site.btaUPDATED Rallies in Sofia, Varna Demand Effective Penalties for Acts of Animal Cruelty

Residents of Sofia and Varna protested against animal abuse on Saturday and demanded effective penalties for acts of animal cruelty.

A protest against violence towards animals was held outside the Palace of Justice in Sofia. The organizers said: "Every day innocent animals fall victim to abuse, and we people are their only chance for justice."

Some participants recalled the recent case of the dog Maya, killed in Sofia. "I am Maya" and "She was a friend, not a news headline" were among the messages displayed on posters.

The protesters set off on a march that ended in front of the Parliament building. This required traffic in the area to be restricted for a while. Banners were displayed, calling for effective sentences for perpetrators of animal cruelty. Citizens chanted "We will not stay silent". Animal-rights advocates urged society to show zero tolerance towards acts of cruelty.

In the Black Sea city of Varna, protesters gathered carried banners urging the public to protect those who lack the language to complain or express their wishes.

The main organizer behind the rally was the Zoopatruli Association, whose Chair, Stefan Kurdov, reported that this time the discontent was also related to the case in Sofia involving the dog Maya. He stressed that such acts should not be committed against either stray animals or pets. Kurdov said that Zoopatruli is also fighting for the establishment of a zoo police force within the local structures of the Ministry of Interior, which would guarantee objective investigation and presentation of evidence of alleged crimes to the prosecution service.