Attitudes of Europeans Towards Animal Welfare and What About the Bulgarians
Eurobarometer survey
In 2023 Eurobarometer conducted a special survey on the attitudes of the EU citizens towards animal welfare. Its findings highlight the need to improve the treatment of animals and regulate this important issue.
As a result, in December 2023 European commission proposed new rules and requirements for for animal welfare, which are currently discussed at the level of European institutions.
How was the research conducted?
The survey covered 26,376 respondents from the 27 EU member states. It was done face to face.
The results of the survey by country, as well as the aggregated results for the entire EU, are published on the website of the European Union.
We all agree: the treatment of animals should be improved, become more humane, and this should be regulated and controlled.
Some key figures about the EU
90%
of Europeans believe that farming and breeding practices should meet basic ethical requirements, such as providing sufficient space, food, water and appropriate treatment.
84%
of Europeans believe that the welfare of farm animals should be improved in their countries.
74%
of respondents believe that the welfare of pets (dogs and cats) in their countries should be better protected.
What about Bulgaria?
Surprising fact
According to the answer to one of the questions in this survey, however, Bulgaria stands out from all other member countries:
According to the published results, 70% of the interviewed Bulgarians (a total of 1024 respondents from different socio-demographic groups in the country) have daily contact with their own pets, while this indicator is 44% on average for the EU.
If you think that we are more or less on the same level with Romania, you are wrong. For them, this percentage is only 37%.
In the research, various options are proposed for an affirmative answer to the question "In your daily life, are you in regular contact with animals?" – with other animals, with farm animals, with other domestic animals. Therefore, the answer "Yes, with my own pets" can be interpreted as "Yes, there is a pet in my household."
Of course, all pets are counted here, but one of the documents states that 90% of them are dogs and cats.
Here are the statistics by country::
Another curious fact:in all European countries, except Bulgaria, more than 1/4 (>28%) of the population does not have regular contact with animals in their daily life. In Bulgaria this applies to only 7% of those asked:
If we add to these results for Bulgaria the large population of stray dogs and cats (a huge problem for the country), perhaps we can now better explain why the shelters are overcrowded, and adoptions here are rare and difficult.
You can view the full research reports on the official EU website.
