Russia’s Constitutional Court has recently ruled to ban the euthanasia of stray animals, except in cases where they pose a direct threat to humans, according to state media sources. The court emphasized that killing animals without owners should only be considered as a last resort when other measures fail to protect human rights and public safety.
The decision comes in response to concerns about overcrowded shelters and cost-cutting measures being used as reasons to euthanize animals, as reported by RIA Novosti news agency.
In the past, a law signed by President Vladimir Putin gave regional governments the authority to establish their guidelines for dealing with stray animals, allowing for euthanization as a population control measure. However, animal rights activists and volunteers have criticized this approach, warning of mass killings without addressing the underlying issues of stray animal overpopulation.
This ruling follows a challenge by animal rights activists against regional laws in Far East Russia’s Buryatia, highlighting the ongoing debate over the humane treatment of stray animals in the country.