EU, when do you think it is time to act?
Introduction:
On October 13, 2011 the Written Declaration 026/2011 on dog population management in the European Union, was adopted by the European Parliament. Before the vote, thousands of EU-citizens had written to their MEPs to ask them to approve and sign this document because, at that time, it seemed to be the only real opportunity that could lead to a better life of millions of animals in Europe given it would be the official position of the European Parliament in this dossier and was considered a first step in building a strategy that protects all cats and dogs across Europe.
Why is dog population management important for public health?
When the EU presented their new animal welfare strategy for 2012 - 2015 a few months later -- see document below --, the deception was great because that document does not contain one single mention as to how and when the EU would start to tackle the stray animals issue within the European Union.
April 4 is World Stray Animals Day
The day for compassion, care, and action for stray animals worldwide
At the occasion of 'Stray Animals Day' (April, 4) we would like to remind our dear EU that an estimated 100 Million stray dogs and probably twice as much stray cats live in countries member of the European Union, and given that:
every single day without action equals to thousands more unwanted animals born into a life of suffering, of starvation, and despair.
- in six years, one female dog and her off-spring can produce 67.000 dogs
- in seven years, one female cat and her off-spring can produce 420.000 cats
every single day without action equals to thousands more unwanted animals born into a life of suffering, of starvation, and despair.
These millions of unwanted animals are EU-members without a voice and we therefor kindly ask our readers to be their voice, and to let the EU hear from you on their behalf - on behalf of all these unwanted animals who can not speak for themselves.
Please sign our petition using the widget below
By signing our petition, a message -- see document below -- will instantly be send to the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions... |
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We thank you very much in advance for your signature and for speaking up for
Europe's unwanted animals.
August 2013
Important update on our petition
Dear signatories of our petition!
Our collective voice has been heard.
We have just been informed by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions that our petition figures on the draft agenda of the meeting of the Committee on Petitions which will take place on 16 September, 2013, in Brussels. It is scheduled to be dealt with at around 15:00 o'clock.
We are pleased to invite you to follow the Committee proceedings as a webcast via European Parliament streaming over the following link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/homeCom.do?language=EN&body=PETI, either live, or deferred as of the following day.
You will find the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions' confirmation to us; the European Commission's response to the questions that we have posed on behalf of you, dear signatories of our petition; and our today's letter to the EU regarding additional information that we have been asked to provide, after the following brief summary of important facts.
A brief history
October 13, 2011 Written Declaration 026/2011 on Dog Population Management in the EU was adopted by majority vote. 401 MEPs voted in favour of WD0026/2011.
October 22, 2011 members of the German organisation 'Aerzte für Tiere' delivered their petition 1274/2011 to the Chairman of the Petitions Committee, Mrs Erminia Mazzoni.
April 4, 2011, at the occasion of World Stray Animals Day, Occupy for Animals launched the campaign "EU, when do you think it's time to act?" to remind the EU about the adopted Written Declaration 026/2011 and its responsibilities towards the street and domestic animals of Europe. This campaign was supported by ESDAW, MILLION ACTIONS and other organisations as well as by more than 7,000 animal lovers who, within the first two days, signed the petition, sent post cards and emails to the EU.
April 24, 2012 Hans-Joachim Richter, representing 'Arzte für Tiere' and Massimo Pradella representing OIPA, spoke about their concerns concerning the protection of stray animals in an interview with the EU Committee on Petitions.
Finally, at this meeting, MEP Erminia Mazzoni (Chair of the Petitions Committee) pointed out that - given the large number of petitions – she thinks that the EU had received a clear political mandate from the European citizens to act on this matter. However, the EU can not go further than the existing agreements and the competences of the European Union, added MEP Erminia Mazzoni.
Finally, she promised to submit a resolution to the European Parliament.
This promise was kept and we thank Mrs Mazzoni from the bottom of our hearts for it!
July 2, 2012, the resolution was submitted at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
July 4, 2012, the resolution was ADOPTED
In September, 2012, the "Framework" had been rejected by the European Commission
October 4, 2012, Tom, the Animalpastor, personally delivered our petition to the EU, in Brussels
January 24, 2013, a meeting of ten animal welfare organizations and the EU Commission took place wherein the organizations presented their experiences of cruelty and abuse against animals in Southern and Southeastern Europe, and handed over a couple of petitions, including:
► Europe must take responsibility for millions of street animals:
Info and petition here: http://www.eu-protest1-en.aerztefuertiere.de/
► Sofia - Corruption and shady practices hinder the management of stray animals populations
Petition here: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/bulgaria-start-sterilization-campaigns-in-sofia-and-all-bulgarian-municipalities-immediately
► Ovidiu Portariuc, the mayor of Botosani has hired SC Puppy Vet SRL - known for having killed thousands of stray dogs - and wants to send the city's stray dogs to Constanta, on a dubious 'pilot project'
Petition here: https://www.change.org/petitions/mr-ovidiu-portariuc-mayor-of-botosani-collaborate-with-ador-and-implement-a-catch-neuter-return-program#
► The petition against the chaining of dogs
Petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/european-commission-ban-the-chaining-of-dogs-in-the-eu
► The petition to help the Romanians get justice for Tereza Szekely and the 120 innocent animals burnt to death in Cluj/Romania
Info and petition here: http://www.causes.com/actions/1702098-justice-for-tereza-szekely-and-the-120-cats-and-dogs-burnt-to-death-in-cluj-romania
January 28, 2013, the EU declared admissible our petition "EU, when do you think it is time to act?", and requests information from the Commission under Rule 202(6)
March 27, 2013, the European Commission replied to the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, and provided their response to our questions
August 11, 2013, Pia Berrend (founder), representing Occupy for Animals, submits additional information to be added to our petition
September 15, 2013 (15:00 CET), our petition will be discussed by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, at the European Parliament, in Brussels
October 22, 2011 members of the German organisation 'Aerzte für Tiere' delivered their petition 1274/2011 to the Chairman of the Petitions Committee, Mrs Erminia Mazzoni.
