​Blue Cross joins calls for better EU-wide pet welfare

Blue Cross has joined with animal welfare organisations from across the European Union to call for an end to puppy smuggling and commercial pet breeding.

The first EU Dog and Cat Alliance event saw over 30 MEPs and 11 pet welfare organisations from member states come together to lobby the EU for better welfare legislation for dogs and cats.

Becky Thwaites, Blue Cross Public Affairs Officer, said: “Blue Cross is proud to be a member of the European Union Dog and Cat Alliance. 

“We hope that by working in partnership with animal welfare organisations from across the EU we’ll be able to make a real difference to pets. The reception was a great opportunity to talk to MEPs about taking action to protect the welfare of all pets across the EU.”

There are an estimated 61 million pet dogs and 66 million pet cats in the EU, but laws to protect them vary across member states, with strict legislation in some countries and very little in others.

This legal situation can have negative impact on animal welfare, and also for animal health, human health and consumer protection.

We’ll be working with MEPs and other pet welfare groups to make life better for pets across all EU nations.