In Kazakhstan, the discussion of amendments to the law on handling stray animals is reaching a new level. It is no longer just about holding periods and finding owners, but also about human safety.
According to Sergei Golovenko, a research fellow at the Almaty Zoo, the current system of TNR (trap–neuter–vaccinate–return) not only fails to solve the problem but may even exacerbate it.
“Of course, this is one of the main problems of the current TNR system. The legal presence of stray dogs on the streets creates a dangerous illusion among irresponsible owners: they think that letting a dog roam freely or even abandoning it is normal, because it will simply join other sterilized individuals,” the expert notes.
According to him, this logic creates a constant influx of new animals onto the streets. As a result, the system that was supposed to reduce numbers works in reverse—it maintains them.
But the problem is not only about numbers. There are also serious health risks for people.
“Yes, dogs are vaccinated against rabies, but they remain carriers of many other diseases. Almost 100% of the stray population is affected by helminthiasis. Dogs use parks and playgrounds for defecation, contaminating the soil with eggs of parasites such as echinococcus or toxocara, which live in the ground for years,” says Golovenko.
Such an environment becomes potentially dangerous, especially for children.
“This is a direct risk of severe diseases for people, especially children,” he emphasizes.
Against this backdrop, the proposed amendments introduce stricter measures. In particular, mechanisms for emergency response and the possibility of euthanizing aggressive animals—including domestic ones, by court order—are being introduced.
“The priority of the law is finally shifting towards the human right to a safe and clean urban environment, rather than the right of a pack to occupy yards and squares,” the expert believes.
It is worth noting that Kazakhstan is now actively discussing the issue of responsible animal handling again. Proposals have been made in the Mazhilis to improve approaches to regulating the number of stray dogs, including temporary isolation of stray animals.
Photo: Freepik
