Stray dogs in Chisinau pose threat to children

The stray dogs roaming around schools and nurseries endanger children’s health and life, says the head of the General Division of Education, Science and Sports Tatiana Tverdohleb. She asked the local authorities to take action and prevent such risks. Deputy Police Commissioner of Chisinau Iacob Gumenita said that the number of stray dogs in the capital city has increased indeed. There were reported more cases of attacks on children and adults by stray dogs. Another threat is the dead bodies of the dogs that can remain in the street for more than two-three days. Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca said that the City Hall cannot intervene now and remove the stray dogs as this problem has a “human aspect”. According to him, a tender contest for building an animal shelter and a clinic for sterilising stray dogs will be held soon. Nongovernmental organisations dealing with the protection of animals will be invited to take part in the contest. This March, the Chisinau Municipal Council allotted two plots of land located on Uzinelor Street and Balcani Street, each about 0.6 hectares in area, for the tender contest. But the contest did not take place. Dorin Chirtoaca said that the Waste Disposal Division transports the dogs out of Chisinau to the shelter in Ciorescu village, when asked by the population. The authorities in Ciorescu complained however that the dogs brought from Chisinau rove about the village’s dumps because after sterilization, in 10-12 days, they are freed.