Some 10 years ago the municipal Ekoravnovesie dog shelter in Sofia became notorious for the cruelty against the animals kept there. The number of stray dogs on the streets of Sofia was growing and many dogs were killed in the shelter. Cruelties against animals were captured on a video, which shocked Bulgaria. After radical measures were taken and violations were stopped people believed the new management of the shelter will meet the requirements of the World Health Organisation. However, environmentalists say violations in the shelter continue.
Here is what Maria Harbova of the Foundation for Animal Rights in Bulgaria says.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t seen positive changes for the past 13 years, except in the period when current Agricultural Minister Miroslav Naidenov was director of the municipal shelter. During his time there were no cruelties and violations. After that, however, things changed and violations resumed. At the same time the number of stray dogs started growing again. I cannot understand how this is happening if Ekoravnovesie kept to the recommendations by the WHO.”
Environmentalist say the Sofia Municipality actually wants to solve the problem with the stray dogs in Sofia in the most humane manner. At the same time it turns out that the violations in the Ekoravnovesie shelter cannot be stopped. Despite the fired management the personnel of the shelter remains the same and the barbarous methods of work continue. According to the shelter, lack of financing is also a reason for the current situation. The conditions in the shelter are miserable and deadly diseases spread among the animals. The attitude of the workers must change, despite the awful working conditions, Yavor Gechev from the Four Paws Organisation says and adds.
“We were there in the summer and we saw horrible things. Dogs were still bleeding after operations. Castrations were not done according to the standards of good practices. Vets in the shelter care little about what would happen to the dogs after they are castrated. Cooperation with NGOs must be sought in order to increase professional and moral standards,” the environmentalist says.
English: Alexander Markov
