Study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices

The DG Sanco of European Commission has launched a study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices in EU Member States. The aim is to collect and analyse information on the breeding, keeping and trade of dogs and cats in the EU, including import and export. The study focuses on the economic development of the pet sector, the welfare of dogs and cats and the protection of EU consumers (both from financial damage and health risks). The study will assess if there is a need for EU measures to improve the situation, such as information and education campaigns, technical support of stakeholders and authorities, or EU legislation.

The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” is partner of the winning consortium leaded by IBF International Consulting and – among other members - VetEffecT Veterinary and Public Healt and Wageningen University & Research Centre.

Different on-line questionnaires are addressed to a variety of stakeholders in order to collect the information needed for this study. Moreover, opinions and experiences of EU citizens, pet owners and non-owners, will also be investigated.

This is the first EU study ever executed on such relevant topic, and we invite everyone to contribute to the achievement of the project goals compiling, by the end of July 2014, the on-line questionnaire dedicated to the category he/she belong to available at sancodogandcat.izs.it.