Dog Control Proposals-Bulgaria
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II. GOALS AND TASKS OF THE PROGRAM
1. Main goals.
2. Tasks
III.ANALYSIS OF THE STATE AND DYNAMICS OF THE POPULATION OF
STANDARD DOGS
1. Causes of the problem
2. Population dynamics.
3. Analysis of the situation in the Municipality of Sliven.
IV. METHODOLOGY
V. POPULATION DECREASE MEASURES AND PERMANENT PROBLEM SOLVING WITH STANDING DOGS
VI. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
1. Local government
2. Veterinary authorities
3. Animal Welfare Organizations (EPOs).
VII. FINANCIAL RESOURCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
VIII. PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
IX. EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM
1. Qualitative changes
2. Quantitative results
3. Criteria for implementation of the program
4. Criteria for monitoring and control of the implementation of the Program
X. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
XI. ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
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I. INTRODUCTION
The problem with stray dogs in the municipality of Sliven is serious for society and has multifaceted dimensions - health, social, economic and ecological.
Controlling the stray dog population is scientific reasonable regulation allowing control and reducing their number to a minimum.
The stray dog population consists of abandoned, lost, born on the street and domestic dogs left in public places without supervision, which lead to risks for the population, creating a danger of transmission of infectious and parasitic diseases, environmental pollution, attacks, bites, noise discomfort and fear among citizens.
Stray dogs suffer from disease, hunger and cold, are tortured, abused and even killed by citizens, there is insufficient care and inhumane treatment of them.
The main principles of the Program and Action Plan are achievement of a healthy environment for the citizens of Sliven municipality, improvement of animal welfare and management and reduction of the population of stray dogs in an effective way through mass castration.
The program and action plan to control the population of stray dogs on the territory of Sliven municipality for the period 2021- 2025 have been prepared pursuant to Art. 40, para. 3 of the Protection Act of animals and Ordinance 4 of 01.02.2021 for - application of the National
program to control the population of stray dogs on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The provisions of the Law on veterinary activity, as well as the requirements set for
Member States of the European Union with regard to care and welfare attitudes towards animals.
II. GOALS AND TASKS OF THE PROGRAM
1. Main objectives:
The program aims to establish long-term and effective measures, which will lead to the control of the stray dog population on the territory of Sliven municipality through:
1.1. Implementation mechanisms for effective control and reduction of the population of stray dogs on the territory of the municipality, provided for in the Bulgarian legislation;
1.2 . Enhancing the culture of keeping domestic dogs and promoting their castration and registration;
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2. Tasks:
2.1. Analyzing and identifying measures to eliminate the causes leading to the emergence and increase of the population of stray dogs on the territory of Sliven municipality;
2.2. Control over the keeping of domestic dogs on the territory of Sliven municipality by registering and entering their data in electronic register;
2.3 . Mass castration of stray dogs;
2.4. Stimulating the castration of domestic dogs;
2.5. Encouraging the adoption of stray dogs;
2.6 .Increasing the awareness and responsibility of the citizens in the breeding of domestic dogs;
2.7. Preparation and conducting of educational campaigns;
2.8. Strengthening public control and state control bodies and civic self-awareness in the work of mastering the population of stray dogs on the territory of the municipality of Sliven.
III. ANALYSIS OF THE STATE AND DYNAMICS OF THE POPULATION
OF STANDING DOGS
Initial evaluation and follow-up monitoring are areas of key importance for the success of the Program. The real information about the condition and the dynamics of the stray dog population allows to be taken the most effective measures and optimization of the spent resources.
1. Causes of the problem.
1.1. Insufficient efficiency and control of the existing regulations;
1.2. Abandonment of domestic dogs by their owners and the impossibility to identify them;
1.3. Uncontrolled breeding of domestic dogs, the presence of generations of unneutered domestic dogs;
1.4. Seasonal use of dogs as guards in the villa area, on construction sites, warehouses, etc .;
1.5. Inhumane treatment and care of animals - the owner is not prepared for the problems associated with raising a dog, as a result of which, in case of difficulties, he abandons it;
1.6. Insufficient control over the registration and population of domestic dogs;
1.7. Limited financial resources leading to impossibility to implementation of an effective system for regulating the population of the homeless dogs;
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2. Population dynamics.
