“The problem of stray animals in Kyiv should be solved by voluntary organizations, as it is practiced in other European countries. Utility companies are those, which are used to cover bureaucratic corruption schemes, “- said the leader of the European Party of Ukraine, People`s Deputy of Ukraine, the member of the parliamentary faction “Batkivshchyna” Mykola Katerynchuk during his visit to a shelter for stray animals «SOS» today.
“According to available data, in 2011 the utility company “Animal shelter” (village Borodianka), which keeps about 450 dogs was allocated 5.6 million from the city budget. At the same time, voluntary organizations received only 50 thousand, although they keep more than 4 thousand animals. It is easy to calculate that the maintenance of one “utility dog” costs about 12,500 USD per year, and one volunteer shelter dog – 12.5 USD per year. There is a thousand times difference!” – said Mykola Katerynchuk.
The head of the shelter, the president of the International Society for Animal Protection «SOS» Tamara Tarnavska regularly receives threats. The reason is hidden in her constant struggle with the officials who built corrupt schemes and conceal the destruction of stray animals. Today, more than 1,200 dogs and 205 cats found home in her shelter, otherwise they would be likely doomed to death. Once in the place of the shelter was the state enterprise with the eloquent title “The factory of animals recycling”.
“I collected a lot of information about the cruel treatment of stray animals in Ukraine. There are videos that I have showed in meetings with the mayors of different European cities and even in the United Nations in order to draw international attention to this problem. Ukrainian officials are not interested in this problem. However, checkups we have regularly “- said Mrs. Tarnavska.
According to her, Mykola Katerynchuk has repeatedly helped the shelter not only as an indifferent person, but as a politician as well. Kyiv stray animals could settle in shelters if voluntary organizations received at least half of money that goes to inefficient utility companies.
“We will do parliamentary inquiries to find out where the taxpayers’ money goes. I am convinced that voluntary organizations can solve the problem of stray animals, with significantly lower costs “, – said Mykola Katerynchuk to complete.
Press Service
European Party of Ukraine