Animal Agency denies claims dogs were burned in crematorium

The Shida Kartli Intermunicipal Agency for Stray Pets denies reports that stray dogs were burned in a crematorium and calls the circulating social media claims false.

“The crematorium is used only for burning waste material from operations and veterinary procedures, or for animals that have already died. We call on everyone to refrain from deliberately spreading such lies,” the agency said.

The claims follow a video posted by animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili, showing the crematorium of the Gori Municipal Shelter with white smoke rising. Elizbarashvili alleges that the National Food Agency brought homeless dogs to the shelter at night.

“There is a terrible smell of burnt meat and fur. It is now 4:30 a.m., and smoke from the crematorium oven has not stopped. We categorically demand an answer from the Gori State Shelter: What is happening?” Elizbarashvili wrote on social media.

For several weeks, animal rights activists have held rallies in Tbilisi, claiming that the National Food Agency is taking already sterilized and vaccinated animals from cities en masse and not returning the majority of them. They also say the agency is not providing information about the whereabouts of the animals.

A rally is scheduled for 5 PM today, with activists traveling from Tbilisi to Gori.

Based on Decree No. 1019 of June 26, 2025, the National Food Agency launched a pilot program to manage the population of stray and feral animals. The program includes the sterilization, castration, and vaccination of 9,000 animals in specific municipalities in Kakheti.

While activists support the program, they have criticized its implementation, saying that, although the decree does not apply to Tbilisi, the agency has been taking stray animals to the capital “without any records” and is not acting in accordance with the law.

The National Food Agency denies claims that the agency is taking stray dogs “to put them to sleep.” The agency says the dogs are collected “only for the purpose of carrying out veterinary measures under the program, including rabies vaccination, identification and registration, and castration or sterilization.”