Since a pilot project was started in early June, about 200 stray dogs have been sterilized in Chisinau’s Riscani and Cionana districts. About 50 more dogs were sterilized in the districts of Botanica, Centru and Buiucani, where the pilot project started later. All the dogs were given rabies shots and were returned to where they had been taken from.

Animals Control and Protection Division head Vitali Voznoi told IPN the sterilization effort mainly targets female dogs to prevent a rapid growth of dog populations in the streets – some 80% of the dogs spayed in Riscani and Ciocana were females.

Until the end of the year, the municipality plans to sterilize 1250 more strays.

Voznoi says the strays are captured following requests from city residents, including people who feed them, but who cannot take them home. After being caught, the strays are kept in a veterinary clinic for three days, where they are sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped. If an animal is aggressive and attacks people, it is taken to the municipal shelter or a private one.

The pilot project to sterilize, vaccinate and monitor stray dog populations was approved by the City Council on March 31. Following tendering, two veterinary clinics have been commissioned to perform the medical procedures.