“Officials’ Reaction To Brigitte Bardot Foundation’s Proposal Was Extensive”

The First All-Belarusian Congress of Animal Protectors has been held in Minsk.

French volunteers from the Madame Brigitte Bardot Foundation have offered their services to the Belarusian authorities. They are ready to solve the problem of homeless animals humanely and with their own money. The officials have answered that they need only money, and they themselves will figure out where to send them, Belsat reports.

The First All-Belarusian Congress of Animal Protectors was held in Minsk. Not only representatives of public organizations addressed the delegates. The director of the City Fauna animal care center heard a lot of accusations in her address.

Tamara Tsarykouskaya, City Fauna director: “The places of temporary keeping will not solve the problem of homeless animals. We need a network of shelters. There are a lot of people who are willing to spend money on it. We must at least start with this.”

Belarus still has no relevant animal protection law. There is no compulsory chipping and sterilization of animals that are not planned to be bred. The absence of the law allows shadow entrepreneurs, for example, to put 150 cages in a small village hut and profit from the sale of puppies. One such “mistress” kept about a hundred bulldogs in her yard in the freezing cold. Protectors were able to buy out eight dogs.

Katsiaryna Kastsiukova, the Kindness organization, Homel: “When we brought them, I was in shock. I thought that they were 5-6 years old, and, in fact, only a year or two. Each one had three cesarean sections. If there was a law at that time, the animals would be confiscated, the owner would be fined, and the animals would be given to those who would take care of them and love them.”

In the West, the problem was dealt with in the 70s. The practice shows: if the total chipping of animals, sterilization of pedigreed animals that live outside the nursery are not done, no means can save the situation. New foundlings will constantly appear near the houses of good people.

Volha Mayorava, a We Live In One House volunteer: “We are offered sterilization of animals throughout Belarus, houses for animals, training for volunteers and veterinarians. The reaction was extensive: let the French share money and medicines, but we don’t need their specialists.”

Until now, the law does not define what can be considered cruel treatment or maiming. In such a situation it is difficult for courts to determine whether sleep or food deprivation is a mockery or just negligence. Until now, an unhappy animal cannot be confiscated from a flayer. It can only be bought out via the court.