Mongolia has recently adopted for the first time legislation aimed at protecting animals, known as the Law on Pets. This significant achievement was made possible through years of tireless work and advocacy by Mongolia's partner, Lucky Paws.

This legislation demonstrates a remarkable change in Mongolia's commitment to the welfare of companion animals. Previously, stray cats and dogs in Ulaanbaatar had a sad fate. Authorities allocated large sums of money each year for poisoning and shooting homeless animals. This practice cost taxpayers between US$420,000 and US$450,000 per year and involved the shooting of between 90,000 and 100,000 stray dogs, not including cats. The shooting of stray animals is now banned, while the law mandates that all levels of governments prioritize animal birth control in order to reduce the number of homeless animals.

The new law takes a more humane and responsible approach to emphasizing the protection of animal companions and promoting responsible guardianship. Legal animal guardians will now have a range of new rights, including openness to the public and enhanced access to pets, freedom from discrimination and abuse, and compensation from those who punish animal abusers. Added obligations include registering, training and sterilizing animal companions, and requiring guardians to have the ability to feed, house and medically care for their pets.

The pet law also prohibits the illegal sale of cats and dogs in pet stores and requires breeders to obtain a license, pay taxes and have their animals microchipped. Breeders of Mongolian Banka dogs are exempt.

The Pet Law is of great importance to Mongolia and the world: The Pet Law strengthens the protection of domesticated animals, establishes specific penalties for individual cruelty to animals, and puts an end to the practice of shooting homeless dogs in order to control population numbers.

It promotes responsible guardianship by granting rights and responsibilities, including sterilization. It restricts and regulates the breeding and sale of animals. It recognizes the rights and welfare of animals, setting a new global standard for other countries to follow.

By strictly enforcing the Pet Law, Mongolia can follow Bhutan's example and become the first country in the world to sterilize all stray dogs.

Over time, the number of homeless animals will decrease, but Ulaanbaatar's 70,000 strays currently face serious challenges, including a lack of basic veterinary equipment. Supporters of Protect the Animals have raised 30% of the funds needed to ship an X-ray machine to Lucky Paws so that the organization can continue to save homeless animals while ensuring that the Pet Law is effectively enforced.