Tell Russia to Stop Killing Stray Dogs for World Cup 2018!

Just as was done in Sochi, Russia, before the 2014 Winter Olympics, stray dogs were reportedly being killed recently in 11 Russian cities that will host the World Cup this summer.

Fortunately, just as in 2014, worldwide outrage over this culling has apparently changed officials' minds. Instead of euthanizing the dogs, sports minister Pavel Kolobkov has recommended that host cities create temporary animal shelters in which the strays can be housed during the World Cup games.

There are about 2 million homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets in the 11 cities hosting the World Cup this year. Instead of killing them – which costs about $100 per dog – that money would be better spent on spay-and-neuter programs.

As a first step, all of the dogs that are housed in those temporary shelters during the World Cup should be spayed and neutered during their stay.

Influential World Cup sponsors like Coca-Cola, Visa and Adidas should also put pressure on Russian officials not to kill strays.

Please sign and share this petition urging World Cup sponsors to pressure Pavel Kolobkov to require that street dogs be sterilized, not killed, in cities hosting the World Cup.