During our Animal Week in Bulgaria, we have some encouraging news to share!
Two animal markets in Haskovo and Asenovgrad, against which we had been filing complaints for years, have now been permanently closed.
The conditions at these markets had been unacceptable for years and were in no way compliant with EU legal requirements. A lack of infrastructure, completely unsuitable transport vehicles, rough and often brutal treatment of the animals, as well as insufficient official controls and inadequate veterinary care were among the most serious shortcomings that we repeatedly documented and reported at both national and EU level.
Our current documentation from our Animal Week, covering three different EU countries, shows that there is still a lot of work ahead of us. But this success gives us hope. We are all the more pleased that the responsible authorities in Asenovgrad and Haskovo have taken action and put an end to these animal markets.
When our team arrives early in the morning at the former market site in Haskovo, we even meet two representatives of the responsible veterinary authority, who are there together with the police to oversee the enforcement of the market’s closure order. This is particularly encouraging for us.
So-called ‘farm animals’ are expected to do so much for people – which makes it all the more important to spare them unnecessary suffering, inevitably associated with spending time at an animal market. The closure of these two markets is an important step in the right direction.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone responsible for finally making this necessary action possible in the animals’ best interests. Together, we can make a difference!
