The animal welfare organization Mehr va Oqibat, based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has been denied registration for a project by the Ministry of Justice, despite receiving a grant from the Global Environment Facility's Small Grants Programme. The project aimed to address the stray animal problem systematically across the country through a series of comprehensive initiatives.

Key components of the project included establishing a unified database for cats and dogs nationwide, microchipping approximately 15,000 pets and shelter animals, conducting meetings with pet owners in 40 mahallas (neighborhoods) in Tashkent and its region, sterilizing over 600 cats and dogs, distributing scanners to district veterinary clinics, shelters, community representatives, and capture services, training more than 20 students and veterinarians in sterilization methods, and promoting the importance of microchipping and sterilization through media channels.

Despite backing from international partners, the Ministry of Justice refused to register the project. At a meeting of animal welfare organizations held at the Content Preparation Center under the Presidential Administration, representatives from Mehr va Oqibat emphasized that microchipping and sterilization are globally recognized effective measures for tackling stray animal issues, but this did not sway the authorities' decision.

The organization has now submitted documents to upgrade its status to a republican level, enabling it to operate nationwide rather than being confined to a regional scope. Previously, an investigation initiated by Mehr va Oqibat led to the detention of a 27-year-old resident of Yangiyul who was killing dogs for meat, highlighting the group's active role in animal protection efforts.

Source: podrobno.uz