In the Netherlands, however, there are NO stray dogs. This is the first country in the world that can say this.
Furthermore, the Netherlands accomplished the feat
without a mass euthanasia of stray dogs. So Holland is known for much more than its wooden clogs!
In 1996, the government mandated that every dog had to be neutered or spayed. These surgeries were and are financed by the government.
Any act of neglect or cruelty toward an animal is typically punished by three years in prison and a fine of about $16,500. Pet abandonment is illegal.
A special police division was created to enforce the laws, with the primary goal of preventing animal cruelty and abandonment. People with concerns about an animal can call the “Animal Police,” and the country has more than 200 dog shelters —
all of them “no-kill shelters.”
In the 19th century, the number of dogs in Holland was the largest in Europe. This resulted in a disturbing outbreak of rabies among the indigenous population that, coupled with the poor hygiene of the time, became a leading cause of death in the country.
The first Dutch animal protection agency was established in 1864. Thirteen years later, the first canine shelter opened.
The government introduced the Animal Protection Act in 1962. Ever since, animal rights have been at the forefront of the Netherlands’ social issues.
Stray dogs for the Dutch are now part of their country’s history. The first stray dog-free country in the world managed to not leave a single abandoned dog in the street.