Two cases of skinning of living dogs have been discovered in the Malinova Dolina quarter of the Bulgarian capital Sofia within 10 days, the local press said.

The stray dogs were first skinned, and were them thrown out in Sofia outskirts, the 24 Chasa daily reported Tuesday, citing a local woman, Radostina Tacheva.

The first case was recorded on March 17, 2012, when Tacheva, who was walking her two dogs in Malinova Dolina (i.e. "Raspberry Valley") found the corpse of a skinned stray dog.

She alerted the Sofia Municipality firm in charge of the stray dog population – "Eco-Balance" ("Ecoravnovesie") who removed the corpse on March 20, three days later.

Several days later Tacheva found a second skinned dog near the Simeonovsko Shose Blvd that was still alive; the dog was taken care of by the attendants at a local gas station when it went missing. She brought a veterinarian who took the dog and operated it for four hours.

The local woman has expressed grave concerns about the local people who apparently seem to be neighbors with somebody capable of committing such atrocities.

"I can't say who skins the dogs. The place where I live is beautiful and hasn't been developed yet but there are Roma camps turning everything into a dumpsite. A metal sewage cap was stolen from the gas station where the second dog lived, they tried to steal a pump. Apparently, the dog was hurt during the robbery," Tacheva explained, as cited by the 24 Chasa daily.

"I just don't know what they use its skin for. I've heard that leather plants buy cat and dog skin, and want it fresh, which can be achieved by skinning a living animal. I just can't imagine what kind of monster does these things, and I am afraid that the same person who hurts animals might hurt a child tomorrow," said the woman.

In April 2011, the Bulgarian MPs adopted amendments to the Penal Code on violent crimes against animals. Thus, under Bulgarian law, the perpetrator of an animal murder faces up to three years in jail or probation, and a fine of BGN 2 000 – 10 000. If the crime is inflicting wounds upon an animal, the punishment is a two year jail sentence and a fine of up to BGN 6 000.

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