FOUR PAWS Bulgaria REPORT on census of stray animals on the territory of Sofia Municipality
1. Introduction After futile attempts to permanently reduce the number of stray dogs during the years from the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 to the middle of 2006, Sofia Municipality decided to turn to mass neutering and rabies vaccination of the population of stray animals a method not widely applied before that in the country. This period witnessed the first attempts for thorough analysis of the situation, which included data on population size and the reasons for its existence. This input is crucial for the proper planning of the measures and resources necessary to manage the population of stray dogs. The first official census was conducted in the summer of 2007 by Sofia Municipality and a team from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In addition to data on the number of stray dogs (11 124), it also provided insight on the factors contributing to its increase: lack of control over the owners of pet dogs, a low percentage of neutered dogs, availability of resources of the environment (food, water, shelter) on the streets. The present census is the fifth one, after those conducted in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. It is part of the programme for stray animals population management adopted by Sofia Municipality and was carried out jointly by Four Paws Bulgaria animal welfare charity and municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie in the period 06.07-14.08.2015 by 3 teams consisting of 2 and 3 people. The territory of Sofia Municipality was divided into 24 districts in accordance with its administrative division. For the purpose of verification of results and additional precision, a recount was conducted in November in the districts of Krasna Polyana, Iskar, Ovcha Kupel, Lyulin, Novi Iskar, Kremikovtsi and Pancherevo, where the highest decrease of the population was reported by the initial counting. A total of 3240.12 km of the total road network of Sofia Municipality were covered by the teams conducting the census (full length of the network amounts to 4434 kilometers according to data from the "Geographic Information System - Sofia" Ltd.): in areas outside the central part of Sofia by car and in the most central areas by foot. The teams also collected data on the population of stray cats and horses noticed on the territory of the city. 2. Methodology used For determining the number of stray animals on the territory of Sofia Municipality, a methodology developed by Four Paws was applied which has been successfully implemented both in Bulgaria and abroad. In 2007, the methodology was used for assessing the population of stray animals in the city of Sofia and the results were confirmed by subsequent counting carried out by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Sofia Municipality. Using the same methodology in 2009 and 2014, censuses of stray dogs were conducted in Vidin municipality, in 2009 and in 2013 - of stray dogs and cats in Plovdiv municipality and in 2013 in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. The main advantages of Four Paws methodology are: - Easy to use does not require any complex calculations, it can be applied by nonprofessionals, too; - Does not require large financial and human resources; - Reliability of the results, with relatively low tolerance for statistical error. 2
The major disadvantage of the methodology is that because of the architectural features in certain areas of the city of Sofia it is impossible to calculate the number of stray cats. The successful implementation of the stray dogs census methodology needs only certain initial data about the given location: total length of the road network (in kilometers) and/or the total number of residential buildings and/or the number of streets. In the absence of sufficient data only one of these criteria can also be applied bearing in mind that the length of the road network is considered to be the most reliable criterion. In the course of counting, each team walks around the streets of a city/town and records the number of animals seen for the respective distance in km / number of buildings / number of streets. The data is filled in a form (Appendix 1), and after summarizing the information by using a formula on the principle of simple linear equation, the total number of stray animals is calculated on the basis of total road network / total number of residential buildings / total number of streets. The error margin is +/- 10%. To achieve more accurate results, it is recommended to cover as larger area of the city/town. It is of utmost importance that data is collected under appropriate weather conditions consistent with the behavioral characteristics of the species. The available data on the total road network of the area of Sofia Municipality was used for the purpose of the census, divided by districts. In the rural districts of Kremikovtzi, Pancherevo, Vitosha, Novi Iskar the counting of animals in settlements and outside them was done separately, as their concentration is fundamentally different