4 times more resources for animal shelters at 3 years Placed at 13:13h in animals, Flemish Parliament by Stella VansummerenIn 2019 the Flemish government paid 443,889 euros to animal shelters for the placement of animals.

This is a quadruple of the amount at 3 years time. This is shown by figures requested by Flemish MP Gwenny De Vroe (Open Vld) from Minister of Animal Welfare Ben Weyts. "Those who treat, house or care for animals can lose them. The increase in the number of animals placed after seizure shows that social sensitivity to animal welfare is increasing sharply," says Gwenny De Vroe with satisfaction. "A positive thing." For the reception of animals to be placed, Minister Weyt's previous legislature worked out a system of fees with specific daily prices per species. The Minister's response now shows that a total of EUR 443,889 was paid last year. This is despite the only EUR 111,350 flowing towards the shelters in 2016 as an allowance from the Flemish government that has animals placed with them." People who treat, house or care for their animals poorly are at risk of losing them. The quadrupling of the amount for placing animals at asylum centres sends a clear signal that social sensitivity to animal welfare is increasing considerably. This will also result in an improvement in animal welfare," says Flemish MP Gwenny De Vroe (Open Vld). In addition, we can deduce from the figures that where in 2016 the funds were distributed only to 15 animal shelters, the amount ended up last year at 36 different asylums. The animals are therefore placed at more and more different asylum centres. The Heusden-Zolder Bird and Mammal Shelter is the institution that can count on the highest amount year after year. In 2018 they received 110,215 euros. Last year this fell to 70,639 euros. Gwenny De Vroe concludes: "We have every interest in our animal shelters functioning properly. That is why I urge the Minister to make a quick job of the announced structural financing and professionalisation of our asylums."