked Naturewatch "to provide the Ukrainian authorities with best practices on shelter construction and humane stray population programmes" and Naturewatch informed UEFA that it will be visiting Ukraine again shortly with appropriate proposals.

The full letter sent by Naturewatch to UEFA can be accessed here.