This will create one municipal point of contact for all matters related to animal welfare. More funds will also be allocated for an emergency fund to assist residents with a minimal income in caring for seriously ill animals. Petting zoos that organize educational activities aimed at improving animal welfare can now apply for financial support. Additionally, the municipality of Maastricht will start the project Animal Buddy. This will provide temporary support for elderly residents or those with chronic illnesses in caring for their pets.

“The attention to animal welfare in our city has grown significantly in recent years,” said Alderman Hubert Mackus. “This is good and necessary, as humans and animals are increasingly living together in Maastricht. This also brings new challenges. With this policy, we have a clear framework and can take targeted actions to give a boost to animal welfare in our city.”

Animal Welfare

Animal welfare concerns the care and attention to the living conditions and well-being of animals, whether at home, on the farm, or in the wild. Many legal tasks and powers regarding animal welfare lie with national or provincial authorities. The municipality is primarily responsible for the shelter and care of found animals, as well as for the prevention and control of animal plagues and the removal of dead animals from public spaces. Additionally, everyone has an obligation to help an animal in need and it is prohibited to withhold necessary care from an animal.

New Policy Document

The municipality of Maastricht has had animal welfare policy since 2014. This policy was evaluated in 2019 and, due to new legislation, needed an update. The new policy document describes how the municipality will carry out its legal tasks and how it intends to further fulfill its role in the care and protection of animals in the city.

Actions 2025 – 2029

In the coming years, the municipality will invest in:

• Recruiting a full-time advisor for animal welfare. This advisor will be the point of contact for all animal welfare matters within Maastricht;
• Participation in the Animal Buddy project;
• Increasing the emergency fund intended for residents with suffering animals;
• Providing financial support to petting zoos with animal welfare activities;
• Increasing the general animal welfare budget (including for communication and awareness).
  
  With this, the municipality invests approximately 100,000 euros per year extra in animal welfare. Additionally, the municipality will continue its legal responsibilities, including the care for found dogs/cats and other animals and carcasses. The costs for this amount to approximately 130,000 euros.