| THE ANIMAL PROTECTION BILL IN BULGARIA DISCRIMINATES AGAINST STRAY DOGS Do not allow Bulgaria’s homeless animals to be impounded in “wire-fenced enclosures outside the towns and villages,” called by the Select Committee on Agriculture "temporary shelters", where the thousands of rounded up dogs will eat and kill one another. This draconian measure has been proposed by the chair of the Committee, Mr. Kalinov, who – despite his initial acceptance of the “TNR” (trap-neuter-return) method for stray control – introduced this alternative, which isn’t going to solve Bulgaria’s stray dog problem but will only destroy periodically thousands of animals. The concept of “temporary shelters” is much more cruel than the existing facilities for killing dogs – the “isolators” – which are already a disgrace for Bulgaria. This is a replication of the 2005 attempt of a Bulgarian bill to violate Article 12 of European Convention ¹ 125 and Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. The TNR method, as per the mover’s bill, has the support of: the Bulgarian government; the European Parliament; the European Commission; the Mayor of the capital, Gen. Boiko Borisov; as well as noted Bulgarian and European politicians, experts, and public organisations. The TNR method was approved on first reading by the Parliament and on second reading by the Committee on Agriculture, without objections. On second reading in Parliament it was turned down by Committee member and chair of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha’s parliamentary group Mr. Mollov, who had voted in favour of TNR just two days earlier. HELP US PUT AN END TO THE SENSELESS KILLINGS OF HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS! Sign the appeal of AFA Bulgaria, Dai Lapa (city of Pernik), Dara (Sofia), Society for Protection of Stray Dogs by a Friend (Ardino), Society for the Protection of Animals and Ecosystems (Kyustendil), Animal Welfare Society (Plovdiv), National Animal Welfare Foundation, Care for Stray Dogs Federation, Society for the Protection of Animals (Veliko Tarnovo), Animal Rights Bulgaria (Veliko Tarnovo), Society for the Protection of Stray Animals (Kardjali) and website www.nobodyspet.info We are grateful for your willingness to support the stray animals of Bulgaria NOW! |