The Regulation We "Deserved": How EU Politicians Betrayed Pet Owners Once Again

By Vlad A’KOTLIS – Director of Lisko Travel Tour

The 21st Century? Not for Pet Laws in the EU

We live in an era of groundbreaking technological advances, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Yet, when it comes to laws protecting our most loyal companions—our cats and dogs—it seems that EU politicians are still trapped in the bureaucratic thinking of the 19th century.

After 20 years of waiting, lobbying, and appeals for fair, humane, and modern legislation to protect pets, the European Commission has finally introduced a new regulation.

But this is not a law for animal protection. It is a document that treats pets as mere commodities, their owners as potential criminals, and the state as the ultimate enforcer.

1. We Wanted a Law to Protect Pets. They Gave Us a Regulation That Makes Them Hostages to the System.

How many times have responsible pet owners faced issues with arbitrary customs rules, transport restrictions, and lack of accountability from authorities? Instead of resolving these concerns, the new regulation only makes things worse.

• Pets must now be compulsorily microchipped and registered in state-controlled databases.
• New strict breeding regulations that won’t stop mass puppy farms but will destroy small, responsible breeders.
• Travel restrictions that won’t eliminate inhumane mass transport, but will make relocation harder for private owners.

Instead of protecting animals, this regulation adds yet another layer of bureaucracy, fines, and hurdles for responsible owners.

2. We Asked for Humane Laws. They Gave Us Total Control.

A good law should make life easier for responsible pet owners. This one does the opposite. It assumes guilt from the start.

• Want to adopt a pet? Expect inspections and regulations.
• Want to travel with your pet? Be ready to pay a licensed transport company—there are no other options.
• Want to save a stray animal? You’ll need to register and pay for it, or face fines.

This is not a regulation to protect animals. It is a regulation that makes bureaucracy king while treating pet owners like criminals.

3. We Wanted Protection from Cruelty. They Gave Big Business a Monopoly.

The regulation completely ignores the real issues affecting pets:

• No mandatory quality control for veterinary clinics.
• No regulations to ensure pet food contains safe, nutritious ingredients.
• No support for shelters and small responsible breeders—only restrictions.

Instead, it gives more control to:

• Large pet transport companies, making relocation unnecessarily expensive.
• Corporate breeders, while small ethical breeders are pushed out.
• Corrupt customs officials who now have more power to refuse pet entry with no accountability.

This regulation will not protect pets—it will only create new victims.

4. We Wanted 21st-Century Laws. They Gave Us 19th-Century Control.

Twenty years ago, pet owners hoped that the EU would lead the way in animal welfare laws that genuinely protect pets.

Instead, we received a regulation that makes our beloved companions state-controlled property while turning their owners into suspects.

5. This Is Not What We Deserved. This Is What They Want to Force Upon Us.

But we will not accept this.

We demand:

• A full revision of the regulation with real input from pet owners.
• Recognition of pets as family members, not trade commodities.
• A ban on large-scale commercial breeding.
• The freedom for owners to transport their own pets without monopolized restrictions.
• Accessible emergency veterinary care for all.

This regulation is not progress. It is a step backward.

We demand its full reconsideration because animals deserve real protection, and pet owners deserve respect.

Vlad A’KOTLIS
Director of Lisko Travel Tour