A stray dog died a gruesome death during New Year's night celebrations in Chisinau after a group of teenagers tied firecrackers to it and lit them, Valentina Dudnic, the head of the animal protection organization Alga, told Info-Prim Neo. “What happened is just horrible and I cannot understand why the authorities don't take any measures”, said Valentina Dudnic. A solution to the stray dogs in Chisinau could be the construction of an animal shelter, but the municipal authorities said that the design for such a facility would be ready no earlier than in March, despite earlier promises that it would be built by late 2010. Deputy Mayor Nistor Grozavu has told Info-Prim Neo that after the design is ready, a contest will be held to select the contractor. “It is perfectly normal that the procedure has been taking nearly one year now, due to the numerous approvals and other required procedures”. But Valentina Dudnic is skeptical that an animal shelter would be ever constructed in Chisinau. She said her organization has already proposed a ready-to-use design to the City Hall, but it was rejected. “I really don't think (the authorities) will build that shelter. The authorities are indifferent toward the fate of these poor dogs. We contacted a German organization that was willing to help us build that shelter, but so far we haven't been able to do anything because the authorities wouldn't let us”, said Valentina Dudnic. In February 2010, the City Hall authorities promised a shelter would be built by the end of the year to accommodate 1,000 stray dogs.