Ukraine minister calls for end to killing of stray animals

A Ukraine minister Thursday called for an end to the killing of stray animals ahead of the Euro 2012 Soccer Championship. "Instead of cruelty to animals, I urge the city councils of regional centers to provide land for shelters. The Ministry for its part is ready to consider participation in their construction," said Mykola Zlochevsky, minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Zlochevsky, who met with representatives of the British environmental organization "Naturewatch," said his ministry is negotiating with authorities in big cities to build modern shelters to house the strays. Stray animals, especially dogs, are a big problem in Ukraine. It is estimated that nearly 30,000 dogs run loose in Kiev while hundreds of thousands of others roam elsewhere in the country. Hundreds of stray dogs have been killed in Ukraine since January. Activists accuse authorities of using inhumane methods of killing the animals, including poisoning and burning.