Russian agricultural supervision authorities (Rosselkhoznadzor) have thwarted an attempt to illegally transport 12 dogs to Uzbekistan at the Russian-Kazakh border. The incident occurred on March 9 at the "Ozynki" checkpoint in the Saratov region, where animals were discovered in a vehicle during an inspection.

According to official reports, the driver lacked the necessary veterinary accompanying documents mandatory for the international transport of animals. These documents are required to ensure animal health and prevent the spread of diseases. Border authorities issued an order for the return of all dogs to their point of origin and prohibited crossing the border until the required paperwork is formalized.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of domestic and stray animals in Uzbekistan. It comes amid recent open appeals to the country's leadership from animal rights activist Maxim Ostrovetsky, who has raised issues of legal gaps and unjustified cruelty in the system for handling stray dogs and cats. In his appeal, Ostrovetsky noted that despite the large-scale successes of New Uzbekistan, including space program launches and tourism development, the area of animal capture remains a zone of legal vacuum and unwarranted harshness.

The case underscores the complexities of veterinary control and animal trade between Uzbekistan and neighboring states. While the strict measures by border authorities aim to curb illegal animal trafficking and mitigate health risks, they do not address the persistent internal challenges in Uzbekistan related to animal welfare and protection reforms, which continue to draw criticism from activists and observers.

Source: podrobno.uz