REPORT

Ref. No 166/06.08.2006

TO
MR. BOYKO BORISOV
MAYOR
SOFIA MUNICIPALITY

MR. MILOR MIHAYLOV
DEPUTY MAYOR
SOFIA MUNICIPALITY

The dogs lie on wet racks and floor. Cleaning in the cages is done with a steamer while the dogs are in, and as a result the dogs are soaked and disinfected with the detergent, i.e. chlorine.

REPORT
by
Aksinia Bosneva - "AFA-Bulgaria" Foundation, Radostina Galitionova -Student
Co-ordinator on Municipality Pound Activity Monitoring Project implemented by the Student Councils, Sofia

RE: INSPECTION IN THE MUNICAPALITY POUND IN THE VILLAGE OF SESLAVTSI ON
3 AUGUST 2006

Dear Mr. Borisov,
Dear Mr. Mihaylov,

In compliance with an Order by the Sofia Municipality Mayor No РД 09 01-334/1.08.06 on 3 August 2006 was performed an inspection of the activity of the municipality pound in the following order:

І.Catching of dogs under Art. 151, items 9 and 10; Art. 151, item 1; Art. 150, para.1, item 2, subitem "е" of the Act on Veterinary Activity (AVA).

With regard to delivery of dead dogs in the pound the inspection discovered that the abovementioned articles of the Act are violated. The absence of a veterinary doctor in the catching team leads to:
• performance of the veterinary regulations in violation of the Act, since under Art. 151, item 9 of the AVA catching is to be performed solely under the control of a veterinary who is missing from the catching team;
• death of caught dogs in case of intolerance to the anaesthetic substance due of impossibility to apply life-saving measures by a vet under Art. 150, para.1, item 2, subitem "е".

Prescript:
Veterinary doctors to be included in the catching teams

ІІ. Transportation of the caught animals under Art. 161, para.1 of AVA and Art.11, para.1 of Regulation No 4/10.02.2000.
With regard to delivery of dead dogs in the pound the inspection discovered that in the vehicles used for transportation there is no equipment for preventing animals from injury, suffocation or other damage.

Prescript:
Animals to be transported in individual cages, which can be collapsible for better portability. This will also solve the problem with accommodation: currently animals are accommodated by being dragged down the corridors of the pound by loops. We recommend employees to place animals in the pound cages using collapsible ones. This will lower injury risks and stress in the animals.

ІІІ. Accommodation in the pound under Art. 150, para. 1, item 2, subitems а), b), e), f); Art. 150, para. 2; Art. 151, items 1 , 6 and 15; Art. 173, item 4 of AVA.

Inspection found that:
• there are no separate premises for the puppies who are accommodated in cages separate from the adults' but within the same premises. Animals are accommodated in groups in violation of Art. 151, item 1, 6 and 15 of AVA, thus creating conditions for aggressive behaviour. The employees explained that the group accommodation principle is an experiment: only when incidents occur (dogs attacking one another), they are separated. This practice poses risks to the health and life of the dogs;
• airing of the premises is provided by windows openable at merely 20%. Due to bad ventilation cleaning with detergents causes eye inflammation and lack of fresh air.

Prescript:

1. To set apart premises for the puppies from those for adults by a partition wall, which will eliminate the health and stress risks for the young dogs.
2. Dogs to be placed in individual cages since stress may lead to aggression when they share cages.
3. To ensure necessary room and freedom for movement, as well as good airing and acceptable humidity; under AVA each inside cage shall have access to an outer cage fixed to the outer wall of the building as was the construction of the ex pound in 'Lozenetz'.

ІV. Feeding of the dogs under Art.150, para. 1, item 2, subitem а), b, e), f);
Art. 150, para. 2; Art. 151, items 1 , 6 and 15; Art. 173, item 4 of AVA.

Inspection found that:
• for all dogs, regardless of their size and age, the ration is the same: 200 g of granulated food;
• puppies are fed on granulated food for adult dogs, inappropriate for them, resulting in, according to mediators' information, death on a large scale due to dehydration;
• feeding takes place at times when the mediator is not on duty, thus he has no observations what quantities of food are distributed and whether all dogs manage to eat (logically, weaker dogs will succumb their food to stronger dogs; however, there is no available information);
• in the shared cages conditions for inducing fear and aggression are created due to this organization of food administration.

