It seems crazy that our world puts animal preservation above human life. If you dont want a child- you can abort it. But you dare not kill a dog, for these maniac animal rights activitists go on the war-path. It is ludicrous. These packs of dogs should be hunted down and shot. Its simple. Kill them. Protect human life. It is sickening how this lady has been killed.

Adam, Birmingham, UK

Most probably this poor lady had tried to defend her own dog instead of unleashing it and keep herself out of troubles. It is - believe it or not - a normal behaviour of dogs to defend their "territory" against intruders. This can happen to you walking the mountains in a remote countryside. Wolves, bears and big shepherd dogs (livestock guardian dogs) may act the same way. The only thing you can do is unleash your dog and pray or stay away from this kind of travelling. Some of these countrysides are still at "wild" and you should always be aware by entering a real wilderness that you are going to become part of the foodchain. his is not a matter of romantizism anymore, it's reality! I myself roam around in the Carpathians alone or with six giant Mioritic dogs at a time which can fight off brown bears and wolfpacks very well. But a German shepherd may be nothing but prey in the last European outback. I'm so sorry for the lady and her dog...

Dirk R Bode, Hamburg, Germany,

in responce to the guy from Farnborough, Hampshire: if similar incident has happened here, in so-called by you first world country, nobody will try to help. When local youth gangs here rampage and do meaningles killngs on a dayly basis, there is little publicity about. It is much safer to walk in a village of a 'third world country ' and being eventually attacked by animals than walking in a park in the capital of of a 'first world country' and being attacked by humans.

genedi genev, tombridge, kent, uk

Dear Mike,

I have lived here for 9 years and there is a damn sght less crime than where i lived in central London for 33 years. In fact a recent survey by the British Embassy in Sofia asked Brist why those chose to live here - affordability is a big plus but everyone mentioned the low level of crime, and the freedom to walk around city centres without fear of being mugged or set upon by drunks. Bulgaria is actually nicer than many parts of the uk and is far from third world.

Andrew Anderson, rousse, bulgaria

if you don't like bulgaria don't go dan.bulgaria is full with british old people.a baby has been kild a month's ago ,it's not a problem
he is from bulgaria

s, zaventem, belgie

It is very helpful of you to inform us that dogs have mauled people in Bulgaria, in India, Canada and Australia.

Perhaps you might like to write a postscript of the number of children being mauled by illegal "pet" dogs in England.

Fair play and all that old boy!

Rajesh Mehta, Nairobi, Kenya

As dreadful as this atrocious attack was, what do you expect from a third world country? People see the cheap properties but are blinkered to the crime and troubles out there.

Mike Jones, Farnborough, Hampshire

how about some mobile volunteer/charity vets to neuter dogs in Bulgaria, getting dogs neutered is impossible here, there just arn't vets to do this job!
I have a huge female sheep dog, yes a rescue, but at 7 months old, the boys are already coming round to get prime position on her!
i have asked about the pill for her i'm so desperate not to add to this huge stray dog problem!
The cost of neutering if it were available would be completely out of the reach of the vast majority of Bulgarian dog owners, I have seen they do love their animals... some help would be wonderful!

Luvitsa, Kardjali, Bulgaria

The state should clear the dogs off the streets. I'm sure the cuddly animal rights people would object but with things like this happening it sounds like the only sensible response.

Peter, London,

The street dogs caused a lot of problems in Sofia in the past, but their number has been declining in the recent years and I think there are about 10 to 15 000 street dogs in Sofia now. The municipalities are working to solve the problem and I do believe it is gradually getting better.
What happened to the British lady is, of course, very sad.

Lazar Slavov, Bonn, Germany

I recall walking my own dog in a small town in northern Mexico; I had to carry a pocket full of rocks because the cry would go out and half feral unneutered dogs would come running from all directions and form a pack.

Bouncing a couple rocks off the heads of the leaders would persuade them to back off, but I soon found someplace else to walk.

Eric, Ottawa, Canada

The expansion of the EU really is a joy to behold.

ed fisjer, London,

Yes in Bulgaria the wild dogs are big problem, it is related with some natural protect organizations and of course it is depends from lack of funds.
It of course is problem that have not been resolved from many years and the population of wild dogs growths rapidly.

Martin Zhekov, Burgas, Bulgaria