Since 1990 in Bulgaria there is an ongoing process of mass, excessive breeding, supply and demand of unregistered cats and dogs by pet lovers; their unrestricted straying; and last but not least their disappearing as a result of "pick & snatch" policy and their systematic abuse.

In the meantime we are witnessing lack of any whatsoever movement by the bureaucrats in right direction. The European Commission's Regulation No 998/2003, European Council's Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals and acting national legislation provisions are totally ignored. Both populations in Sofia remain extremely unstable.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Municipality of Sofia do not provide control by dog registration, dependable sheltering, recovering and re-homing of lost and abandoned pets, increasing sterilized ratio, nor legal reducing population number. So cat and dog lovers stay continuously misinformed and misled about the cruel destiny for the better part of the "steady-bred" animals and to their potential end use.

The Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Finance stay tolerant to the illegal collection of cats and dogs and supposed money laundering. The ignorance of Law is left without reproof by the Bulgarian Parliament and Prosecutor General.

Animal Programs pointed out to the Minister of Agriculture and Mayor of Sofia numerous simple but effective measures in the animal control. In numerous letters Animal Programs has insisted that Chairman of Parliament and the Prosecutor General should engaged in neglection of the Law.

But no adequate reaction followed. Instead, in 2006 there were taken effort by the authorities to proclaim "no-kill policy" accomplished through sterilization of unwanted animals plus the ban to their killing.

We sincerely hope that Bulgarian institutions engaged in this process will take legal control. By failing to do so will make us think more so that authorities are colluding with black-marketers in their dirty industry. It's revolting to us watching the team efforts to water down the above mentioned process.

Despite of all my effort I alone can't change the strangely kept by Bulgarian authorities trend.

Here and why I call on the World community and concerned institutions alike to write demanding and reproachful letters, faxes and e-mails till enforcement of the legal pet control takes an effect and guarantee the animal's protection and welfare.

I urge you: Please contact the supreme Bulgarian officials responsible for this peculiar situation!



Emil Kuzmanov, founder
The Animal Programs Foundation of Bulgaria
E-mail: animalprograms (at) abv.bg



Short list of officials:

Mr Georgi Pirinski, Chairperson of the 40th National Assembly
2 Narodno Sabranie Square, 1169 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: +359 2 9392513
Fax: +359 2 9813131
Email: infocenter (at) parliament.bg

Mr Boris Velchev, Prosecutor General
2 Vitosha Blvd, 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: +359 2 9219209
Fax: +359 2 9815832
E-mail: n.markov (at) prb.bg

Mr Sergei Stanishev, Prime Minister
1 Dondukov Blvd, 1194 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: +359 2 9402999
Fax: +359 2 9802056
E-mail: GIS (at) government.bg
Form: www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl=

Mr Boyko Borissov, Mayor of Sofia
33 Moskovska Str., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: +359 2 9814515; 9377261
Fax: +359 2 9810703
E-mail: info (at) sofia.bg
Form: sofia.bg/en/display.asp