After numerous complaints of Animals' Angels, the Bulgarian chief veterinarian has finally promised to take action at national animal markets. Among other things, he wants to improve veterinary controls and ensure that sick or injured animals are no longer admitted. In addition, the animals will be provided with water and bedding, and animal welfare training for the traders will take place. We will, of course, continue to monitor whether the Bulgarian authorities keep their promises.
In 2013, for the first time, Animals' Angels inspected numerous animal markets in Bulgaria. Since then, we have seen abuse and serious breaches of animal welfare legislation time and time again, such as:
- The use of unsafe vehicles,
- Inadequate accommodation for the animals without bedding and water,
- Sheep lying on the ground for hours with their legs tied together,
- Piglets transported in plastic bags,
- Brutal handling: beating, kicking, tail twisting
- Sale of sick and injured animals.
Since 2013, we have been contacting the relevant authorities several times, writing complaints and attending meetings in Sofia and at local level. And again and again, we were on-site at the markets (most recently in March 2018) often under difficult conditions. In order to build up more pressure, we recently contacted Bulgarian media.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
