The Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk Region passed a bill allowing stray animals to be killed. The measure is set to take effect on October 1. Residents of the region had previously spoken out actively against the initiative.
The bill was supported by 35 deputies out of 40 present. It now must be signed by Governor Igor Kobzev.
The initiative was introduced by the Association of Mayors headed by Cheremkhovo mayor Vadim Semyonov. Under the law, if dogs attack people, the region will be able to declare an extraordinary situation regime. While that regime is in force, all captured dogs may be killed after 11 days.
The mayor of Cheremkhovo, commenting on the initiative, said that no law could fully solve the problem of stray animals.
“No law can fully solve the problem, this great misfortune that has been building up for decades. The Association of Mayors is not for the thoughtless destruction of animals. This [law] will make it possible, during a certain period and in a certain territory, to protect our children. Society itself created this problem through irresponsible treatment of animals,” he said.
Protests
In late April, a rally was held in Irkutsk to collect signatures against the adoption of the law on the euthanasia of stray dogs. According to the source, dozens of local residents took part.
The outlet 7x7 notes that on April 15, a court fined Irkutsk animal rights advocate Tatyana Tayurskaya 12,000 rubles after she staged a solo picket against the law’s adoption. The court ruled that dog-shaped balloons were a form of visual campaigning.