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AFA BULGARIA in animal protection
ÒÎP NEWS December 2007


THE ANIMAL PROTECTION BILL IN BULGARIA DISCRIMINATES AGAINST STRAY DOGS

Do not allow Bulgaria's homeless animals to be impounded in "wire-fenced enclosures outside the towns and villages", called by the Select Committee on Agriculture "temporary shelters," where the thousands of rounded up dogs will eat and kill one another. This draconian measure has been proposed by the chair of the Committee, Mr. Kalinov, who - despite his initial acceptance of the "TNR" (trap-neuter-return) method for stray control - introduced this alternative, which isn't going to solve Bulgaria's stray dog problem but will only destroy periodically thousands of animals.

The concept of "temporary shelters" is much more cruel than the existing facilities for killing dogs - the "isolators" - which are already a disgrace for Bulgaria.

This is a replication of the 2005 attempt of a Bulgarian bill to violate Article 12 of European Convention ¹ 125 and Article 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The TNR method, as per the mover's bill, has the support of: the Bulgarian government; the European Parliament; the European Commission; the Mayor of the capital, Gen. Boiko Borisov; as well as noted Bulgarian and European politicians, experts, and public organisations.

The TNR method was approved on first reading by the Parliament and on second reading by the Committee on Agriculture, without objections. On second reading in Parliament it was turned down by Committee member and chair of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha's parliamentary group Mr. Mollov, who had voted in favour of TNR just two days earlier.

ELP US PUT AN END TO THE SENSELESS KILLINGS OF HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS!

We offer you a SAMPLE LETTER which you can send to:

The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ingo Friedrich
Fax: 0033-3-8817-9324 ; E-mail: ingo.friedrich@europarl.europa.eu

The Chairman of the EP Agriculture Committee, Neil Parish
Fax : 0033 (0)3 88 1 79392; E-mail: neil.parish@europarl.europa.eu

The Chairman of the Bulgarian Parliament, Georgi Pirinski
Fax:+359 2 981 31 31, E-mail: infocenter@parliament.bg

The Chairman of the Select Committee on Agriculture at the Bulgarian Parliament, Vasil Kalinov
Fax: +359 2 987 24 41; E-mail: infocenter@parliament.bg

TO
DR. INGO FRIEDRICH
VICE-PRESIDENT
OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

MR. NEIL PARISH
CHAIRMAN
OF THE EP AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

MR. GEORGI PIRINSKI
CHAIRMAN
OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

MR. VASIL KALINOV
CHAIRMAN
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON AGRICULTURE
AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

APPEAL

DEAR DR. FRIEDRICH,
DEAR MR. PARISH,
DEAR MR. PIRINSKI,
DEAR MR. KALINOV,

We appeal to you to cooperate, within your authority, for an end to the attempts at violation of Art. 12 of European Convention ¹ 125 and Art. 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria through the introduction of discriminatory measures against stray animals: The existing facilities for killing dogs - the "isolators" - which are already a disgrace for Bulgaria, will be replaced by "temporary shelters", "wire-fenced enclosures outside the towns and villages," where the thousands of rounded up dogs will eat and kill one another.

Do not allow the "temporary shelters" to prolong the existing corrupt practice of the isolators - a practice which has proven, for the past eight years, its inefficacy in controlling the population of stray animals.

Give a chance to the world-renowned "TNR" (trap-neuter-return) method; after a grace period of returning the neutered dogs to their sites, they will be housed into shelters, and the stray dog population will disappear as a result of the absence of breeding animals.

The regulations provided for the application of "TNR" in the bill have been synchronised with successful international practices and with the opinions of Bulgarian and international experts, and they have the support of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Ministers in the face of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Sergei Stanishev, the Mayor of the capital, Gen. Boiko Borisov, and other noted and influential politicians.

We hope that you will react in a timely manner.

Looking forward to your support,
/your name/
address:
/your address/
date:…………….