and calculating the total number of animals based on the total road network (the one inside the settlements and the one connecting them) for the entire districts would result in serious deviations. The main issue when applying the methodology for the territory of Sofia Municipality was inability to cover higher percentage of the territory of industrial buildings due to access denied by their owners. For a full analysis of the factors influencing the population of stray dogs comprehensive data on domestic dogs kept on the territory of Sofia Municipality are necessary, and especially - the number of newly registered dogs for each subsequent year, the number of animals exempted from fee and the specific reason thereof (neutering, microchipping, a guide dog, a service dog or a hunting dog) and the breed (or the lack thereof) of each registered dog. Unfortunately, the current system of Sofia Municipality does not allow the input and processing of such data. 2. Results At the time the census was conducted, the number of stray dogs is estimated to be 3844 (+/- 10%). This number is calculated on the basis of reported unattended dogs seen in public areas, industrial areas or abandoned properties during the counting. Most dogs were reported in the districts of Pancherevo (426), Novi Iskar (372), Lyulin (287), Krasna Polyana (279) Vrabnitsa (267) Vitosha (228) and least number of dogs was confirmed in the districts of Oborishte (16), Izgrev (25), Sredets (32), Vazrazhdane (51), Lozenets (60) and Triaditsa (74). The censuses conducted in the last 8 years show a clear trend of reducing the number of stray dogs in the capital - from 11 124 in 2007 to 3844 in 2015. The teams reported an increase in the number of stray cats mainly in central areas and areas with a small number of dogs. It was also reported that there are189 unattended horses or horses with carts on the streets of Sofia. 3
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A comparison of last two censuses shows that in 2015, like in 2013, almost one half (48.40%) of the total population is concentrated in the six districts with the highest number of stray dogs, while in the central districts of Sofia (Sredets, Oborishte, Vazrazhdane, Lozenets, Izgrev and Triaditsa) it is under 7%. It is typical that the areas with highest population are located on the periphery of Sofia Municipality and traditionally they represent a buffer zone for animals abandoned by neighboring to the capital areas. The high number of stray dogs in the district of Krasna Polyana is due to the fact that in this area is situated the Roma neighborhood Fakulteta. 5
In 2013, the number of stray dogs identified as neutered was between 2530 and 5010, or between 38 and 76% of the total population of all stray dogs. The big difference in numbers was due to the inability to accurately identify all neutered dogs due to their poor marking - not all animals were marked with a plastic ear tag, as by 2012 the common way of marking has been through a V-shaped ear cut which is not always visible. Two years later, a higher percentage of identified neutered animals is reported and only 18% of the counted dogs are not identifiable. The collected data shows that in the central metropolitan areas the number of animals that are undoubtedly identified as not neutered is extremely low, while in areas where there are more stray dogs, it is significantly higher. 6
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DISTRIBUTION BY DISTRICTS 8
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3. General characteristics of the population The concept of stray dogs incorporates several fundamental categories whose differentiation is often difficult: - Free-roaming animals with owners; - Stray animals for whom care is provided and who reside in a permanent area; - Wandering stray dogs; - Non-socialized (feral) dogs. The reason for the existence of stray animals is the irresponsible keeping of pet animals and lack of control over their reproduction. The first stray dogs and cats were abandoned pets and the constant influx of animals from homes to the street is the main reason for the presence of stray dogs and cats. Once on the street, unneutered animals can reproduce unhindered and the survival of their offspring is favorably influenced by the availability of food resources (mainly food waste and to a much lesser extent food which is offered to them by people) and the opportunity to find shelter in abandoned properties or vacant buildings. The method of mass extermination of stray dogs set out in the Veterinary Practices Act of 1999 and used until few years ago as a way to reduce their number turned out to be very ineffective, as it did not consider the characteristics of the population and did not address the cause of the issue and its consequences. As a result, over 300,000 stray dogs were killed in Bulgaria, without a permanent reduction in the number of strays. In the beginning of 2008, the first Bulgarian Animal Protection Law entered into force. Chapter V specifies the measures for stray animal population management based on the method "neuter, vaccinate