The dog reaches sexual maturity at 7-8 months of age, gives birth twice a year with
an average of 5 to 8 puppies each time. Obviously, only a few expelled domestic dogs are able to quickly increase the number of stray dogs. If no measures are taken, their number increases until it reaches a certain maximum. This maximum is called "carrying capacity
of the environment" and depends on the conditions of the environment - the amount of food, water and shelter opportunities. Upon reaching the medium carrying capacity the birth and death rates of stray dogs are equalized, which means that their number does not increase. In this situation the removal of stray dogs will cause a freeing up niches that will be occupied by others within a short period - newborns or migrating, i.e. There will be monitored a temporary reduction in the number of stray dogs, followed by recovery, again reduction and recovery - a cyclical and continuous process.
The neutering of the dogs and their return to the places from which they were captured will not allow the freeing up of niches because those niches will still be filled with animals, but they will not reproduce, i.e. the birth rate will be blocked. In connection with the dynamics of the population of stray dogs in The National Program for Controlling the Population of the Homeless Dogs, it is planned to count them on the territory of each municipality, such as:
• The census begins with a notification from the Minister of Agriculture, Food
and Forests next to the mayor of the municipality with a term set in it;
• The mayor of the municipality issues an order for conducting the census;
• The census is conducted once every two years in the period March-June
or September-November;
• The census counts each dog in a public place without visible presence of the owner;
• The census is performed according to a methodology, within which must be reported
approximate age, sex, apparent health and the presence or absence of visible markings for castration;
3. Analysis of the situation in the Municipality of Sliven.
From 2007 to the present, the municipality of Sliven has been eagerly concluding a contract with a company for the provision of services with subject "Reduction of the stray dog population''. The main activities under the Contract include capture, deworming externally and internally, vaccination against rabies, neutering of male and female dogs, microchipping and ear tagging, return to the original place, euthanasia of aggressive and sick dogs, and collection of corpses of dead dogs and cats. The treatment of stray dogs is done on the principles of mass castration by regions and in connection with applications and signals from citizens.
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For the period 2016-2020 there is an increase in the processed vacant dogs from a total of 380 pieces / year to 456 pcs / year, as can be seen from the following chart. At present, the main reasons for the existence of vacant dogs on the territory of Sliven municipality are:
Lack of sufficient control on the breeding of domestic dogs and their registration;
Seasonal use of guard dogs in a villa area and their abandonment thereafter;
The limited financial resources to deal with the problem.
IV. METHODOLOGY
1. Census of stray dogs on the territory of the municipality Sliven.
2. Castration, deworming, rabies vaccination, permanent marking and return to place, for non-aggressive and healthy stray dogs.
3. Euthanasia of the terminally ill and proven aggressive homeless dogs.
4. Adoption of stray dogs.
5. Registration and supervision of stray dogs.
6. Registration of domestic dogs.
7. Control over the requirements for keeping domestic dogs.
8. Promoting the benefits of neutering domestic dogs.
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V. POPULATION REDUCTION MEASURES AND PERMANENT RESOLUTIONS
ON THE PROBLEM WITH STRAY DOGS
MEASURE I.
Creating an organization to control the population of the homeless dogs on the territory of Sliven Municipality.
1. Castration, external and internal deworming, vaccination against rabies, microchip and ear tag marking, issuance of veterinary passport and return to places of socialized and healthy stray dogs.
According to Art. 40c of the LPA (ЗЗЖ). measures for population control and veterinary manipulations are performed in registered veterinary outpatient clinics, providing the animals
stay for recovery for not less than 24 hours.
At present, the municipality of Sliven does not have its own veterinary outpatient clinic, so the processing of stray dogs is carried in registered veterinary medical establishments with which the municipality of Sliven has concluded a contract for the assignment of activities to control the population of stray dogs.
The processing should be performed on the principles of mass castration in settlements and in connection with submitted applications and signals of citizens, in compliance with the provisions of Art. 42 of the LPA (ЗЗЖ).
Treated dogs are returned to the place of capture, but not allowed to return to the yards of nurseries and kindergartens, schools, hospitals and near to playgrounds for children, highways and airports, according to Art. 48 from LPA (ЗЗЖ).
