EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
Citing concerns about humaneness, the legislation aims to discourage the proliferation of the so-called designer pet breeds
The Dutch authorities are looking to expand the scope of legislation concerning the ownership of designer pet breeds with the goal of prohibiting the ownership of such animals. The cited concern is that such pets are actually suffering throughout their lives due to accumulating health problems caused by their unusual head or body shapes.
When talking of designer pets, think of flat-faced dog breeds, such as pugs or French bulldogs, or cats with folded ears. Although, many people find these pets to be exceptionally cute and endearing (precisely because of their features), research has already shown that they tend to live shorter lives and suffer more health problems, such as trouble breathing or possible headaches.
“We make life miserable for innocent animals, purely because we think they are ‘beautiful’ and ‘cute’,” the Dutch Minister of Culture, Nature and Food Quality, Piet Adema, said in a statement.
The Netherlands had already initiated a quest against the existence of such vanity pets, on the grounds of more humane treatment to animals back in 2014 when the law was passed banning the breeding of such animals.
In 2019, the Dutch government updated the rules to specifically apply to dogs whose snout is less than half the length of their skull.
Nevertheless, the market for such pets still remained as they could be bought and brought in from abroad. The proposed new rules are designed to close a loophole so that it will also be illegal to own them altogether.
Still, there needs to be fine-tuning to the legislative proposal. The officials will compile a specific list of breeds whose head and body proportions can be a cause of discomfort to themselves. For this purpose, the administration will consult experts in veterinary genetics at the University of Utrecht.
Any ban would come in after a transition period. People who currently own one of the pets would be allowed to keep them until the animal dies.
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The island is dead set on doing something about the problem of overtourism
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
An illegal landfill will turn into a parking lot for cars confiscated by the police
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team