Legislation
BAPF is considering dozen issues that affect the pet population dynamics, i.e. the average pet's lifespan in Bulgaria. Most of them should be regarded as an outcome of the hollow legislative acts passed by national legislature. The major measures provided by law still remain focused on "reducing street dog population", i.e. to neuter and/or remove it. This isolated but expensive approach remains ineffective for interrupting the pet overpopulation crisis and the avoidable suffering of large numbers of animals. Learning from best practices known worldwide, Animal Programs point out all necessary provisions in a true animal protection legislation. There are numerous publicly available proposals made to competent authorities, as listed below. Становище върху проекта за промени в изискванията към приютите за животни в Наредба №41/2008 (in Bulgarian only), 24th June 2013 Warning letter to Agriculture Minister BAPF calls on international authority to oppose Bulgaria's dog dumping policy Animal Programs calls for a legislative intervention to Bulgaria's dog overpopulation crisis Open letter to Prime Minister of Bulgaria. PM Bojko Borisov made in August 2011 a draft proposal to the Animal Protection Act. The only changes proposed in the scope of pet population management were extending the term for neutering unwanted dogs and then impounding all them at "temporary animal shelters outside settlements" until the end of 2015. Animal Programs jumped against and drafted appropriate texts that could reduce dog and cat over-reproduction, pet population pressure, animal roam and abusive treatment of roaming animals. First report on animal shelter operations. A new report for Bulgarian authorities recommends that all shelters submit to Agriculture Ministry annual data report on intake and disposition of animals as a part of new animal control strategy. The study is based on data from 14 municipalities having a total population of 43 per cent of the entire human population of Bulgaria. Letter to Agriculture Minister Letter to the Chairman of Agriculture and Forestry Committee Open letter to Prime Minister of Bulgaria Letter to Sofia Mayor and Agriculture Minister Letter to Bulgarian President, Vice PM, Agriculture Minister, and Finance Minister |