In October last year, we reported that the City Council had rejected a draft resolution on adopting a program to combat animal homelessness. Only two female councillors voted in favor. Members of the Animal Aid Association wanted the city authorities to implement a program that would include, among other things, sterilization and castration procedures, as well as comprehensive vaccinations for free-roaming dogs and cats. The Council did not approve it. – There are so many human needs. PLN 280,000 for dogs and cats. Such an amount, even though I personally like animals, should not be considered at all – said at the time Eugeniusz Kowalski, a Law and Justice councillor. – Before the vote, the councillors read the estimated costs of implementing the program, which indicated that the whole undertaking would cost PLN 280,000. This amount is greatly overstated and misleads the councillors – commented Anna Ryżewska, head of the SPZ.

We decided to return to the matter. – On February 11 this year, we submitted a letter to the City Council requesting that the draft resolution on adopting a program to combat animal homelessness be placed on the agenda again – Anna Ryżewska explains. – I was convinced that the chairwoman, Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk, would include this item on the agenda of the February session. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

What is more, the matter was not included on the agenda of the session scheduled for March 31. – At the next session, I will ask the chairwoman why she did not present this letter to us – announces Irena Dul, a Democratic Left Alliance councillor.

Meanwhile, the document was sent to the Infrastructure, Spatial Planning and Construction Committee, headed by Hubert Prabucki of Ziemia Bolesławiecka. – Why this committee in particular? – Anna Ryżewska wonders. – We wanted every councillor to read the letter.

Last week, the SPZ placed the document in each councillor’s mailbox at the Council office. The letter stated: “We believe that the Bolesławiec City Councillors should examine the Resolution on adopting the Program to Prevent Animal Homelessness again as soon as possible, but this time on the basis of a reliably balanced estimate of the cost of its implementation. On an annual basis, it amounts to PLN 80,000 for:

  • sterilization of stray cats and dogs (PLN 50,000)
  • treatment of stray animals (PLN 30,000).”

– We thoroughly analyzed the draft resolution. Bolesławiec veterinarians, among others, submitted their amendments. But if the program still contains any errors, they can surely be corrected – emphasizes the SPZ president. – The city authorities are disregarding the provisions of the Animal Protection Act. Regarding care for homeless animals, the municipality has done nothing over the past year. I feel that we are doing everything for them. This is the city authorities’ attitude toward community work.

On Friday, March 26, the IstotneInformacje.pl service contacted Hubert Prabucki about the matter. The councillor said that he had had bad experiences with other journalists and did not give interviews over the phone because he did not know whom he was speaking to (sometimes callers pretend to be someone they are not). He added that he could speak about the matter at the earliest on the day of the session, but even then he wanted to “authorize the article.” We called Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk. When she heard what the call was about, she said she was at a meeting and hung up.

– I ask the councillors to examine this draft once again – says Anna Ryżewska. We will return to the matter.

(information ii)