UEFA supports the intention of the Ukrainian government to immediately stop and prevent in future the killing of stray dogs, and it has never demanded the killing of stray animals ahead of the Euro 2012 European Football Championship, Director of Euro 2012 in Ukraine Markiyan Lubkivsky has said.
"We have repeatedly asked Ukrainian officials and representatives of the local authorities in all of the cities hosting the tournament to take all of the necessary measures to resolve the situation with homeless animals in a civilized way," he said at a meeting with Princess Maja von Hohenzollern, who is the ambassador of the European Animal and Nature Protection Association.
The German princess, in turn, noted that the situation with this problem in Ukraine had improved since she last visited in the autumn of 2011, in particular, in Kyiv, Lviv and Donetsk.
She noted that well-directed work on the construction of shelters was being conducted in these cities and programs for the sterilization of stray animals were being implemented, often with support from private investors and international animal rights organizations.
After numerous discussions between representatives of UEFA and the Ukrainian government, Ukrainian Environment and Natural Resources Minister Mykola Zlochevsky in November 2011 officially announced the government’s intention to ban the killing of stray dogs.
Officials also announced the country’s plans to build a number of shelters for such animals, where they undergo sterilization and then be freed.
Under the new laws, all mayors will be obliged to ensure the fulfillment of new rules, otherwise, they will be held responsible.
