The Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, Maia Bitadze elucidates concerning the Law on Pets stating that our society is deliberately misinformed about the Law.

“I would like to respond to the false agitations and misinformation directed to the manipulation on the feelings of our citizens, especially the animal defenders. The false narrative aims to hinder the adoption of the Law, misinform society and impede the adoption of the Law to let further chaotic reproduction of animals, which, in certain cases, pours water on the mill of some private businessmen”, - she stated and dwelt on the targeted disinformation campaign.

“The first and the gravest accusation concerning the Draft Law is that it allegedly envisages the mass euthanasia of animals, which is an absolute lie and that allegedly, within the term of 2 years upon the adoption of the Law, the Government plans to withdraw the stray animals from the streets gradually, which is a lie as well. And now, I would like to address the sources of the hereof disinformation to end bullying our citizens and spreading false information, including information related to the fact that allegedly the pet owners will as well have to banish their pets to the streets, these pets cannot be registered and thus, they will be subject to euthanasia. This is a lie! Pursuant to the applicant law, adopted 1.5 years ago, euthanasia, based on human grounds, is directly related solely to special cases, including the rabbis (which has 100% lethality), the law also envisages the mandatory special veterinary conclusion, various terms of observation/inspection of the pets – 10 days, 45 days, and 6 months. The hereof regulation has been determined by the Government as a result of communications with veterinary doctors, animal defenders and the National Food Agency; in the case of suspiciousness and surveillance, animals will not be subject to euthanasia”.

Per her assessment, the national legislation on euthanasia is far more human compared to the EU laws.

Yet another issue underlined by M. Bitadze concerns the charge of the pets into various objects.

“As rumors say, the Draft Law allegedly prohibits bringing stray dogs to the territory of early and preschool, general, higher and vocational educational institutions, groceries, drug stores, hospitals, gyms and stadiums, as well as the food facilities, while in fact, it constitutes a harmful disinformation aiming at the manipulation of the emotions. The restriction has never been envisaged under the Draft. The applicable law already envisages the prohibition and imposes a penalty of 8 GEL for entering the above-mentioned facilities with pets. The Draft we introduce is far more flexible with the hereof regulation, namely, it allows admission to all facilities with small-size pets but only when in hands, bags or special boxes (in case of the will of the owner) other than the public institutions, which have their internal regulations concerning the pets, as well as the organizations the owners of which ban the admission of large-size dogs. In this very case, they shall have the obligation to arrange/install special posts”.

As for the vaccination and veterinary service, the Draft obliges all municipalities to ensure the sterilization/castration of all stray or sheltered animals, for which the Government shall allocate millions of GEL.

As M. Bitadze stated, rumors about the adoption of the Draft by the Committee on February 26 are false.

According to her elucidations, the Draft is being discussed by the Committee for all three readings after the Committee hearings and also, after four Committees issue the respective conclusions.

Ultimately, the Draft shall be adopted at the plenary session after the hearing by 7 Committees.