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Subject: REQUEST to the Bulgarian Authorities

Date: 02/01/07 23:30



To:

Mr Georgi Parvanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria

Mr Georgi Pirinski, Chairperson of the 40th National Assembly

Mr Sergei Stanishev, Prime Minister

Mr Boyko Borissov, Mayor of Sofia

Mr Boris Velchev, Prosecutor General

Mrs Christina Slavova, Chairman of Intimate with Nature Society





Honorable Gentlemen, Madam,

We herewith state that the international community of animal defenders worries deeply about the welfare and treatment of animals in your country.

We politely ask you to urgently enforce permanent registration of pet animals; to restrict their breeding, to ban all trade and abuse; to promote early-aged sterilization of all pet animals.

We ask for activation and enforcement of a modern Animal Protection Act, including a guarantee for the protection and welfare of cats and dogs in Bulgaria.

We remember that Bulgaria ratified ( 2004 ) the European Council's Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, binding itself to make an effective effort of bringing about improvements in this field.

Despite this, we learn that stray dogs in Sofia are constantly disappearing, although the streets are rapidly refilled with growing tame dogs of unknown origin, who disappear in their turn: vicious dog trade?!! Why is there no dog registration in Sofia? Why doesn’t the Municipality carry out an adequate policy, promoting re-homing of lost and abandoned pets and encouraging early-aged sterilization? What about the current unbridled home-breeding? Why don’t the Authorities launch a large scale sterilisation campaign, so as to avoid an overpopulation of dogs and cats? Why are the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Finance tolerant to the illegal traffic of cats and dogs?

As you can see, we have many serious questions. Since you became a member of the European Union, we request you to urgently reconsider your animal policy.

Furthermore, we would appreciate the Government and the Municipality of Sofia taking advice from a serious animal organisation as there is: The Animal Programs Foundation -18 Yanko Sofiiski Voivoda Str., 1164 Sofia. -http://animalprograms.org/indexENG.htm (E-mail: animalprograms@abv.bg)

We thank you in advance and await your early reply.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Maria Borremans

1000 Brussels – Belgium (EU)

sb299871@skynet.be



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