Across the EU, animal welfare standards for professional breeding, keeping and selling #dogs and #cats vary widely – resulting in sub-standard practices, sometimes even abuse.
We are introducing uniform rules:
✔ Setting minimum standards
✔ Tightening traceability for online sales to curb illegal trade
✔ Training for handlers and educating buyers on responsible ownership
✔ Import standards to match #EU welfare criteria
@EU_Commission I really appreciate steps towards animal and pet welfare! But important question is how all of these rules will be enforced especially for pet owners and illegal breeders/puppy mills? Stricter laws were introduced in past years in Slovakia, but reality is there are not enough resources and will to do so. Many puppy mills are still running and dogs are chained outside without proper shelter.