Dog Control Proposals-Bulgaria

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 The Lucy Irvine Foundation Europe welcomes a proposal from the authorities in Sliven, our nearest large town,  to take a raft of measures over the next five years to control the stray dog population in the municipality.  There are 32 outlying villages  included in the municipality and within and around those villages, numerous Roma enclaves. LIFE operates primarily in and around villages within a 15 kilometre radius of our HQ in a village 22 kilometres from Sliven town but we have visited a number of more distant villages in the municipality and find the similar conditions regarding stray dogs obtaining in nearly all of them. The situation is desperate with horrible deaths  from disease and starvation as well as human brutality common.  



Below is a quote from the proposal which informs us, encouragingly, that the municipality recognises the human causes of the problem of stray dogs and is prepared to try to tackle them from several angles. 

The stray dog ​​population consists of abandoned, lost, born on the street and domestic dogs left in public places without supervision........,         ..........Stray dogs suffer from disease, hunger and cold, are tortured, abused and even killed by citizens, there is insufficient care and inhumane treatment of them.

This recognition of human guilt reflects a big step forward from the authorities we should applaud and support. LIFE plans to offer active assistance to implement measures proposed, especially in the sphere of education and networking within the Roma enclaves where we already have many contacts. Enforcement of already existing animal welfare laws is key to this entire enterprise and we will be pushing hard to see action matching the words in the proposal. 


Please, if you can,  take the time to read the document and to comment and make suggestions. LIFE will be making a response to the authorities about the proposals and we value your views. 

The document can be read here: Dog Control Proposals-Bulgaria

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Lucy. 


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