April 4, 2011, at the occasion of World Stray Animals Day, Occupy for Animals launched the campaign "EU, when do you think it's time to act?" to remind the EU about the adopted Written Declaration 026/2011 and its responsibilities towards the street and domestic animals of Europe. This campaign was supported by ESDAW, MILLION ACTIONS and other organisations as well as by more than 7,000 animal lovers who, within the first two days, signed the petition, sent post cards and emails to the EU.
April 24, 2012 Hans-Joachim Richter, representing 'Arzte für Tiere' and Massimo Pradella representing OIPA, spoke about their concerns concerning the protection of stray animals in an interview with the EU Committee on Petitions.
Finally, at this meeting, MEP Erminia Mazzoni (Chair of the Petitions Committee) pointed out that - given the large number of petitions – she thinks that the EU had received a clear political mandate from the European citizens to act on this matter. However, the EU can not go further than the existing agreements and the competences of the European Union, added MEP Erminia Mazzoni.
Finally, she promised to submit a resolution to the European Parliament.
This promise was kept and we thank Mrs Mazzoni from the bottom of our hearts for it!
July 2, 2012, the resolution was submitted at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
July 4, 2012, the resolution was ADOPTED
In September, 2012, the "Framework" had been rejected by the European Commission
October 4, 2012, Tom, the Animalpastor, personally delivered our petition to the EU, in Brussels
January 24, 2013, a meeting of ten animal welfare organizations and the EU Commission took place wherein the organizations presented their experiences of cruelty and abuse against animals in Southern and Southeastern Europe, and handed over a couple of petitions, including:
► Europe must take responsibility for millions of street animals:
Info and petition here: http://www.eu-protest1-en.aerztefuertiere.de/
► Sofia - Corruption and shady practices hinder the management of stray animals populations
Petition here: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/bulgaria-start-sterilization-campaigns-in-sofia-and-all-bulgarian-municipalities-immediately
► Ovidiu Portariuc, the mayor of Botosani has hired SC Puppy Vet SRL - known for having killed thousands of stray dogs - and wants to send the city's stray dogs to Constanta, on a dubious 'pilot project'
Petition here: https://www.change.org/petitions/mr-ovidiu-portariuc-mayor-of-botosani-collaborate-with-ador-and-implement-a-catch-neuter-return-program#
► The petition against the chaining of dogs
Petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/european-commission-ban-the-chaining-of-dogs-in-the-eu
► The petition to help the Romanians get justice for Tereza Szekely and the 120 innocent animals burnt to death in Cluj/Romania
Info and petition here: http://www.causes.com/actions/1702098-justice-for-tereza-szekely-and-the-120-cats-and-dogs-burnt-to-death-in-cluj-romania
January 28, 2013, the EU declared admissible our petition "EU, when do you think it is time to act?", and requests information from the Commission under Rule 202(6)
March 27, 2013, the European Commission replied to the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, and provided their response to our questions
August 11, 2013, Pia Berrend (founder), representing Occupy for Animals, submits additional information to be added to our petition
September 15, 2013 (15:00 CET), our petition will be discussed by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, at the European Parliament, in Brussels
The letter from the Committee on Petitions
The European Commission's response to our questions
OFA's letter containing additional information to be added to our petition
and Press Release (for immediate release)
'Quo Vadis, Europa' meets 'EU, when do you think it is time to act?'
Tom has personally hand-delivered our petition to the EU!
We are deeply grateful to Tom, the Animalpastor, for personally handing over our petition, 'EU, when do you think it is time to act?', to the EU (European Union)!
It was a great, symbolic gesture; who better than Tom the Animalpastor, to bring to the attention of the EU the dire plight of Europe's unseen animals?
Mrs Erminia Mazzoni, Chair of the Committee on Petitions, was not in her office in Brussels during Tom's visit, but had sent her personal assistant to receive Tom and to take over the petition and the signatures list.
Many, many thanks to Tom also for the beautiful picture-collage showing him handing over our petition.
We cannot thank you enough, dear Tom, for your faith in us and what we are working to achieve for the animals of Europe. Your delivering the petition on our behalf was very symbolic; we are grateful for your support!
You know how much we love you! And if the animals could speak, we are sure they would be saying, "You rock, Padre!"
It was a great, symbolic gesture; who better than Tom the Animalpastor, to bring to the attention of the EU the dire plight of Europe's unseen animals?
Mrs Erminia Mazzoni, Chair of the Committee on Petitions, was not in her office in Brussels during Tom's visit, but had sent her personal assistant to receive Tom and to take over the petition and the signatures list.
Many, many thanks to Tom also for the beautiful picture-collage showing him handing over our petition.
We cannot thank you enough, dear Tom, for your faith in us and what we are working to achieve for the animals of Europe. Your delivering the petition on our behalf was very symbolic; we are grateful for your support!
You know how much we love you! And if the animals could speak, we are sure they would be saying, "You rock, Padre!"