On October 4th, on World Animal Day, representatives of 15 organizations signed the Animal Welfare Code for the first time in the history of animal welfare in Hungary, initiated by the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest.

The document was signed by the rector of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for the renewal and implementation of the National Animal Welfare Program, the Deputy Chief of the National Police, the President of the National Food Chain Safety Office, the President of the Hungarian Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons, the President of the National Chamber of Agriculture, and representatives from the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Hungarian National Hunting Association, the Circus Arts Center Nonprofit Ltd., the NOÉ Animal Shelter Foundation, the Animal Rescue Service Foundation, the Ant Community, the Ebugatta.hu, the Kutyabarat.hu, and Hunland Trans Ltd.

During the event, Dr. Péter Sótonyi, the rector of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, emphasized that the Animal Welfare Code is an ethical declaration of intent, a forming community that any organization dealing with animals or communicating about them can join if they genuinely care about the well-being of animals and are willing to take action in their best interest. The Code was established for the protection of all animals. To fulfil everything described in the code, comprehensive cooperation is required, he added.

The rector also emphasized that the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, as the most important venue for animal welfare research and professional training in Hungary, willingly took on the task of collecting and inviting the first signatories of the Code to work together. The invited organizations readily and immediately joined the initiative, which shows that a groundbreaking collaboration has been formed. The participants finalized the text of the Code through working group consultations and will collectively work towards the protection of animals and the promotion of responsible pet ownership.  Péter Sótonyi expressed his gratitude to the first signatories of the Code and added that a community of animal lovers and values has been formed, whose members voluntarily commit to animal welfare based on professional foundations and collaboration.