The origin of the problem with stray dog population in Bulgaria hides among several socail and economical factors.
After the fall of communist regime in 1989 and so called times of "changes" of political system, the issue of free roaming dogs has been disregarded. The severe policy of mass euthanasia was applied as post measures. The urbanization procces meanwhile has forced, thus leading to insufficient waste management. Paralel to that, the living standard in Bulgaria has worsened through the years of economic crises and higher inflation rates.
Still, on the same background, considerable amounts of public finances were reported without correct visible results. The effors of Bulgarian authorities are not positively evaluated by EU institutions.
The presence of many stray dogs will always cause inconvenience, if only just nuisance. The shelters are overcrowded and especially in the public shelters the dogs are severely neglected; they do not receive medical attention and they are hardly being fed.
In the privately owned shelters, the workers and volunteers do what they can but this is often not sufficient.
Why catch and shelter policy fails?
-it's aimed at the wrong group of dogs
-not all dogs can be caught
-number returns to carrying capacity
-increased spreading of diseases
Without educating the public, helping animals without pressuring the government from abroad, the situation of the stray dogs could hardly improve.