Killing animals in need of care

The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality requested the RDA to speak out on euthanasia of animals in need of care, in order to develop a responsible policy for this. The Council responds to this question with the advisory report 'Killing of Animals in Need of Care'.

The Council distinguishes two categories in its advisory report for situations in which premature killing may be acceptable. The first concerns animals that suffer unbearably and irreparably. The second category concerns animals to which the animal keeper, within the current economic model, is not expected to be able to provide a life that meets the legal minimum requirements. These are, for example, animals that are weak or sickly or do not have the right characteristics for the purpose for which they are kept.