Yesterday, Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov proposed an amendment to punish animal cruelty with one to five years in jail. The push for punishment for animal cruelty follows a recent case of cruelty against a dog by an unknown perpetrator. Following the incident, animal-rights groups called upon Naydenov to enact harsher penalties, and citizens showed their support by signing online petitions. The amendment will be included in the country’s new penal code, and will be prepared by lawyers, members of parliament, and NGOs. Currently, no animal cruelty laws exist in Bulgaria.