For each captured, treated and returned dog, a handover protocol shall be drawn up according to a sample (when provided by a capture team) or an information coupon № 1 for the capture, receiving and returning stray dogs according to a sample (when provided by a volunteer) to
outpatient clinics. Veterinarians certify the performed veterinary activities by keeping a diary according to a data sample
for each dog - age, appearance, sex, weight, microchip number and
passport, dates of castration and vaccines, deworming, introduction
in VetIS and filled in information coupon № 2 according to a sample. At the beginning of
every month the veterinarians present to the mayor of Sliven municipality
copies of the specified documents and copies of the transceivers
protocols and information coupons.
For returned dogs, citizens and organizations for the protection of the animals may wish to take care of them. In these cases they undertake to certify the dog 's passport annually in
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the municipal administration for the performed deworming and vaccinations, and take measures to prevent aggressive behavior of dogs to humans or other animals. In the absence of citizens and organizations to protect animals that have expressed a desire to take care of them, returned to places dogs are under the control and care of the municipality.
2. Euthanasia of terminally ill and proven aggressive stray dogs is carried out according to art. 179, para. 3, items 1, 2 and 4 of ZVMD after diagnosis at clinical examination and research. When advising for euthanasia, an individual protocol is made containing the grounds for its application.
3. Creating an information database for the processed stray dogs, in which the date and place of treatment are entered, the name of the veterinarian who performed the treatments, the place where the dog was returned to, according to art. 54 of the LPA (ЗЗЖ).
4. Establish sustainable adoption practices for stray animals.
MEASURE II.
Establish an organization to register domestic dogs in all settlements of Sliven municipality and entering their data into the electronic registration system.
• The registration is carried out according to art. 174 of the LVMD.
• The fee for owning a dog is collected by MDT at the municipality of Sliven, as the revenues from the collected fees go to the municipal budget and are used for activities related to reducing the number of stray dogs.
MEASURE III
Control over the requirements for keeping domestic dogs.
The control is carried out by the mayor of Sliven municipality and the mayors and mayors
deputies of the settlements, pursuant to Art. 178 of the LVMD.
MEASURE IV.
Conducting joint information and educational campaigns with the participation of the Municipality of Sliven, the Animal Protection Organizations and the RFSD Sliven. Campaigns include outreach - brochures, leaflets, talks, media publications on:
• The measures under the national and municipal program for controlling the population of
stray dogs;
• Raising the culture of keeping domestic dogs and the humane attitude towards them;
• Promoting the neutering and registration of domestic dogs.
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• Clarifying the need for castration of stray animals and their return to the places of living.
• The risks of zoonoses and ways to prevent them;
MEASURE V
Determining places for dogs to walk with owners, as well as organizing and marking places prohibited for walking domestic dogs.
VI. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
1. Local authority:
1.1. Sliven Municipal Council adopts a Program and Action Plan for controlling the population of stray dogs in the territory of the Municipality of Sliven, and envisages an annual budget for their implementation, according to Art. 40, para. 3 of the Animal Protection Act.
1.2. The Mayor of Sliven Municipality organizes the implementation of the Program and
plan and annually by March 1 submits the report on the implementation and before the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, according to art. 40, para. 4 of the Animal Protection Act. The report is published on the website of Sliven municipality.
1.3. Until the construction of a municipal veterinary complex for treatment and stay of stray dogs, the mayor of the municipality enters into a contract with a company to provide services to master stray dog population: with capture, castration, external and internal deworming, rabies vaccination, marking with microchip and ear tag and return to the place of capture. Proven aggressive and seriously ill dogs that pose a danger to residents of the municipality are euthanized.
1.4 The mayor of the municipality, the mayors of town halls and deputy mayors
have obligations under Art. 178 of the LVMD to organize the control for observance
of the requirements under Art. 172, items 1 and 2, art. 173 item 1 and art. 177, para. 1 item 3 and item 4 of the LVMD.
2. Veterinary authorities
RFSD - Sliven performs:
2.1. Systematic control in relation to animal welfare;
2.3. Control over the activities under the Program.
2.4. Veterinary supervision of treated dogs.
3. Animal Welfare Organizations (EPOs).
3.1. Provide the Municipal Administration with a list of coordinators for assistance to the activities under the program.
3.2. Organize and conduct domestic campaigns.
3.3. Organize and participate in conducting information campaigns among citizens.
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3.4. They can build and manage shelters for stray dogs in compliance with the laws and regulations.