and return" aided by tight control over owned dogs, as the only effective approach for a sustainable solution to the issue. The law also encourages neutering of domestic animals, thus aiming to eradicate the root cause of the issue - the abandonment of unwanted generation of pets. To reach the best results in the implementation of programmes to control the population of stray dogs and cats, it is necessary to consider all factors that have an impact thereon: - Environmental factors: they include food resources, water and shelter that the environment provides. The main source of food for stray animals is household waste. Demolished, semi-destructed or abandoned buildings offer good shelter for dogs, whereas cats live mainly in basements and attics of residential and public buildings. There is the so-called environment sanitary minimum - a number of animals that the environment can feed and who curb the increase in the population of other species (e.g. rats, field mice, etc.). Keeping the number of stray animals within this minimum guarantees the possibility of control over their health status, and also leads to reducing the social tension. - Pets. The main reason why new stray animals emerge in the streets is lack of control over domestic dogs and cats. On one hand, this includes control over their free movement, and on the other control on their reproduction. These are responsibility of both the owners and the local and central authorities. Owners should not allow their 10
pets to leave the place where they are kept and to reproduce if they can not provide adequate care for the offspring. In countries where generally speaking there are no stray animals, a large percent of the domestic dogs and cats are neutered. Local authorities keep a register of pet animals, which ensures the collection of taxes and penalizing unscrupulous owners, and also gives the opportunity to quickly find the owners of lost animals. The main task of central authorities is keeping a single database for pet dogs and performing control over local authorities. - Risk social groups or areas. In most cases, the influx of pet animals from home to the street is favoured in areas where there is poor control over the pet owners (mostly due to the low level of education or sense of responsibility) and it is difficult for local authorities to establish such control. These are the neighbourhoods with predominantly minority populations (e.g. Roma neighborhoods), with houses and especially those with no permanent residents (summer houses). As a rule, the flow of pet animals from home to the street is lower in central urban areas. In general, the number of stray dogs in Sofia is within the average for Bulgaria and there is a significant reduction in strays compared to the previous census from 1 dog per 200 residents 11
in 2013 to 1 dog per 327 residents in 2015 (with a population of 1,256,667 residents according to the data of National Statistics Institute.) The latest censuses in some of the other district centers reported the following results: for Vidin - 1 stray dog per 118 residents, for Veliko Tarnovo - 1 dog per 255 residents, for Plovdiv - 1 dog per 1171 residents. DISTRIBUTION BY DISTRICTS 2007 2015 г. To some extent the distribution of stray dogs by districts is relative due to the migration of animals. Central areas, unlike industrial zones, some suburbs and areas with predominantly Roma population, are characterized by the lack of big packs of dogs (except when dogs from neighboring municipalities are transported and dumped). Distribution of stray dogs by districts is uneven, the main concentration being in the suburbs, while in the city center their number is on a permanent decrease. The population of stray cats in almost all areas is soaring, which is normal in the conditions of declining population of stray dogs, since both species use the same resources of the environment - food, water and shelter. The overall physical condition of the animals is good and for most of them, especially in central areas, care is being provided by residents - a prerequisite for better control over the animal population and its health status. Also, the majority of the population in the central parts of the city (the districts of Sredets, Oborishte, parts of Triaditsa, Lozenets and Vazrazhdane) is composed of aging animals with very small perimeter of movement. In suburban areas, especially in the 12
