Although the municipality of Chisinau has a shelter for stray dogs, a permit from the National Food Safety Agency is needed to capture animals, but its issuance is delayed, said the deputy mayor Ilie Ceban. So far this year, the City Hall has sent a minimum of 17 requests to the Agency, asking that at least one veterinary office should be opened on the territory of the shelter. The Agency’s inspectors went to the shelter for checks, but the permit was not issued.

Ilie Ceban noted that the shelter runs the risk of being closed. The municipality created conditions to meet the requirements and presented them to specialists, but the permit was not issued. Without it, the municipal services cannot catch dogs. Meanwhile, the animals gather together in large numbers, especially in parks.

Contacted by IPN for a comment, Alexandr Manciu, the Agency’s deputy director general in charge of the sanitary-veterinary sector, confirmed that an application was submitted to one of the subdivisions responsible for Chisinau municipality to obtain the sanitary-veterinary authorization for the dog shelter. The fact that it has not been issued shows that shortcomings were identified and the conditions need to be adjusted. An application should be then filed again.

“The colleagues who directly received and examined this request informed about the shortcomings that need to be dealt with. And then, once they are removed, a new request should be made. If they comply with all the requirements, they will be issued that sanitary-veterinary authorization,” said Alexandr Manciu, admitting however that the shortcomings are minor.