Stray dogs in Romania
The situation facing stray dogs in Romania is the result of historical, political and social developments. We wanted to see the situation for ourselves in Romania. In the spring of 2024, we spent a week visiting six different shelters and speaking to local people. This page provides an overview of the key background factors and structures.
How did the problem arise?
The large number of stray dogs in Romania has built up over decades. In the 1980s, many people were forced to move into prefabricated blocks of flats. Their dogs were left behind on the streets and bred uncontrollably. After the end of the communist Ceaușescu regime, there was a lack of clear state structures to tackle the problem. To this day, economic disparities, a lack of resources and political decisions shape the way stray dogs are dealt with.
Legal situation
The legal framework governing the treatment of stray dogs in Romania has been amended on several occasions. A law requiring dog owners to have their dogs neutered has been in place since 2001. However, in many places, compliance is not monitored.
Law on euthanasia
Following a dog attack on a boy in 2013, the situation has deteriorated. A law has been passed permitting the euthanasia of unadopted dogs under certain conditions. If a dog is not collected after two weeks in a public shelter, it may be euthanised. Implementation of the law is the responsibility of the local authorities. Such killing shelters still exist today.
The journey to the shelter
Some dogs are handed in or abandoned by their owners, whilst others are collected by paid dog catchers and taken to a shelter. Private organisations or individuals take dogs in from public shelters or directly from the streets.
As soon as the animals arrive at the shelter, they are given a health check, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed and neutered.
Public and private shelters
We visited various animal shelters. Public shelters are funded entirely by the state. According to local animal welfare activists, this is not enough in many places. That is why there are many hybrid models, where animal welfare organisations cover part of the costs. There are also private projects run solely by associations or organisations.
Neutering and adoption
There is a consensus on the ground: long-term sterilisation programmes would be the key to achieving a sustainable reduction in the stray dog population. However, there is a lack of public awareness and enforcement.
That is why local and international animal welfare organisations are working to rehome dogs and facilitate adoptions.
Challenges and criticism
The issue of how to deal with stray dogs is a controversial one. Among other things, criticism has been levelled at a lack of oversight, regional variations in the enforcement of laws, and insufficient financial and human resources.
The system allows corruption and animal suffering to persist, whilst failing to provide a sustainable solution to the problem.