districts of Vitosha, Pancharevo, Kremikovtsi, Novi Iskar, Ovcha Kupel and Bankya it is a common practice among pet owners to let their animals roam freely and this is could add to the increase of the population of stray dogs. A comparison to the census from 2013 reveals the following as factors for the reduction of the number of stray dogs: - Maintaining a high level of neutered stray dogs. In 2013, 5416 dogs were neutered by municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie and at the veterinary clinic of Four Paws. In 2014 this number amounted to 4080 dogs, and in 2015 to 3442 dogs. Additionally, Four Paws neutered 2169 cats in 2013 under its project in partnership with several private clinics and at its clinic in Sofia. For 2014 the number of neutered cats was 1746 cats and for 2015-2091. Unfortunately, there is no data available about the number of neutered stray animals in private clinics (brought for neutering by private persons); - Launching campaigns for free neutering of pet animals with owners from risk groups. According to the data provided by municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie, it had neutered ca. 300 backyard dogs per annum in the period 2013-2015; - Increasing the number of adopted dogs from municipal and private shelters in the past three years. According to data provided by municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie, a total of 1727 dogs were adopted from its shelters between 2013 and 2015. It is worth 13
mentioning that in general the number of pet dogs of mixed breed is on the increase, which is an indicator of a more responsible attitude of Sofia s residents to the issue. Unfortunately, it is difficult to calculate the exact number of adopted dogs over the years as there are animals adopted right from the street or from other shelters, as well as dogs adopted abroad. - Opening of new places in shelters at the end of 2012, a large municipal shelter was opened in the village of Gorni Bogrov with a capacity of 840 animals, and a year later an extension to that shelter was opened for another nearly 1,000 dogs. A decline in the number of calls about strays on the city hotline from 6136 in 2013 to 4815 in 2015 is also a sure sign that there are fewer stray dogs in Sofia. NUMBER OF CALLS ABOUT STRAYS RECEIVED BY DISTRICTS 14
4. Recommendations Based on the survey of the population of stray dogs on the territory of Sofia Municipality and in connection with its reduction, we could make the following recommendations that to a large extent repeat those of 2013: - Maintaining control on the environment. This mainly involves regular waste collection and waste disposal. New containers with a mechanism allowing easy opening and closing of the lid were set in exploitation in the past year in some districts but, unfortunately, some of them are already broken, and others are simply left open after waste collection. Treatment of lawns and green areas against ticks and mosquitoes on a regular basis should be performed to avoid health risks for the population of pet and stray animals. - Exercising control on pet dogs and cats. In this respect, our recommendation is to continue the work on registration of pet dogs and regular collection of municipal fees from the owners. Imposing a good system of identification (microchip and ID tag) will ensure control over the flow of animals from homes to the street. In order to establish control over the breeding of dogs and cats with owners from risk groups, we recommend offering a free of charge neutering or neutering at minimum price (through cooperation with private veterinary clinics or through the municipal structure). - Management of stray dogs and cats population. This mainly involves adequate implementation of the measures set out in Chapter V of the Animal Protection Act. To achieve high results in short period of time and in relation to the increased population of stray cats in the city, mass neutering not only of stray dogs but also of cats should be considered. Conducting a census of stray animals over a certain period of time (at least on each two years), which takes into account the number of neutered animals, is a good way to assess the current status of the population and results from the activities related to its reduction. In order to achieve better counting of treated dogs it is necessary to put a unified visible and permanent marking of all neutered dogs - a plastic ear tag bearing a serial number and a microchip implanted on the left side of the neck. It is recommended that all who neuter stray dogs under the program of Sofia Municipality (municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie, animal welfare organizations and veterinary clinics) should use the same way of identification and marking. - Working with citizens and owners of companion animals. The best approach here is not the prohibitive, but the encouraging one. Experience shows that the imposition of a large number of prohibitions, as well as their observance and control become practically impossible on the one hand and on the other people feel discriminated. Bearing in mind that the issue with stray animals is caused mostly by human irresponsibility and given the fact that people should not be penalized for showing compassion, the aim should be to improve the culture of pet owners and those who feed stray animals. In this respect, it is appropriate to carry out information campaigns, including clarification of the obligations of owners stipulated in the Animal Protection Act. 15
