BBC Investigation: Bulgarian Runs a Network for Fighting and Trading Dogs

Bulgarian runs a network for dog fighting and trade with dog-fighters, the British public television BBC reported in an investigation broadcast last night. The BBC has footage and the man's words, shown as the organizer of the network, show that other Bulgarians participate in it, reports Dnevnik. 

The material, carried out with the help of the NGO "League against Cruel Sports" and private detectives, focuses on a Bulgarian named Ivaylo Nikolov from Ruse, shown as the organizer of the network. Nikolov was described as the owner of a pitbull kennel and animal transport company. An undercover BBC team ordered from him a pitbull from Moldova for 3000 euros. It must be delivered to the country with a passport issued by a Bulgarian veterinarian.

In the report, which is shown on television (a fragment from it is also available on the site), there are also pictures of a battle between pit bulls, in which a Bulgarian speech is clearly heard. In another record, Nikolov himself says that "there is a network" in the business.

It does not specify whether he runs the entire European network, but is said to have "documented his work" on Facebook and has traveled to 29 countries, some outside the continent - the US, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan and others. The BBC says, "There is evidence that he has been delivering dogs to Kerry Evans in the UK." There are also plans to travel to the Caribbean to fight dogs.

The media also notes: "The Balkans are at the center of the dog fighting business in Europe."

Bulgarian documents, tests, certificates

"We travel to Eastern Europe for a meeting with Nikolov and he agreed to sell us a dog for a fight," the authors explain. Ivailo Nikolov ("Intelligent, Friendly, Speaking English...