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Vienna, 12 August 2024 – In the wake of the recent legal amendments by the Turkish Parliament which allow for the long-term mass sheltering and killing of stray dogs, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS highlights that such inhumane methods are ineffective and only add to the misery of the animals. Instead, neutering, treating and vaccinating homeless dogs, coupled with educational programs and community engagement, proves more successful to reduce stray populations, FOUR PAWS stresses. More than 100 million stray dogs and cats are estimated to be roaming the streets in Europe. Many are suffering from malnutrition, untreated illnesses, injuries, and abuse. At least half of the countries on the European continent have significant issues related to stray dog populations, with Eastern Europe being most affected. Apart from its work in South Africa and Southeast Asia, FOUR PAWS is active in stray animal care in Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and recently started a new project in Kosovo to help strays.

Successful stray management in Sofia

The Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) approach has already proven successful in Sofia, Bulgaria, where FOUR PAWS is active since 2008. In addition to community work and education programs, FOUR PAWS is also operating mobile clinics as well as a stationary clinic to provide veterinary care, vaccinations and neutering of stray animals. While there were more than 11,000 stray dogs counted in Sofia in 2007, today the population has sharply declined to 3,600 in 2018 and declined ever since, with the majority of dogs being sterilised and aging. In the past, authorities had also resorted to gruesome and ineffective killings of stray dogs. From 1999 to 2006, over 70,000 stray dogs had been culled. Back then, there was no dog population management programme in place, and no veterinary staff prepared to work with stray animals. This has changed. Moreover, dog owners are now required to register their pet, which is essential in preventing their abandonment, being the root cause for stray populations. Together with the municipality, FOUR PAWS was recognised as best practice for the reduction of stray dog population in Sofia by the European Parliament.

Every week, the FOUR PAWS team treats more than 100 animals at its Bankya clinic, providing veterinary care, neutering, vaccinations and life-saving operations. One of the patients was dog Asya, who was found last August in a critical state. The 1,5-year-old dog had most probably been hit by a car and had passed out on the street with several injuries. Due to the summer heat, her skin had melted away, with pieces of tar and asphalt stuck to her large wound. The experienced team could nurse her back to life and today, Asya is a happy and cheerful dog, waiting for adoption.

Stray Animal Care project near Prishtina

Kosovo is one of the countries with a severe stray animal issue, which is why FOUR PAWS recently started a new project to reduce the rising stray dog population. Together with a local veterinarian, a team of two FOUR PAWS veterinarians and a dog catcher travelled to Podujevo municipality near Prishtina in mid-July, where they sterilised and vaccinated 54 dogs in four days, starting often at four o’clock in the morning to avoid the summer heat. FOUR PAWS will continue this project by collaborating with a local veterinarian and by providing its expertise.