“Life on a timer”: activists protest Kazakhstan’s new animal welfare law

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan plans to amend its animal welfare law by introducing so-called “timers” for stray and abandoned animals, sparking protests from animal rights activists.

Under the draft amendments, strays will be kept in shelters for five days and abandoned pets for up to 60 days. If they are not adopted within that period, they will be euthanized.

The Ministry of Ecology argues that the current catch–neuter–vaccinate–release system has proven ineffective, as animals form aggressive packs that pose a threat to public safety. The new rules also propose:

• mandatory microchipping of cats and dogs,
• harsher penalties for cruelty and irresponsible pet ownership,
• regulation of breeding and sales only with registration,
• and official lists of species banned for keeping and breeding.

Officials stress that euthanasia would be a last resort, but activists say the changes contradict humane principles and legalize “mass killing”. A petition opposing the proposal is already circulating online.

Animal rights groups insist that instead of a “life timer”, the government should invest in systemic solutions such as building shelters, expanding microchipping, and enforcing breeding controls.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously said that while protecting animals is important, it must not threaten human safety, especially children.