The treatment of animals and the environment is a direct indicator of the level of civilization of a society. This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Hristanov during a meeting of the Advisory Council for Controlling the Population of Stray Dogs, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Atanas Atanasov, representatives of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, the Center for Risk Assessment of the Food Chain, the Bulgarian Veterinary Union and animal protection organizations.
Minister Hristanov stressed that the cases of cruelty to animals revealed in recent months raise serious questions for society and institutions. “If we cannot create a sustainable environment and guarantee humane treatment of animals, it is difficult to call ourselves a civilized country“, he said. According to him, the revelations of the control bodies, including illegal sites and inhumane treatment, require immediate and coordinated action.
He emphasized the need for better coordination between institutions and the implementation of effective measures both at the national and local levels. The Minister noted that there are existing mechanisms such as the National Program for Controlling the Population of Stray Dogs, but a clear identification of the problems and quick solutions are needed. “Some of the measures require legislative changes, and others can be implemented through better interaction between institutions“, Hristanov pointed out.
Deputy Minister Atanas Atanasov recalled that the convening of this Advisory Council is in fulfillment of a commitment to the sector. He emphasized that the Council unites key institutions and organizations and supports state policy by discussing specific measures and proposals.
The meeting discussed the results of the implementation of the program, the need for more effective control over the activities of municipalities, the role of volunteers, as well as possible changes in the regulatory framework.
The participants united around the need for an integrated and long-term approach to ensure sustainable control over the population, increasing the responsibility of pet dog owners and strengthening public engagement on the topic. It was emphasized that the effective implementation of the measures requires both institutional commitment and active participation of society, in order to achieve lasting results.