IFAW: Sochi Olympic dog cull shame

YARMOUTH PORT, Mass., Feb. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) is horrified that culling of dogs in Sochi is back on the agenda in preparation for the 2014 winter Olympics.

IFAW has repeatedly offered to help the Environment Department of the Sochi 2014 Olympics Organizing Committee develop and implement a humane and sustainable plan for managing the community's roaming dog population. 

"We knew that Sochi officials were feeling time pressure in the lead up to the Games, so we explicitly offered assistance almost a year ago—yet our offers have been met with resounding silence," said Kate Atema, Director of IFAW's Companion Animal Program.

"Culling dogs in Sochi is quite simply the wrong thing to do. It is ineffective and inhumane and makes a mockery of the Sochi claim to be an Olympic event 'In Harmony with Nature'."

Visitors to Sochi would be appalled to know that the city officials attempted to 'clean-up' a perceived dog problem by a mass killing.

IFAW calls on officials to immediately halt plans to cull dogs and to accept the offer of assistance to find humane alternatives that will benefit the people and animals of Sochi for the long term.

IFAW-Russia has been working on stray dog issues in Russia for more than 15 years, including working closely with the Moscow's Mayor's Office to end the practice of killing stray dogs in Moscow.

About IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Founded in 1969, IFAW rescues and protects animals around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

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