Animal rights activists in Tbilisi have spoken out against the destruction of stray dogs.

Animal rights activists outside the Tbilisi administration building demanded changes to the stray animal management program and the return of sterilized animals to their natural habitats. According to them, many animals taken to municipal shelters have simply disappeared.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in 2023, rallies were held in several Georgian cities, with participants demanding harsh punishment for those who kill stray animals. Furthermore, protesters demanded tougher criminal penalties for animal cruelty.  

Animal rights activists held a protest outside the Tbilisi government administration building, demanding changes to the stray animal management program and ensuring its transparency, "Georgia News" reported today.

The program has been implemented in Georgia since late February. It requires the capture of stray dogs, their delivery to municipal shelters, registration, rabies vaccination, and sterilization or neutering. Afterward, the animals are to be returned to their so-called natural habitat.

According to animal rights activists, in practice, this rule is often not followed – some dogs "disappear" – as a separate government decree prohibits the return of animals to areas near schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, markets, sports fields, and playgrounds.

Activists fear that dogs captured in such areas may be euthanized. Authorities deny these accusations, calling them political speculation.

For a week, animal rights activists visited shelters, attempting to inspect animal welfare conditions and identify possible violations.

The protest was held under the slogan "Stop Animal Torture." Dozens of people attended the rally with photographs of missing dogs – mostly animals that lived in the courtyards of residential buildings and were under the informal care of local residents.

Protesters are demanding that mandatory return of animals to their original homes be legally established, that their mass removal to shelters without necessity be stopped, and that the process be fully transparent, including photo and video recording of their movements.

Citizens came to the protest with their pets, as well as with banners reading: "No to the murderous law," "We are looking for 9,000 missing dogs," "Where have our friends gone?", and "We will not hand you over to the bad guys," writes Interpressnews.

According to the protesters, they are demanding amendments to Resolution No. 92 and Resolution No. 412, Article 3, Clause 3, so that animals, wherever they are taken from, are returned to the The National Food Agency returned to the same location to maintain contact with their owners.

"Return the dogs to where you got them. The dogs are being taken to a deserted area, into the forest, where they die of hunger and a slow death," protesters say.