HOT: » Which party would you vote for (if you could) in the upcoming snap vote in Bulgaria on April 19?
Send to Kindle
Animal rights NGO activists dressed as dogs protested in Sofia against the new regulations for stray dog treatment. Photo by BGNES
A major protest rally of animal rights NGOs, Sofia residents, and pets has been staged in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, targeting the latest regulations on the stray dog issue initiated by Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov.
The problems with the several dozens of thousands of stray dogs roaming the streets and outskirts of Sofia has become especially acute after several recent incidents, prompting Agriculture Minister Naydenov to amend an ordinance, thus allowing municipalities to construct dog shelters fasters and more easily.
Back then the minister explained that "risky" stray dogs will be collected and euthanized, while the rest will be taken to shelters and people willing to adopt them.
These amendments, however, were protested in downtown Sofia on Friday, in a rally entitled "Game Over", with banners demanding "zoo police" and blaming the authorities for violating the legislation for four years.
The outraged protesters tabled a declaration against proposed amendments to the Animal Protection Act, claiming the changes would bring "medieval measures" for resolving the stray dog problem.
They insisted on drafting a "national strategy" for managing the population of unattended dogs with the participation of the NGOs that will provide for castration and returning the dogs to the spots where they live.
"Sofia Municipality is one of the few municipalities that is doing its job. We are witnessing how Minister Naydenov is not doing his job because dogs from other regions are brought to Sofia," stated Nadya Stancheva from Animal Rescue Sofia, who also manages a dog shelter in Gorni Bogrov, a Sofia quarter.
She said there are stray dogs with implanted chips roaming the Sofia streets but there is no way of finding out who there owners are since there is no data base of the microchips.
"If Minister Naydenov doesn't want to do his job, he must be replaced by a person who is not lazy. None of us here wants aggressive packs of dogs in the streets. I manage a shelter and I know how hard it is but not single dog that got out of our shelter has become aggressive," she added.
Residents and visitors in Sofia will be able to park without payment in the city’s “blue” and “green” zones during the upcoming Easter holidays
A 40-meter-high Ferris wheel has been installed in central Sofia, becoming a new attraction for residents and visitors seeking panoramic views of the capital.
Health authorities have reported a total of 66 confirmed measles cases in Bulgaria, with the first infection now recorded in Sofia, according to data published on the Ministry of Health’s epidemic monitoring platform.
A total of 147 years have passed since Sofia was officially designated as the capital of Bulgaria
Restaurant and café prices in Bulgaria have increased sharply over the past decade, rising by close to 110%, according to analysis by the Institute for Market Economics
The Ombudswoman institution has voiced strong opposition to the proposed increase in heating prices in Sofia, which is expected to approach nearly 30 percent
The Bulgarian scientific research vessel “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” (NIC 421) has returned to Varna, docking at the Marine Station and marking the official end of the country’s 34th Antarctic expedition
Holiday weather conditions are expected to remain mixed across Bulgaria, with alternating periods of sunshine and rain showers, according to the forecast
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has decided that no official delegation will travel to Jerusalem this year to receive the Holy Fire, citing the ongoing tensions in the Middle East
Plovdiv will host the International Street Arts Festival 6Fest from April 20 to 26, 2026, turning the city into an open-air stage featuring performers from 11 countries across three continents
The Easter holiday getaway has officially begun in Bulgaria, with traffic leaving Sofia surging as thousands of people set off for the long weekend
Holy Thursday marks one of the most significant days in Holy Week, as Christians reflect on the final moments before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Aniventure Comic Con Returns to Bulgaria with Star Guest Christopher Judge!
Global Fuel Shock: Oil Jumps Over 40% Since Iran War Began