Prescript:
1. The food ration to be determined in accordance with the dogs size/kilograms and in compliance with the prescribed by the food manufacturer's quantities.
2. Feeding shall take place in the presence of a mediator.
3. Puppies shall be fed on appropriate soft or granulated food 2 to 3 times daily in accordance with their age.
4. For the puppies that do not eat enough, a vet examination to be provided, and Art. 150, para.1, item 2, subitem "е" of AVA to be applied - "immediate treatment of ailment or injury".
5. Feeding to be done on an individual basis in individual cages.

V. Cleaning the dog premises in the pound

Inspection found that:
• cleaning in the cages is done with a steamer while the dogs are in, and as a result the dogs are soaked and disinfected with the detergent, i.e. chlorine. This method of cleaning damages dogs' health and causes fear and stress in breach of Art. 151, item 1 of AVA;
• on the wet coat of two dog there were swarms of flies (in all likelihood the dirty water splashed on the dogs and attracted the flies);
• the dogs lie on wet racks and floor.

Prescript:
1. Dogs to be taken out while the cages are cleaned and taken back in only after the racks and floor have dried
2. Good inflow of fresh air to be provided after disinfection (inspectors' eyes were smarting and running from the high concentration of chlorine in the air when walking through the premises)

VІ. Adoption and veterinary treatment of discharged dogs under Art. 6, para. 3 of Ordinance No 23; Art. 174, paras.1 and 2 of AVA; Art. 175, para. 2, item 5 of AVA.

Inspection found that:
• individuals who adopt dogs from the pound do not receive documents for the veterinary treatment of the dogs;
• in cases of medical complications or death of the dog after discharge from the pound the doctors are not liable due to lack of information about the treatment they have applied;
• NGO's representatives rejected to attend a demonstration of spaying a female dog, on the ground that the veterinary doctor who was to operate had his arm in plaster for breaking his forearm. (the doctor insisted this would not impede his operating abilities, but the plaster cast not only questions his ability but the sterility of the intervention as well).

Prescript:
1. Singed and stamped document with the manipulations undergone by the adopted dog to be issued by the veterinary who performed them.
2. An order to be issued granting the mediator the right to take photos of the dogs in the pound with a view to distributing their photos for seeking adopters

VІІ. Euthanasia (destruction) of dogs in the pound under Art. 179, para.1 and 2, para.3, items 1 and 4; Art. 180; Art. 181 of AVA; Art. 6, ал.1 of Ordinance No 23.

Inspection found that:
• dogs allocated for euthanasia are shot with anaesthetic arrows while in the cages, in the presence of the other dogs, which causes fear and stress in breach of Art. 151, item 1 of AVA;
• anaesthetized dogs are dragged down the corridor between the cages to be euthanized in the adjacent room directly on floor before the refrigerating chamber;
• euthanasia is done intracardially (euthanasine is shot directly into the heart), and the doctors definitely refuse to apply it intravenously, which is the recommended international practice.

Prescript:
1. Dogs to be accommodated individually in cages since arrival
2. Anaesthetized dogs to be taken to the refrigerating chamber by using the available stretcher
3. Injection of the lethal liquid to be performed on a counter or table
4. Euthanasia to be executed intravenously
5. Presence of mediator to be registered by his signature on the back of the euthanasia statement

We hope these proposals for improvement of the activity of the pound in view of respecting the requirements for humane treatment of animals, provided for in the regulatory framework of the Republic of Bulgaria, to be adopted and implemented in the nearest future.

We await your advice on your decision at:
Mailing address:
Sofia 1404, "Gotse Delchev" housing estate, bl. 237, apt. 90,
Federation for the Welfare of Street Dogs
E-mail: fwsd.bulgaria@gmail.com
Tel.: 0888 63 85 86

Respectfully:
Aksinia Bosneva
Chairperson
"AFA-Bulgaria" Foundation

Radostina Galitionova
Co-ordiantor, Student Councils

Appendices:
1. Report/statement No 020/03.08.2006
2. Appendix No 2 - excerpts from the Act on Veterinary Activity