this letter - Animal Rescue Sofia

OPEN LETTER
TO:
Miroslav Naydenov,
Minister of agriculture and foods
COPY TO:
Rosen Plevneliev,
President of Bulgaria
Boyko Borisov,
Prime minister
Konstantin Penchev,
Ombudsman
Yordanka Fandakova,
Mayor of Sofia
John Dalli,
Comissioner for health and consumer policy
Local and International Media
Dear doctor Naydenov,
as people who are directly engaged with the stay dog problem we believe that your position on
radical legislation changes aims to distract the public attention from the true origins of the problem.
We also believe that you are the one responsible for the long years of institutional languid attempts
and lack of control in enforcing the current stray dog legislation.
For having 47% of the echinococcal disease of the EU here in Bulgaria - not in the cities where the
stray dog population is the largest, but in rural areas where your National Food Safety Agency has
zero control over the illegitimate cultivation, butchering and consumption of meat-producing
animals;
For refusing to work with experts and relying on populist and ineffective methods to solve the stray
dog problem - thus increasing both corruption in the related authorities and risk to the health of the
citizens;
For having assimilated formidable amounts of money for the non-existent pet dog registry
database, which should have been finished by the National Food Safety Agency back in 2008 and is
still unusable;
For not punishing one single person for abandoning their pet since the Animal Protection Act is in
force – from 2008;
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For the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture neglects the recommendations both of the European
Parliament and the World Health Organization on Trap, Neuter & Return as an only effective longterm
way to solve a stray dog situation that also benefits public health;
For not being at all concerned with the recommendations of the world-renown experts (invited to
Bulgaria in 2010 by the Ministry itself) who suggested Bulgaria needs a National strategy on the
issue. That is to say: Trap, Neuter & Return on a national level, coordinated by the central
government and executed in a military manner in all Bulgarian municipalities;
For having neglected the ombudsman’s standpoint on the issue. Mr. Konstantine Penchev sent his
advice back in the beginning of 2011, insisting that the Ministry of Agriculture should be the one to
lead a National Strategy: to help the municipalities by providing funds, legislation and coordinating a
nation-wide Trap, Neuter & Return program;
For refusing a public-private partnership on the issue, despite the many recommendations and good
practices of the EU, and even rushing a bill through so that the NGO’s are excluded from the
process;
For deceiving the public as a veterinarian and a Minister in order to increase the tension in society,
polarize opinions on the issue in order to avoid a constructive dialog and analysis of the weak,
unmethodical and corrupt work of the municipalities and the ministry on the problem;
We expect you to take up your political responsibility and resign as Minister of Agriculture and
Foods.
1. Four Paws/Vier Pfoten – Bulgaria
2. Animal Rescue Sofia – Bulgaria
3. Intimate With Nature Society – Bulgaria
4. Citizen group “Animal Welfare Society – Shoumen” – Bulgaria
5. Citizen Group “Friendly Help For The Stray Dogs – Ardino” – Bulgaria
6. “Brücke der Hoffnung für Hunde in Not” DE - 83329 Waging am See - Deutschland
We remain open to a dialog.
Sofia 09.04.2012
7. “Tierschutzverein/Tierschutzhof SOS-Colliehilfe e.V.” DE-32369 Rahden - Deutschland
8. “Deutsch-Griechischer Tierschutzverein e. V.” DE-51107 Köln – Deutschland
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9. Ovidefarm – Netherlands
10. Stichting Dierennood - Netherlands
11. Animal Foundation Platform - Netherlands
12. Tierhilfe Sofia – Switzerland
13. Citizen Group “Love and Care” – Bulgaria
14. Citizen Group “Cat Friends” – Bulgaria
15. Non-profit organization “Care and Shelter For Everyone” – Bulgaria
16. Non-profit organization “Citizen Control – Protection of Animals” – Bulgaria
17. Citizen Group “City For People” – Bulgaria
18. Non-profit association “Dai Lapa” – Bulgaria
19. National Rottweiler Club – Bulgaria
20. Citizen group “Help For Animals In Need” – Bulgaria
21. Foundation “AFA” – Bulgaria
22. Citizen group for education and help “Friends Of The Pitbull Terrier” – Bulgaria
23. “Animal Wellfare Society – Lom” – Bulgaria
24. Deutsche-Bulgarische Strassenhilfe – Rousse – Bulgaria
25. Animal Rights Protection Association – Bulgaria
26. “Hop For The Strays” Foundation – Bulgaria
27. “Animal Friends Bourgas” Foundation – Bulgaria
28. “Sharko” Foundation – Bulgaria
29. “Friends for Animals” Association – Bulgaria
30. “Together Against Animal Abuse” Association – Bulgaria
31. “Loyal Eyes – Balchik” – Bulgaria
32. Citizen Association “Love for Love” – Dobrich – Bulgaria
33. “Green Light” Association – Primorsko – Bulgaria
34. “Care for Homeless Dogs” Federation – Bulgaria
35. Stichting PIN – Netherlands
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36. Dierenbelangen – Netherlands
37. Citizen Association “Let’s Adopt” – Bulgaria
38. “Help For The Animals – Dara” Association – Bulgaria
39. “Animal Hope Bulgaria – Varna” Foundation – Bulgaria
40. „Hunde in Not „ DE- 29690 Lindwedel - Deutschland
41. „Tierhielfe Heidekreis“ DE- 29308 Winsen - Deutschland
42. „New Life 4 Spanish Animals“ DE-13053 Berlin - Deutschland
43. „Gnadenhof Garscha Tierschutzgruppe Rüppurr/Odenheim e.V. „Odenheim - Deutschland
44. „Tierhilfe Zarzis e.V. „ - Deutschland
45.“ Tierschutzverein Helfe4Pfoten e.V. „ DE-93326 Abensberg - Deutschland
46. Tierheim Surber CH- 8046 Zürich – Switzerland
47. “Animal Help Varna” Foundation – Bulgaria
48. “Animal Hope Plovdiv” Foundation – Bulgaria
49. National Cocker Club – Bulgaria
50. National Kynological Club Cane Corso - Bulgaria
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