Ukrainian businesses have supported animal rights activists’ initiative to allow animals into establishments during cold spells: details
18 January 13:11
Major Ukrainian companies — Epicenter, Silpo, Aurora, the UPG gas station chain, Rukavichka, and Eva — have supported the initiative of the animal rights movement UAnimals, which calls on the authorities to officially allow animals to enter stores and restaurants during severe frosts.
This was reported by the organization, emphasizing the importance of immediate changes to save the lives of four-legged friends, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to animal rights activists, the problem lies in the decentralization of animal welfare regulations. Currently, each region sets its own rules, and many cities still have outdated restrictions that explicitly prohibit visiting retail and catering establishments with animals. During periods of severe frost, such bans can be deadly for stray and even domestic animals.
UAnimals has appealed to the Ministry of Economy, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Health, and city mayors to review the current regulations and bring them into line with modern humane approaches. Activists emphasize that temporary access to warm premises for animals in cold weather is not a matter of comfort but a matter of survival.
In addition, the organization called on Ukrainians to join the campaign on social media, tagging Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Minister of Economy Oleksiy Sobolev to draw the authorities’ attention to the problem. Volunteers also published a list of cities where local bans on visiting establishments with animals are still in force. These include Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Chornomorsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Kropyvnytskyi, Mukachevo, Uzhhorod, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, and Netishyn.
Support for the initiative from big business has sent an important signal to the authorities and society. Companies are demonstrating their willingness to participate in solving socially significant problems and are calling on other businesses to join the movement. UAnimals hopes that joint efforts will change the rules and make Ukrainian cities safer and more humane for everyone — both people and animals.
In addition, the police are also calling for help for animals.
