The Environmental Supervision Department says no violations were detected at the Gori shelter for stray animals. It added that the incinerator is used only for medical waste and deceased animals, in line with a March 2025 environmental decision by the National Environmental Agency.
Despite the findings, a protest rally is planned for Saturday, April 4, in front of the Georgian government administration.
More than 40 organizations and thousands of animal welfare activists have issued a joint statement criticizing a National Food Agency programme to manage the population of stray and community animals. The agency’s pilot programme envisaged the sterilisation and vaccination of 9,000 animals in selected municipalities, but activists say serious shortcomings were identified. They allege that a significant number of animals have not been returned and caretakers — people who look after street animals — were not provided with information about their whereabouts.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Lasha Avaliani said 12 of the 29 sterilised and castrated animals will be returned to Zugdidi today, with the remaining 17 expected later this evening or tomorrow morning. Avaliani explained that the 2025 law on domestic animals regulates the removal and reintroduction of stray animals and prohibits keeping them in certain areas, such as kindergartens, schools, medical institutions, and agricultural markets, due to food safety requirements.
Animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili earlier shared a video on social media showing smoke rising from the shelter’s crematorium, claiming the National Food Agency brought stray dogs to the shelter at night. For several weeks, activists have held rallies in Tbilisi, alleging that sterilized and vaccinated animals are being taken from cities without being returned or tracked.
The National Food Agency, which launched a pilot program under Decree No. 1019 in June 2025 to manage stray and feral animals in Kakheti, denies claims that dogs are being put to sleep.
The agency says animals are collected only for veterinary measures, including rabies vaccination, identification, registration, and sterilization or castration.
Related stories: Stray dogs removed from Zugdidi, activists fear they will not be returned
