Pet Alliance Europe spotlights assistance dogs and animal welfare at Annual #PetPower Night 2025
At its annual #PetPower Night in Brussels, Pet Alliance Europe once again gathered over 100 participants, including Members of the European Parliament, European Commission and Council officials, animal welfare organisations, assistance animal associations, and stakeholders from the pet industry—many joined by their four-legged friends. The event, held in anticipation of World Animal Day, celebrated the power of pets (#PetPower) and reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to advancing animal welfare.
The evening’s focus was on breeding assistance dogs for a durable bond in supporting people’s independence and wellbeing. Herbert Schroyen, Board Member at Purpose Dogs, delivered the keynote, sharing the organization’s mission:
“Our work is dedicated to optimizing the physical and character traits of developing assistance dogs in a scientifically sound manner and with respect for animal welfare.
Herbert stressed the need to ensure the appropriate animals are selected for assistance dog training:
“When a traditional assistance dog association currently acquires a non-purpose-dogs puppy, in many cases it only has a 40 percent chance of being successfully trained. To increase the success rate of puppies, at Purpose Dogs we operate a breeding program where the best parents are selected to build an assistance dog population with fewer congenital problems. This helps us to ensure that more people in need get the best help.”
The topic resonated strongly, especially in light of the ongoing negotiations to finalise the EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs.
Speaking with one voice, the partners of Pet Alliance Europe – AnimalhealthEurope, FEDIAF, FVE and FECAVA – emphasised their shared commitment:
“With 139 million households in Europe owning a pet, the bond between people and animals is one of society’s strongest. As Alliance partners, we are united in advocating for responsible ownership, ensuring high standards of care, and supporting EU policies that safeguard pet welfare—including the new proposal on the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs.”
Closing the evening, MEP Petras Auštrevičius shared reflections on the importance of advancing pet welfare in EU policymaking and proudly announced the winners of the 2025 “Best Buddies in the Brussels Bubble” photo contest, now in its fourth edition.
The event also featured a digital photo wall and pet ‘PAWtrait’ corner, ensuring participants and their pets left with memories of the celebration.
Pet Alliance Europe reaffirmed its mission to advocate for responsible pet ownership, support EU policies that safeguard animal welfare, and showcase the many ways pets enhance European lives.
ENDS
