Definitions of stray dogs Stray dog: means any dog not under direct control by a person or not prevented from roaming. Types of stray dog in Bulgaria: 1. feral dog: domestic dog that has reverted to the wild state and is no longer directly dependent upon humans for successful reproduction. 2. free-roaming dog with no owner; 3. free-roaming owned dog not under direct control or restriction at a particular time;
Where are the dogs coming from? - the source (s) of the stray dogs Owned stray Abandoned Lost community dog stray born on street
Community or street dogs NO owner; many local people provide them food, Have a sense regard them as their own not tolerate them living in or on their property.
Strays in Sofia 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2007 2009 2011 2000 0 2007 2009 2011
Problems associated with stray dogs zoonoses (rabies, echinococcosis,leishmaniosis) environmental pollution (e.g. noise, faeces) nuisance behaviour (noise, chasing vehicles) traffic accidents attack and injury to people fear by aggressive behavior
Municipalities, Local Authorities Veterinary Service Animal Welfare Associations National legislation Private vets Responsible ownership promotion & education Local resources Citizens University Dog population control programs National and Regional Government Media
National Legislation 1. Law of the veterinary activity 2. Animal protection law 3. Ordinance 41 of the minimum requirements for shelters 4. Municipal ordinances and dog population control programs 5. Instruction for transport of dogs 6. Check list
ANIMAL PROTECTION LAW Prom. SG. 13/8 Feb 2008, amend. SG. 80/9 Oct 2009, amend. SG. 8/25 Jan 2011, amend. SG. 92/22 Nov 2011 Scope: This Act shall provide for the animal protection and the mechanisms for its implementation (Art.1) Animal protection shall be expressed in: preservation of their life, health and good condition, their protection of inhuman, cruel and especially atrocious attitude, provision of suitable cares and conditions of life Executive and local government authorities, together with NGOs shall prepare and implement (Art.2) : educational programs related to animal protection as well as animal keeping, breeding, training, and trading High schools and higher schools together with BFSA shall conduct (Art.3): training for shelter personnel and for pet shop personnel The branch organization of the veterinary doctors in Bulgaria, the organizations for animal protection and associations of the animal breeders shall popularize measures for animal protection, namely: (art.4 ) mandatory vaccination of ALL dogs against rabies electronic identification of pet (owned) dogs national dog register
Control over stray dog population Collect by the trained staff Neuter mobile clinics and veterinary ambulatories Vaccination against rabies obligatory for all dogs Return- Permanent marking, identification and return to places of healthy and non-aggressive homeless dogs; Register of treated animals; surveillance (deworming and revaccination) Building and management of shelters
Dog Catching in BG: Chemical Capture Trained staff under veterinarian supervision Need to estimate the dog s bodyweight in order to assess the dosage rate. Chemical capture should not be used in locations where dogs or people could be placed at risk, such as a busy urban areas or adjacent to a main highway. Used only licensed drugs Different dogs react differently to sedation. some dogs can move a considerable distance after eating a tranquillising agent or being hit by a dart. staff must be prepared to follow the dog for a considerable time and should never leave an anaesthetised dog on the street. This method of capture can be expensive.
Transportation Only in approved vehicles; Large enough for the animal to stand up and lie in a natural position; Ventilated Inscribed the name, address and telephone number of the shelter on the outside of the car.
Control over stray dog The role of central authority population registration dogs (national database) financial aid to the municipalities responsible for implementation of animal protection law shelter standards Control functions Sanctions and penalties Control on pet trade The role of municipalities Programmes for stray dog population management Execution of the Programmes Waste management Control over the pet owners Building of castration centers and shelters
Measures undertaken to control stray dogs population Municipal programmes for control of stray dogs include: Constructing animal shelters Collect, Neuter and deworm; Vaccination against rabies Adoption programmes; Internet site; Return the unadopted dogs back on the places where caught,
Shelters
Benefits animal birth control (CNVR) prevention spreading diseases (zoonoses) less bite incidences less road accidents humane long term solution reduction possible of 90 % in 5 years cheaper than kill or kennel accepted by citizens
Pet ownership 1. Education/ leaflets 2. mandatory vaccination of ALL dogs against rabies 3. electronic identification of pet (owned) dogs 4. national dog register into the national database VetIS 5. Annual fee
CONTROL OF PET DOGS Private veterinary practitioners advice to dog owners inform the owners about the benefits of castration castrations of preferential costs explaining the benefits of identification and the need of registration (I & R) enter the data of the identified pets into the national data base notify BFSA in case of non- compliances
Municipalities: CONTROL OF PET DOGS Education campaigns for responsible ownership Increased penalties of the dog owners for: dog without registration without a leash in public places not cleaning after the dog Annual fee for every dog
Bulgarian food safety agency CONTROL OF PET DOGS Draw a legislation National measures to stimulate the pet neutering No fee for: Neutered dogs a dog with a microchip placed for the first year of its registration Take actions in case of non- compliances Manage the national data base Control private practitioners and municipalities
5 years after the Animal Protection Law The measures are well applied in the big towns of Bulgaria 99 % of municipalities has programme and Ordinance for control of stray dogs populations; 35 registered shelters All registered dogs are entered into the National Data-base VET IS (private vets and shelters veterinarians)
Useful links BFSA: http://www.babh.government.bg/bg/actualnodepartment-health&article_id=107.html FAO Gateway to Farm Animal welfare: www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/animal-welfare E-Consultation: http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/animalwelfare/blog/en
Dr. Petya Petkova Bulgarian Food Safety Agency Animal Health and Welfare Directorate Tel.:+359 2 915 98 42 E-mail: p_petkova@nvms.government.bg