Sofia EU: Using Municipal Animal Facilities Raises New Questions

Last year in Bulgarian media had repeatedly arised the question about actual purpose of three municipal animal shelters in Sofia - "Miroviane", "Vrazhdebna" and "Lozenetc". Over the past three years has been known only that "Lozenetc" already is holded by Deutsch-Bulgarische Strassentier-Nothilfe (German-Bulgarian Street Animals Protection from Disaster) under the name "Castration Center Nadezhda" ("Hope"). At the time, the organization website continue to offer information only in German language.

Recently Bulgarian society just hearn any answer about activities taken by "Lozenetc". On November 30, 2008 representatives of German SPCA told BTV that they also provide pet adoption. But they acknowledged that rehoming is unpopular among Bulgarians. So most of the animals are transported to Germany in order to be adopted. According to them, there is a contrary trend - Germans prefer shelter animals, but the number of offered pets is insufficient because of the high pet population sterilization rate.

In last decade in Sofia there was a popular group of women collecting dogs surrended by theyr owners "for adoption in Switzerland." Currently one of these women works in "Lozenetc", i. e. on behalf of Germany. However, so far the excessive pet breeding and mass pet roam continue in high speed. Therefore, any removal of unwanted animals outside Sofia cannot be justified as a charitable effort.

In folk style similar balance probably would sound like "Wolf to be satisfying, and lamb to be entire." But legal involvement of Municipality in similar cooperation raises several serious questions about the purpose and price of this participation.

Why in Sofia and Bulgaria there were not launched info-educational programs to encourage search for second-hand pets? In Germany and throughout the world people recognize both alternatives - adopting rescued animal; or habitual demand for a puppy or a kitten, i. e. promoting pet breeding.

Why Mayor Borisov's team and German SPCA still do not consider dealing with the basic problem, i. e. excessive breeding dogs and cats in the households? The constant availability of roaming overpopulation depends on the insignificant rate of neutered petamong owned population. In fact both educational programs and low-cost s/n service promoting pet sterilization remain an unknown think.

What is the actual interest served by a municipal property such as "Lozenetc"? For example, there is almost impossible to be found a lost dog in any municipal shelter in Sofia. Оppositely to the taxpayer's interest, "Lozenetc" serves some mythical demand abroad.

However, all facts about "other" demand of roaming and unwanted animals remain hidden from Bulgarian society. In Defense of Animals exposes practice of Pound Seizure in the United States: "Whether or not a state-wide ban on Pound Seizure exists, some pounds or shelters practice pound seizure illegally. Having a pound, shelter or humane society that practices pound seizure in your area means that every pet is worth money, and increases the chances of pet theft occurring in your community."

Animal Alliance of Canada exposes current practice within EU member states: "Pound seizure has been banned in Sweden, Great Britain, Netherlands and Denmark." It could be estimated that experimental industry in Germany continues to use "random source" pet animals. If the shortage of dogs and cats there is tangible, so how research facilities could be provided with such animals? And haw are provided all Bulgarian laboratories? The answer would explain neglecting pet theft simultaneously with "altruistic" participation of Sofia authorities in a doubtful activity.