“What took place yesterday at the Lilo shelter is utterly unacceptable and beyond belief,” declared Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.

He described how individuals broke into a facility where stray animals under observation for rabies and other serious illnesses are cared for. “The actions and attitudes we witnessed, speculation, falsehoods, and the deliberate spreading of lies, are completely unacceptable.

Such behaviour only fosters hatred within society, even towards stray animals. The schizophrenic attitude displayed by certain individuals is intolerable,” Kaladze emphasised.

The Mayor underscored that the municipality is undertaking numerous measures to address the issue of stray animals.

“Work is currently underway on relevant infrastructure at Lilo, which will lead to the expansion of the shelter. Very soon, we will be able to construct enclosures for an additional 300 dogs. Furthermore, a new shelter project is being developed in the Gldani district, designed to accommodate 500 dogs. These initiatives aim to tackle the existing challenges in this area and ensure that the community receives maximum support and assistance from us. I reiterate that the efforts made by the city authorities in recent years, particularly in neutering and castration, are unprecedented and represent a significant step forward,” the Mayor of Tbilisi stated.