site.btaVet Nadezhda Mecheva for BTA: Help Strays with Food or Water

On International Homeless Animals Day, marked on April 19 this year,  Dr Nadezhda Mecheva, head of a veterinary clinic for strays in Bankya,  told BTA that we should not turn a blind eye to homeless animals but show them care, be it by giving them food or water. 

She explained that a homeless animal is one without an owner and living in the street. International Homeless Animals Day has been held annually on the third Saturday of August since 1992. It is an initiative of the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) aimed at expanding the international community’s information about the hard condition in which homeless and abandoned animals find themselves. This day is also a reminder of the role of pet owners in preventing the appearance of homeless animals through uncontrolled rearing.    

Before helping a homeless animal, a person should be mindful of its character. It should be given food appropriate for its kind, because human food can be dangerous and lead to digestive issues for the animal. If it is calm, it can be taken to the clinic in Bankya of the Four Paws animal welfare organization. There, the animal will receive care and be castrated and vaccinated, which will prolong its life, Dr Mecheva explained. The service is free, because the clinic has a contract with Sofia Municipality. 

Four Paws also has two mobile clinics that tour the country as part of castration campaigns. 

Municipalities are responsible for homeless animals on their territory and have to observe the national programme on controlling strays’ population, the expert said. Each year, municipalities present a report on the activities done. They can join campaigns on homeless animals, like the castration campaign organized by Four Paws and Belitsa Municipality in July. 

The international animal welfare organization recently presented an online platform, “Shelter Adoption Academy”, for free education encouraging and easing the procedure for adopting shelter animals. There is also a shelter adoption programme encouraging adoption of animals from shelters and environmental organizations. The experts are trying to influence the change in people’s attitudes towards adoption of animals from shelters. 

One should approach such an adoption with care, because every pet is a commitment and requires specific care. For example, some dog breeds need more walks and games, Dr Mecheva said. Adoption should not be a hasty and impulsive decision, because this is a long-term commitment, the expert told BTA.