This month we are focusing our support on homeless street animals through humane care of neutering, deworming and vaccination. Our motive is to find an effective way to solve the problem and stop the suffering of these innocent street animals.

Statistics for Bulgaria show that for every 1000 people there are 15 stray dogs. Assuming that half of them are females, who give birth to an average of 8 puppies twice a year, but 3-4 of them survive, the population grows significantly in just one year.

A partner in our cause is the Freya Foundation , recommended to us by a donor, as an organization that not only helps homeless animals, but also develops an effective project for the phased solution to the problem of homeless animals.

The foundation was established in 2022 in the municipality. Avren, but its founder Hristina Mircheva has been actively involved in volunteer work for more than 10 years. During this period, she has gained serious expertise and has realized that the creation of shelters is a help for the most defenseless animals, but the problem is large-scale and we need to work on its root: neutering animals - stray and pet yard. And raising awareness about the importance of chipping and registering animals to reduce their irresponsible disposal on the street.

Freya Foundation's project is a 3 year project that will cover 17 villages in the municipality. Avren with the aim of solving the problem of stray animals in a humane way. In February nearly 170 stray dogs were found on the territory of the municipality.

In the first 1 year of the project all stray dogs in the municipality are to be neutered. In year 2 and 3, support from international organizations and joint work with Avren Municipality is expected to continue with the neutering of stray animals that have already reached the age for neutering, with an emphasis on free neutering and chipping of all backyard pet dogs to stop the flow of unwanted offspring to the streets.

If the 3-year project is successfully implemented, the model could be replicated by other municipalities across the country to address the stray animal problem. This will also reduce the huge population of stray puppies that end up in municipal shelters and a high percentage of them find their sad end.

How will we help?

We are joining the project in its first stage by taking care of 150 stray dogs from 17 villages in Avren municipality with neutering, deworming and vaccination.

The expected effect is :

One female dog gives birth on average 2 times a year, between 5-8 puppies .Just by neutering 100 female dogs the population will decrease by 800 puppies in just one year. Calculations show that a 3 year spay/neuter program would be enough to solve the problem in a community area. Avren. Last but not least is the reduction of dog aggression after neutering.

To implement the project we will purchase:

1. Traps, with which volunteers will catch stray dogs to take them to the outpatient clinic of Freya Foundation.

2. A mobile inhalation anaesthesia unit to make the technology easier to use and safer for the dogs. The equipment will continue to be used in subsequent spay/neuter campaigns for homeless animals, even in future mobile outpatient clinics.

3. Provide materials for registering, chipping, deworming, vaccinating and neutering stray animals.

How will the cause be implemented?

With the help of volunteers and local associations, within 4 months the stray dogs from the 17 villages of the municipality will be captured. Avren, and transported to the outpatient clinic of the shelter of the Freya Foundation. The interventions will be carried out in the outpatient clinic , due to the need for a place for longer post-operative observation of the dogs for a better recovery.

The dogs will be dewormed, vaccinated and neutered, chipped and registered in the name of the community. Avren, which is legally responsible for stray dogs. Freya Foundation has permission from the municipality. Avren to carry out these grant activities. Dogs in need of treatment will then remain at the shelter, while others will be returned to their inhabited places.

Budget:

The target amount we are aiming for is 16,876 BGN

Documents and offers

In case we raise a smaller amount, we will neuter a smaller number of dogs, but priority will be given to all females.