EU Dog & Cat Alliance launches new competition for MEPs and officials ahead of parliamentary event
This September, the EU Dog & Cat Alliance is launching a new competition for MEPs and EU officials to find the EU’s “top dog or cat” ahead of a European Parliament reception to discuss the increasing issues around the online sale of pets.
The EU Dog & Cat Alliance is running the competition to encourage conversation around the online sale of pets ahead of the special event taking place at the European Parliament on Wednesday 27th September.
The event, ‘Better Regulation of the Online Sale of Pets,” will provide an opportunity for discussion about the increase in pets being bought and sold online, during which findings of a new report on the subject will be discussed with MEPs and representatives from the European Commission and the Estonian Presidency.
Running from Friday 1st September until Monday 25th September, participants from the European Parliament, European Commission, other EU institutions and Member State Permanent Representations are encouraged to snap a selfie with their dog or cat and share it on Twitter using the #EUTopDog or #EUTopCat hashtags to be in with a chance of being crowned champion.
Simona Lipstaite, European Policy Advisor for the EU Dog & Cat Alliance, comments:
“In the run-up to the launch of the Alliance’s new report on the online sale of companion animals we wanted to raise awareness of the issues associated with the lack of regulation at both national and EU level. Many MEPs and officials in Brussels share our love of animals and we wanted to showcase this special relationship while drawing attention to the cause with a fun contest on social media.
“We’re encouraging any MEPs, Assistants or officials who think their dog or cat has what it takes to be crowned champion to snap their best selfie together and share it on Twitter.”
The EU Dog & Cat Alliance hopes the competition will increase conversation around the very urgent need to tackle issues associated with the rising popularity of the sale of companion animals online across the continent. This includes how better regulation at national and EU level, and voluntary measures taken by websites and the public, can ensure that animal health and welfare, and public health can be better protected. This is particularly urgent in the face of the significant increase in the number of pets advertised online – up to 269,620 dogs and 67,847 cats on any given day.
As part of its Digital Agenda, the EU must ensure that animal welfare is also taken into account and that consumers are protected against illegal practices when buying pets via the Internet.
The EU’s top pet will be announced at the event on Wednesday 27th September, with the winner receiving a dog and cat themed hamper to donate to a companion animal welfare charity of their choice in any EU country.
Members of the public are encouraged to share their own #EUTopDog or #EUTopCat selfies to encourage their MEPs to participate, however they will not be eligible to win the overall prize.
Terms and conditions:
1. The Twitter contest is aimed at participants from the European Parliament, European Commission, other EU institutions and Member State Permanent Representations. Members of the public are welcome to share their own images to raise awareness of the issues related to the online sale of animals and to encourage their Members of the European Parliament and other stakeholders to participate and take action on this topic. There will be no public prize.
2. The contest will run from 00:00 CET on 1 September 2017 until 09:00 CET on 25 September 2017. Early entries are permitted.
3. Only photos (preferably selfies) with the contestant’s dog or cat are admissible (no other animals).
4. Each participating photo should include the hashtag #EUTopDog or/and #EUTopCat in order to be admissible, and include the @EUdogsandcats handle.
5. The winner of the contest will be determined by a combination of a) the number of “likes” each photo receives and b) a panel made up of EU Dog & Cat Alliance members. The final decision on the winner rests with the EU Dog & Cat Alliance.
6. The prize for the contest winner is a hamper with dog and cat products which the winner is invited to donate to a companion animal welfare charity of their choice in any EU country.
7. Contestants are encouraged to follow the EU Dog & Cat Alliance at @EUdogsandcats.
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@EUdogsandcats