– Bolesławiec Municipal Commune has decided to provide money for expanding the shelter in Dłużyna Górna. During the meeting, we considered whether this was a good idea and concluded that it was not – says Anna Ryżewska, head of the Animal Aid Association. SPZ members had heard that the city authorities wanted to spend PLN 400,000 for this purpose. – That is a large amount – says the association’s chairwoman. – For that money, a small shelter could be built in our city.
SPZ is collecting signatures for a petition “concerning the creation of a facility for the temporary sheltering of homeless animals” (it is available at veterinary clinics). The document states: “We demand that action be taken as soon as possible to create, within Bolesławiec Municipal Commune, a facility for temporarily sheltering homeless animals, namely dogs and cats. […] The creation of the above-mentioned facility is essential to provide professional care for homeless dogs and cats, especially those requiring treatment or rehabilitation, for example after accidents or sterilization, as well as those that have been abandoned or have strayed. We believe that the lack of action in this area to date places the Municipal Commune very low when it comes to caring for homeless animals.”
Almost 300 people have already signed the petition. – Our city is not short of people who help animals. There are also people who do not have animals themselves but strongly support our campaign and believe that building a shelter in Bolesławiec would finally be money wisely spent by the commune – says Anna Ryżewska. – The city authorities have been struggling with the problem of homeless animals for years. They take chaotic actions that so far have done little good for the animals. What is needed is a reliable discussion, planning and setting aside appropriate funds, even if only for microchipping dogs and sterilization.
– The kennels at Zieleń-Plan are just a way of checking the matter off the list. A chipped dog was taken there recently, and the municipal police did not even check whether the animal had an owner – says Joanna Kowalczyk, a member of the association. – The dogs receive absolutely no care there – emphasizes Radosław Niemczyk of SPZ. – They live in dirt and stench. I took my own dog from there. He was in terrible condition. The veterinarian told me that if I had not taken him away, he would not have survived the next two days.
– Nobody is demanding that the city spend some enormous amount of money. But the dogs at Zieleń-Plan should at least have conditions comparable to those provided for animals in Dłużyna Górna – says Radosław Niemczyk. – Nobody would have any complaints if the dogs at Zieleń-Plan were properly cared for – adds Agnieszka Wojtczak-Kulig, the association’s secretary.
We asked Bolesławiec City Hall spokesperson Agnieszka Gergont whether the city authorities actually intended to contribute to expanding the shelter in Dłużyna Górna. The spokesperson only replied that negotiations were under way and that “everything would be clarified in the coming weeks.” We asked whether there was a chance that a shelter for homeless animals could be established in our city. – Bolesławiec Municipal Commune has considered building a shelter within Bolesławiec several times; however, under the city’s spatial development plan, we do not have a suitable site within the city that would meet the requirements arising from the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of 23 June 2004 on specific veterinary requirements for operating animal shelters. According to this regulation, an animal shelter should be located at least 150 m from human settlements, public-utility facilities, agricultural and food-processing facilities, animal-feed production plants, rendering plants, slaughterhouses, markets, livestock gathering points, zoological gardens and other places where animals are gathered. In previous years, talks were held with the heads and mayors of neighboring communes about building a shelter in one of the communes. The talks produced no result. The costs of building a shelter are very high; for example, a new shelter near Lubin will cost more than PLN 2 million – Agnieszka Gergont noted.
The spokesperson also addressed the allegations concerning Zieleń-Plan: – The company’s premises are frequently monitored by municipal services, a veterinarian, the district veterinarian and the building inspection authority. At present, it is the only place where homeless animals can be kept.
City Councilor Irena Dul told us that during an informal conversation with Jan Kisiliczyk, head of the Property and Spatial Management Department of Bolesławiec City Hall, it was said that the city could in fact find land on which a shelter could be built. Asked for comment, the department head replied that he did not remember such a conversation.
(information ii)