VII. FINANCIAL RESOURCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
Sources of financing and material support of the Program and the action plan to control the stray dog population of the territory of the Municipality of Sliven according to art. 40b of the LPA (ЗЗЖ).:
1. State budget.
2. Municipal budget.
3. Revenues from fees.
4. Donations from individuals and legal entities.
5. International programs and projects.
VIII. PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
The period of validity of this program is from the adoption in 2021 until the end of 2025 or until the adoption of a new National Program. In this period the program can be supplemented or amended in the order of its adoption - by decision of the OBS - Sliven.
IX EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM
The expected results from the implementation of the program according to the introduced criteria are as follows;
1. Qualitative changes
1.1. Controlling the flow of abandoned pets as a result of mass registration and stimulation of their castration;
1.2. Monitoring of the stray dog population;
1.3. Reducing social tension and increasing the safety of citizens;
1.4. Achieving a healthier environment for citizens and minimizing the risks of the spread of communicable diseases;
2. Quantitative results
2.1. Gradual reduction in the population of stray dogs, until their withdrawal to shelters;
2.2. Increasing the number of registered domestic dogs;
2.3. Increasing the number of neutered domestic dogs;
2.4. Increasing the revenues from collected local taxes and fees;
3. Criteria for implementation of the program
3.1. Number of stray dogs:
• captured;
• marked;
• castrated;
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•
• vaccinated;
• dewormed;
• returned to places (under the supervision of persons, organizations for protection of
animals or municipality)
• adopted;
• euthanized;
• died;
3.2. Number of domestic dogs:
• registered;
• castrated;
3.3. Annual report on the activities carried out under the Program and results presented by the mayor of the municipality to the executive Director of the National Veterinary Service, according to Art. 40, para. 4 of the Animal Protection Act.
4. Criteria for monitoring and control over the implementation of the Program
4.1. Number of inspections performed for compliance with Art. 178 of the LVMD;
4.2. Number of inspections performed on submitted signals, requests and
complaints;
4.3. Number of violations found;
4.4. Number of prescriptions given;
4.5. Number of administrative acts drawn up for violations;
4.6. Number of issued penal decrees;
X. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
1. Animal Protection Act.
2. Law on Veterinary Medical Activity.
3. Opinions of the World Health Organization
4. European Convention for the Protection of Animals.
5. National program for controlling the population of the homeless dogs on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
According to current legislation, the only effective approach to establishing control over the population of stray dogs is:
1. Application of castration, deworming, vaccination against rabies, placing a microchip and ear tag and returning them to the place of capture with regular veterinary supervision.
2. Registration of domestic dogs and promotion of the benefits of their castration in order to establish control over their reproduction and prevention of abandonment.
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XII. Action plan for the implementation of the Program
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING ARE TRANSLATIONS FOR THE TABLES ABOVE:
№
Actions
Performers
Term
Sources for financing
Expected effect
1. Castration, deworming, vaccination, marking and return of animals to their places of capture
1.1
Concluding a contract with a company to provide services with subject, “Reduction of
the homeless population dogs''
Municipality of Sliven
Veterinary specialists
2021- 2025
municipal budget,
donations,
projects,
State budget
Treated stray dogs of the territory of the municipality of Sliven, on the principle
of mass castration and on signals and complaints from citizens.
1.2
Organizing joint projects and campaigns on castration, deworming, marking, vaccination for rabies
stray dogs
RFSD-Sliven
Municipality of Sliven
Veterinary specialists
Organizations for animal protection
Annual municipal budget,
donations,
projects,
State budget
Mass events under castration of stray dogs contribute to a faster and safer controlling of the street population of dogs in a given territory, and their fast return to the places of their capture
ensures that others are not allowed, untreated dogs in the area.
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№
Actions
Performers
Term
Sources for financing
Expected effect
1.3 Information campaigns
RFSD - Sliven
Municipality of Sliven
Mayors and mayors deputies on settlements
Media
Veterinary specialists
Organization for animal protection
Permanent municipal budget,
donations,
projects,
State budget
Promotion of the actions under the Program, undertaken by the local authority and its program partners.
Introducing the human population to useful information on regulatory requirements and animal welfare, for the benefits of mass castration as the only effective approach to establishing population control from stray dogs
Information on diseases transmitted by animals and ways to prevent their spread.
Stimulating the adoption of stray animals.