- Improving the system of Sofia Municipality for registration of pet dogs. Introducing the option to view the number of newly registered dogs for each year will make it possible to trace any tendency of increase of registered dogs both as a total number and as a percentage of all registered dogs. If there is an option to see the reasons for exemption from payment of fee for owning a dog, it will be possible to check whether there is an increase of chipped and neutered animals. The option to fill in the breed of each dog or the lack thereof will give information about tendencies among pet dog owners about the entry of new modern breeds, on the one hand and on the other - the number of pet dogs of mixed breed, a considerable part of which as a rule were adopted from shelters or from the street. - Campaigns to promote the adoption of animals from the streets or shelters. To achieve a sustainable solution to the problem it is enough that the number of adopted dogs from shelters or from the street is higher than the number of abandoned animals and animals born outside. Unfortunately, most people who acquire a pet dog prefer that it be of a certain breed. Very often animals purchased as supposedly purebred later turn to be the product of unprofessional breeding and do not carry all the features of the breeds that they are supposed to represent. This further increases the risk of abandonment of dogs. Promotion of owning a dog not because of its appearance would result into increasing the number of adopted stray animals, and also will reduce the demand for dogs that are the product of unprofessional breeding and trading. - Shelters. The municipal shelter in Gorni Bogrov is the largest shelter in the country and its proper management is of crucial importance for Sofia Municipality. The understanding that the shelter must be a remote facility where unwanted animals are placed for life is incorrect and outdated. Good shelter activity involves socialization of accommodated dogs and free access for volunteers and prospective adopters, so that the number of adopted animals increases and the time dogs live in the shelter is reduced, which, in the long run, will lead to reduction of maintenance costs. In this regard, apart from adoption campaigns, we recommend that Sofia Municipality pays special attention to the management of the shelter by municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie and allows easier access of prospective adopters - through the regular publication of information about available animals on the website of the municipal enterprise and introduction of opening hours for visitors on weekends, as well as implementation of good working practices by which to increase the number of adoptions. There is also a visible need to improve the keeping conditions of dogs, veterinary service and accountability at the shelter in general. We recommend investing resources in training and continuous improvement of the qualification of employees of municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie in the direction of utilization of the latest models of good work with stray animals and shelter activities as a whole. Upon request by the Sofia Municipality, Four Paws Bulgaria is ready to assist in networking with large shelters in other European capitals. It would be better if Sofia Municipality allocates funds for the construction of temporary accommodation for cats and horses within the existing shelters or to build entirely new premises. Proper management of municipal shelters will also help to limit the flow of animals from homes to the street - in cases of abandoned cats, dogs or horses whose owners cannot take care for them or have died. - Working with neighboring municipalities. Although Sofia Municipality is trying to implement adequate measures to reduce the number of stray dogs on its territory, the 16
neighboring municipalities do not invest efforts in solving the issue. For many of these municipalities, especially those located closely to Sofia, the problem is not so much the lack of funds as the insufficient experience. From this perspective, it would be better if Sofia Municipality attempts to expand the activities of municipal enterprise Ecoravnovesie and sign contracts with municipalities like Elin Pelin, Bozhurishte, Kostinbrod, Svoge, Botevgrad, etc. - Markets for animals. These turn to be one of the main sources of newly abandoned dogs. Our observations suggest that it is a common practice that at the end of every market day the unsold animals are left in cartoon boxes around the market or simply chased away. In this regard, we recommend that Sofia Municipality bans the sale of dogs and cats in the animal markets on the territory of the municipality. - Horses. The reports for horses gone astray and mistreatment of horses in Sofia have increased. Working horses used for transport of collected recyclable waste are the main issue here. In most cases, the vehicles towed by these animals do not meet any safety requirements and create a daily risk for traffic accidents. Our recommendation is that local authorities in Sofia launch a campaign for registration of all working horses, as well as introduce strict requirements for registration of horse-drawn vehicles or even completely ban those vehicles. Date: 15.01.2016 Report is prepared by: Marina Ivanova, DVM /Country Manager of Four Paws Bulgaria/ Yavor Gechev, /Head of Communications of Four Paws Bulgaria/ 17