Debrecen4U March 12, 2026

Free Dog Neutering Programme to Become Citywide in Debrecen

The Municipality of Debrecen is organising a free vaccination, neutering and microchipping campaign using funding awarded in mid-February. In addition, awareness-raising and community programmes will also be organised. The details were discussed on Médiacentrum Debrecen’s Esti Közelkép by animal welfare officer Edina Szilágyi and Zoltán Váradi, Director of Zoo Debrecen.

“Last year we submitted an application on behalf of the city of Debrecen to Közös ügyünk az állatvédelem Alapítvány, and our main objective was to launch a free neutering, microchipping and vaccination programme. Together with Bodolai Ferenc Add a Mancsod Alapítvány we began this campaign last week. We examined the most affected areas of Debrecen, focusing primarily on dogs. In the Pac district and the Biczó István garden district we mainly visited owners who are socially disadvantaged. It is a great help that we can provide vaccinations, neutering and microchipping free of charge; this represents around HUF 60,000 to 70,000 for each family,” explained Edina Szilágyi.

The animal welfare officer also expressed special thanks to Alexandra Csige, who has undertaken to coordinate the entire programme. She emphasised that there are plans to continue the work and extend it across the entire city.

In connection with this, the Together for Animals – Animal Welfare Family Day will be held on 28 March at Sziget-kék Playground, while the educational programme entitled Responsibly for Animals is planned to take place at Zoo Debrecen.

“For schools and nurseries we have announced a drawing competition entitled My Pet, My Responsibility. An exhibition will be organised from the submitted drawings, and the results will also be announced. There will also be programmes at Sziget-kék continuously from 10:00 to 15:00,” pointed out Zoltán Váradi.

It was also mentioned in the programme that visitors will of course be able to meet special animals as well, such as the dogs of the Hajdú-Bihar County Police Headquarters, the stars of the Paw Patrol demonstrations, or even Kajla. “We see that among nursery children animal protection is already a good topic, as they keep animals at home or encounter animals in everyday life, and these themes also appear in stories, on television and on the internet,” she said.

This funding will support animal protection initiatives in Debrecen for several months.

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu