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Sun, Nov 22 2009
Chain reaction
Photo: Nikolai Doichinov
Resentment, anger and impatience is growing, some of it bordering on a desire for an en masse culling. Yet others seem to completely disregard the problem, feeding animals straight from their balconies, oblivious of the chain reaction they create on the street. Meanwhile, more children, elderly women and cyclists complain of attacks - of the interminable howling in the evenings, sleepless nights, excrement on the streets, filthy green belts, ticks and parasites galore.
Ekoravnovesie, a municipal-support organisation, works to deal with the problem against the odds. While too slow for some, too insignificant for others and too late for most, the organisation battles the status quo with its meagre resources. Kenneling programmes are well underway while a new facility was opened on June 30 in Gorni Bogrov, with capacity for 400 canines, mostly ones snatched near hospitals, kindergartens and schools.
Yet experts in the field, such as Emil Kouzmanov, from Animal Program, for example, are unconvinced that the scheme goes far enough. "What is the purpose of this municipal ‘kenneling’ while the total dog population increases or remains unchanged? And what is the annual data for shelter dogs being furnished to lab animal suppliers?" he said to The Sofia Echo.
Ekoravnovesie collect dogs and treat them in their Seslavtsi base while local municipalities ponder the creation of two new kennels by the end of 2009, in Mladost and Nadezhda. Sofia municipality’s "Castrate and Return" programme, aimed at tackling the city’s interminable problem of stray dogs, has now been operating for several months, the method itself being proposed by the World Health Organisation, whereby strays are collected and inoculated against rabies. Their ears are marked with a V-sign; they are tattooed, disinfected, castrated and returned to their "manor". Aggressive, or terminally ill animals, are killed.
The operation is conducted by a task-force set up by the municipality, working with the public. But Kouzmanov is unconvinced that the WHO programme will be effective either. "The method was suggested by the WHO...Sofia accepted a method, but not a strategy. It means to reduce population reproduction by increasing the percentage of the sterilised pet population. There are more than 200 000 owned dogs, according to Ekoravnovesie’s chief Miroslav Naidenov. While that remains the case, Sofia will remain without an efficient and permanent solution to the problem," he told The Sofia Echo.
Meanwhile, Ekoravnovesie reported that in 2008 more than 5000 dogs were seized, of which 200 were adopted and 600 killed. The others were castrated, sanitised and returned to the street. For the period May to August 2009, 1604 dogs were caught, of which 810 were treated, sanitised, castrated and returned, 141 were adopted, and 573 put down.
The latest figures from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) indicate that in Sofia today there are actually more than 8500 stray dogs, an insignificant improvement from June 2009, when their number was pegged at 8538, but a substantial 23 per cent drop from 2008.
According to a BAS survey from 2007, their population stood at 11 136 stray dogs and more than 20 000 in 2005.
One main reason why the canine population remains stable, apart from the public’s lack of proper understanding and knowledge on the matter, is the "enclosed construction sites" where strays thrive and congregate, and where Ekoravnovesie cannot operate due to legal restrictions. The worst affected areas in Sofia are clustered in Ovcha Koupel, Krasno Selo, Krasna Polyana, Manastirski Livadi, Lyulin, Filipovtsi, and to an extent, Studenstki Grad. The plights are many but the stray dogs aren’t the only piece in the puzzle. It is the thousands of people feeding them daily, and the more than 200 000 private pets who contribute to the rising population. The lack of proper Government support, a coherent strategy and sufficient resources, are only some of the many problems needing to be tackled.
Ekoravnovesie, a municipal-support organisation, works to deal with the problem against the odds. While too slow for some, too insignificant for others and too late for most, the organisation battles the status quo with its meagre resources. Kenneling programmes are well underway while a new facility was opened on June 30 in Gorni Bogrov, with capacity for 400 canines, mostly ones snatched near hospitals, kindergartens and schools.
Yet experts in the field, such as Emil Kouzmanov, from Animal Program, for example, are unconvinced that the scheme goes far enough. "What is the purpose of this municipal ‘kenneling’ while the total dog population increases or remains unchanged? And what is the annual data for shelter dogs being furnished to lab animal suppliers?" he said to The Sofia Echo.
Ekoravnovesie collect dogs and treat them in their Seslavtsi base while local municipalities ponder the creation of two new kennels by the end of 2009, in Mladost and Nadezhda. Sofia municipality’s "Castrate and Return" programme, aimed at tackling the city’s interminable problem of stray dogs, has now been operating for several months, the method itself being proposed by the World Health Organisation, whereby strays are collected and inoculated against rabies. Their ears are marked with a V-sign; they are tattooed, disinfected, castrated and returned to their "manor". Aggressive, or terminally ill animals, are killed.
The operation is conducted by a task-force set up by the municipality, working with the public. But Kouzmanov is unconvinced that the WHO programme will be effective either. "The method was suggested by the WHO...Sofia accepted a method, but not a strategy. It means to reduce population reproduction by increasing the percentage of the sterilised pet population. There are more than 200 000 owned dogs, according to Ekoravnovesie’s chief Miroslav Naidenov. While that remains the case, Sofia will remain without an efficient and permanent solution to the problem," he told The Sofia Echo.
Meanwhile, Ekoravnovesie reported that in 2008 more than 5000 dogs were seized, of which 200 were adopted and 600 killed. The others were castrated, sanitised and returned to the street. For the period May to August 2009, 1604 dogs were caught, of which 810 were treated, sanitised, castrated and returned, 141 were adopted, and 573 put down.
The latest figures from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) indicate that in Sofia today there are actually more than 8500 stray dogs, an insignificant improvement from June 2009, when their number was pegged at 8538, but a substantial 23 per cent drop from 2008.
According to a BAS survey from 2007, their population stood at 11 136 stray dogs and more than 20 000 in 2005.
One main reason why the canine population remains stable, apart from the public’s lack of proper understanding and knowledge on the matter, is the "enclosed construction sites" where strays thrive and congregate, and where Ekoravnovesie cannot operate due to legal restrictions. The worst affected areas in Sofia are clustered in Ovcha Koupel, Krasno Selo, Krasna Polyana, Manastirski Livadi, Lyulin, Filipovtsi, and to an extent, Studenstki Grad. The plights are many but the stray dogs aren’t the only piece in the puzzle. It is the thousands of people feeding them daily, and the more than 200 000 private pets who contribute to the rising population. The lack of proper Government support, a coherent strategy and sufficient resources, are only some of the many problems needing to be tackled.
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New kennels poised to be opened in Sofia
According to statistics released from Ekoravnovesie, in 2008 5000 were apprehended, of which 200 were adopted, 600 were killed, whereas the others were castrated, sanitised and returned to the street.
Castrate and return
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) had conducted a survey in 2007 in which it estimated that there were 11 136 stray dogs in Sofia.
Sofia opens shelter for stray dogs
A new dog shelter for 100 dogs was opened on June 25 in Sofia's Slatina neighbourhood. Bulgarian-language broadcaster zagrada.bg said this was the third dog-shelter out of five that are planned to open in the near future. The shelter was built by German foundation Tierhilfe Süden, which has been operating in Bulgaria for 12 years under the name Vtori Shans (Second Chance).
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Municipal dog "shelters" in Bulagria are run by mafia that simply uses exploits the public's byzantine fear of dogs to loot municipal money...they employ gypsys to kill dogs with spades for 10 leva and some rakia... the BG leather industry obtains cheap raw materials from these "shelters" too.
Bulgaria will always have a stray dog proplem because most of its citzens don't castrate female dogs.
Lots of very aggressive and uneducated comments here -shocking-and from anglophones too
Dianne:
"You need to get back in your BMW, leave your wife tied to the sink, expect your dinner on the table at 5pm etc etc. Cavemen."
I have to agree with Dianne.
Cosmos, you meat eating, woman ***ing, cigar smoking, Jaguar driving, corrupt capitalist and disgusting ... er... man! That's what you are - a man!
What do you say Dianne, should we castrate Cosmos instead of the innocent poppies?
So Mags, shoot the lot and be done with it stop all these so called animal shelters save BG a fortune best solution yet.
mags,
That means humane dog population management.
"Street" control means circa 500,000 BGN spent in 2006; 921,000 in 2007; 1,22 M in 2008; and at least 1,286 M in 2009.
Rented "dog shelter" in Gorni Bogrov costs 242,000 BGN per year. But any lost dog was not returned to the owner by this false animal service.
What sufering we humans cause to those without a voice.WE caused this situation so why blame the starving creature trying to survive???Bulgaria no more excuses Educate,castrate,and much to a dog lovers disgust exterminate.
Big scandal: Between September 2006 and August 2009, Ekoravnovesie reported totally 12,200 dogs neutered and released to roam. Contrary, a few months ago, then Ecoravnovesie chief Miroslav Naidenov reported 8500 available strays including considerable portion of entire animals.
most sofians live in small apartments and cannot have dogs hence is nice to have, as for poop on streets why not somebody volunteer and clean? where are the paid street cleaners?
What a bunch of fags why dont you go out and poison the lot and stop f***ing moaning (Dianne) what has cars got to do with this and if we had caveman instincts there would not be a dog problem. The person with the BMW CAR AND BIKES you sound like a poof who gives a shit what car you drive tosser.
OK for a start i am fed up with dog mess every place you step Sofia is one big problem so is Varna and other areas i agree with Kath about being frightend to go for a walk in the countryside. Will the people who are feeding this problem please stop it is not doing any good, it needs a major cull.
Well, I still say the solution is to encourage the opening of Korean restaurants (doesn't matter whether North or South - they both share a taste for canine delicacies !)
I wonder what Bill Clinton was served on his recent VIP visit to Pyongyang ?
"One country exclusively practiced
catch, neuter, release of dogs (Greece). This approach was reported to be problematic because it appeared to result in owners “dumping” their dogs in areas “where they knew they would be looked after”. A further six countries (20%) (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Serbia and Spain) operated
catch, neuter, release in a limited number of locations, although the reasons for this were unclear, as were the problems encountered when adopting this approach."
Concerning the countries above mentioned: "The over production of dogs has not been addressed. Poor enforcement by the authorities does not encourage owners to follow regulatory requirements relating to licensing or registration of their dogs. Owners are not discouraged from letting their dogs roam or encouraged to neuter their pets."
(Stray Animal Control Practices, Europe, WSPA/RSPCA)
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
On leaving England for Bulgaria I WAS a dog lover. But after 4 years of experiencing Bulgarias dog population I doubt if I will ever own a dog again. Peace quiet and calm is what I expected from the Bulgarian villages - but they turn out to be noisier than the streets of London with the incessant barking of neighbours and street dogs. I am scared to walk the countryside for fear of being attacked by the half starved and aggresive dogs left to roam, and because of the many sleepless nights I have endured I am ready to take a pistol and shoot the lot of them myself. There must be an answer - I am being driven completely MAD....
mate, you can give an aspirin a bloody headache.
Moro,
please be brief next time. It is called parsimonious speech. Learn it.
kill 'em all
Just shoot the damn strays! Its more humane than the streets.
On my first trip top Sofia about 15 years ago it seemed that the entire city was over run by stray dogs. Naturally being from the States I felt sorry for the poor creatures and was buying food and giving it to them (I was also feeding and giving money the Gypsy kids--which a mistake). On my trip the following year I was much less inclined to see the strays as unfortunite dogs and saw them for what they are: Pests! Since these dogs are owned by no one then it is up to the city to clean up the problem and the quickest and most effective way it to capture the dogs and if they do not have a license then they should be put down as humanely as possible. I am not sure what kind of car you drive has with any of this but I drive a 5 series BMW and own two BMW motorcycles.
Well said Cosmos/Starman/Mags. Dianne please stop calling people cavemen at least they have the balls to speak the truth or are you a lesbion and rely on a dildo,would you like a real man,anyway back to the mutts i will not have any respect for a nation that has to ask the W.H.O. for advice on how to sort out there mutt problem it sounds like the dogs bollocks to me so grow up BG also stop throwing all your plastic bottles in the streets of Varna.
You may say I have little right making comment on the dog subject, as I have only lived here 2 years 2 things realy bug me about Bulgaria,1 has to be the plastic rubish and the way people just throw it about but my real hate is seeing the so called Mans Best Friend in such a sad state!!!!Of course things have got beond control and unless a program of education and veternary care is provided the situation will get worse.What is the point of putting animals back on the streets???its a sad fact that in the main a program of rehoming and I realy hate to say it culling is needed.If there is some money left after pockets have been lined a mobile vet service offering castration etc and leaflets on dog care may help.these are my thoughts on a very sad situation. And now I see people actuly breeding Dog to sell and some are British are they mad!!!Regards. P.S.It would'nt hurt pet food manufacturers and supermarkets etc offering help.
From my personal experience, the feral dog problem is much worse in Bucharest than in Sofia, and completely absent in Chisinau (maybe the presence of a Korean restaurant in Chisinau might provide a clue !)
Hey leave the wife alone she carrys the sink with her i would never chain her in 1 spot thats cruel. Also i drive a jag not that german crap.Dinner time is not 5pm its to early, she cooks about seven finishes the washing up by about 9pm then starts to iron my shirts. She gets well paid and never complains by the way shes cooking roast dog later.
Cosmo & Starman, these are the comments I would expect from ignorant heathens. You need to get back in your BMW, leave your wife tied to the sink, expect your dinner on the table at 5pm etc etc. Cavemen
Slaughter the lot and please do not tell us you are a dog lover, they have turned wild and dangerous go tell the WHO to but out .
Shoot the lot and stop acting like sheep, are you all mad to let your children be attacked by these wild mutts what a backward country full of dog shit mafia and rubbish all the same mould oh i forgot about the old slags on the streets.
First of all I would like to comment on the last sentence - there is no lack of funds, there are plenty of funds. The funds just don't go where they are supposed to. There can be a lot more funds also, if all owned dogs are registered and every owner pays let's say 5lv a dog for month, or let's say participates in some socially useful event like cleaning around the block. I am really sick and tired of excuses. I cannot believe the ...... that comes out of the "expert’s" mouths and people's mouths as well. It would be the most stupid thing to start a program for decreasing the population of dogs by castrating them and all the other procedures and finally returning them to the streets - when you haven't registered the owned dogs. What kind of a brain-dead person would do that, seriously? I also get enraged when someone says don't feed the stray dogs you're not helping! Oh really, if you are hungry and I feed you - would that be helpful to you? I mean seriously what is wrong with people, instead of killing the dogs and running them over and kicking and beating and eating /like are fellow Vietnamese and Chinese and all of these sorts of people/ do in the capital in the basements, why don't they just register all owned dogs and then start castrating and cleaning and so on, the dogs on the street. What kind of a nation will our children become when they grow up seeing this every day? We have always been sheep. When the regime fell and some hot shots stole every penny from us, from our sweat and hard work and blood, we didn't say nothing, we just kept to ourselves, stayed low and kept quiet as long as our own little box is intact and the neighbor’s is ruined everything is fine. When they took our most beautiful nature and turned it into piles of cement and useless property, we again stood still like sheep. We are sheep. We made one protest and we let some idiot /businessmen/ with a goal turn it into a vandal fest. I has been years and years of this dog problem, I have screamed, cried, fought, lied, cheated, helped, paid, I have done it all and I have saved many dogs and cats. They are almost all alive, happy, well fed and they look great. But you people, you my fellow citizens I will never be able to save, you're sheep and you will always be. You just keep working like crazy and paying taxes and wasting your strength and your talent and your brains and everything this ancient and highly intelligent nation has to offer the world and it's self. You just keep pissing it away every day. It's like you enjoy giving your money to people who steal it and wasted on prostitutes, coke and Mercedes. I rest my case. May the power be with you sheep!
Corruption has even affected an old street dog!!
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained срещу журналисти.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained срещу журналисти.