1.4
Counting of stray dogs of the territory of the Municipality of Sliven
Municipality of Sliven Town halls and mayoralties
governorship
Organization for animal protection
Times period according to the national program
municipal budget,
donations,
State budget
Possibility for accurate assessment of the population of stray dogs in the territory of the municipality of Sliven and as a criterion for success of the measures under the program.
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№
Actions
Performers
Term
Sources for financing
Expected effect
1.5
Creating and Maintaining electronic register for processed under the Program for stray dogs
Municipality of Sliven
2023 municipal budget,
donations,
projects,
State budget
Correct and fast documentation of the necessary information for all treated stray animals: place of capture, details of performed veterinary manipulations and place of return, adoption, etc.
1.6
Establishment of municipal castration center / veterinary outpatient clinic Municipality of Sliven
Organizations for animal protection
2022-2025 municipal budget,
donations,
projects,
State budget
Perform mass castration of stray and domestic dogs of the territory of the municipality of Sliven
Providing emergency veterinary care for patients and injured stray animals according to art. 16 al. 2 of the LPA (ЗЗЖ).
2. Registration of domestic dogs and control over their reproduction, in order to block the inflow from the home to the street.
2.1
Creating and maintaining electronic register for administrative registration of domestic dogs
Municipality of Sliven mayors and mayors deputies of settlements
2023 municipal budget
Improving citizen service - pet dog owners at the administrative registration of the animals.
Increase the collection of the fee for owning a pet dog.
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№
Actions
Performers
Term
Sources for
financing
Expected effect
2.2
Maintaining existing pet walking places and creating 6 pcs. new places / sites / for free walking pet animals in residential areas of the town of Sliven
Municipality of Sliven permanent municipal budget,
European funds
Compliance with regulatory requirements to mayors of municipalities to provide marked and
designated public places for walking domestic dogs.
Providing good conditions for free walking of
domestic dogs without disturbing the peace and comfort of other citizens.
2.3
Providing access to VETIS for timely receiving information from licensed veterinary doctors for veterinary home registration of dogs
RFSD- Sliven
Municipality of Sliven
permanent
Improve control over administrative registration of pet dogs and establish the actual number of domestic dogs kept on the territory of the Municipality of Sliven
2.4
Update local regulations, according to current legislation.
Municipality Sliven
Municipality of Sliven
RFSD - Sliven
Organization for animal protection at necessity
Timely adaptation of the local regulations to the changes in national law.
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№
Actions
Performers
Term
Sources for
financing
Expected effect
2.5
Prescriptions and sanctions for owners who have not registered their pet dogs
Municipality of Sliven
Mayors and mayors deputies
permanent
Increasing civil liability in compliance with regulatory requirements to pet dog owners.
2.6
Prescriptions and sanctions for violations of the law provisions under Art. 178 of the LVMD
from owners or adoptive dogs.
Municipality of Sliven
Mayors and mayors deputies
permanent
Increasing civil liability in compliance with regulatory requirements for domestic dogs.
2.7
Organizing and conducting joint projects and campaigns for castration, deworming, marking, etc. of pet dogs.
RFSD Sliven
Veterinary specialists,
Municipality of Sliven
Organization for animal protection
annually
Encourage dog owners to limit the birth rate of their animals so as not to create unwanted
offspring.
2.8 Information campaigns
Municipality of Sliven
RFSD Sliven
Mayors and mayors deputies,
permanent
municipal budget,
donations,
projects
Promotion of the actions under the Program, undertaken by the local authority and its program partners.
Introducing the interested citizens to the biological characteristics of the dog, the need to perform
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№
Actions
Performers
Term
Sources for
financing
Expected effect
Media,
Veterinary specialists,
Organization for animal protection
castration, vaccination against rabies, deworming and microchip placement.
Meet the owners of pet dogs with the order and the way to their veterinary and administrative registration
Increasing children's interest in animals and their care.
Stimulating humane and responsible raising of pets.
The current Program and Action Plan for controlling the population of stray dogs on the territory of the Municipality Sliven for the period 2021 - 2025 has been prepared in implementation and in accordance with the provisions of Art. 40, para. 1, para. 2, para. 3 and para. 4 from the Health Insurance Act and the National Program for Controlling the Population of Stray Dogs on the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, and was adopted by Decision № ....................., taken with Protocol № ……… from …………… 2021 of the Municipal Council of Sliven