The Municipality of Varna carries out a large-scale census of stray dogs and cats on the territory of all administrative regions. The aim of the initiative is to control the population of street animals.
The census is carried out in October and November and is implemented in implementation of the National Program for controlling the population of stray dogs in the territory of Bulgaria and the procedures for its implementation, the mechanism of financing and accountability. The census will be carried out according to the methodology approved by order of the mayor Blagomir Kotsev, by representatives of the “Orienteering Sports Club – Plovdiv” Association, reports the press center of the municipality.
Preparations for it have been underway for several months, during which the control of the population of stray cats and dogs was discussed with a number of non-governmental organizations. The last census of street animals in Varna was in 2016. Until now, the necessary measures to limit the population of stray cats have not been taken, according to experts. The reason street cats will be the focus of the upcoming census is that they reproduce extremely quickly – a female cat has an average of over 110 kittens in 3 years, experts estimate.
As the best form of management of the population of stray animals, the practice “catch, neuter and return” has been accepted, which is applicable to both cats and dogs. For this purpose, in the next budgets of the municipality, a resource for castration should be set aside.
Programs will also be prepared to promote the adoption of stray animals.