To understand the situation in Romania - History and Mentality (Remade April 2012)

In order to understand how the stray dog situation came to be what it is today, we need to take a look back.

All the information below is from the Case Study: Romania by Liviu Harbuz,  President of College of Romanian Veterinarians

Historic background:

• From 1970 to 1989 in Romania demolition work let stray dogs roam freely in the streets and nobody took care of the control of reproduction. 

• Rural population built their own farms. Around 80% of farmers owned a dog = a total of 3.2 million dogs and cats in rural areas.

• People blame former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu for the homeless dogs. In 1984, he razed the historic town center to create the House of the Republic, now the Palace of Parliament, a communist monstrosity that is the world's largest civilian administrative building. As a result, an estimated 40,000 families were relocated to modern apartment buildings in which pets were forbidden. So they abandoned them to the streets.

• During this time, 60% of population lived in rural areas. 

•  Communist era – people were starving

•  People were poor but cared for animals

• There was a lack of education programs and parasite prevention, as well as a lack of identification and registration of pets.

• The only prevention method was anti-rabies vaccination. The vaccine caused side effects (encephalitis) to 15% of dogs; population became unwilling to vaccinate their dogs and cats.

• In Bucharest there were specialized salubrity services belonging to public institutions which dealt with catching and killing stray dogs; they were used for: 

                                                 -protein flour used to feed animals
                                                 -animal skin processing companies


Veterinary Background:

• Forest rabies spread by foxes expanded because of the lack of oral vaccination of these animals

• Rabid foxes were hunted, skinned, processed and offered as food to cats and dogs. Since parasite prevention was accidental, parasites lived the entire biological cycle (sheep – dog – man) on the farms.

• Many external and internal parasites were found only when a man became ill and was sent to a hospital, where he would be diagnosed with zoonoses. 

• In Romania there were only 30 veterinarians qualified to treat pets (dogs and cats).

• In the countryside, the dogs were kept in chain, hierarchically speaking being behind other farm animals.

• Dogs were fed with products and by-products derived from other species, so the epidemic situation was complex and perpetual

Social Background:

• The presence of stray dogs in parks, on playgrounds, in tourist resorts, on beaches, has caused a rejection response against pets from both authorities and restaurant and hotel owners.

• Under the circumstances there are many cases where people have understood to take justice into their own hands, because we are lacking well structured programs of the relevant authorities.

• It is depressing to see the count of dead dog scattered on highways, or even of people killed in traffic accidents, occurred because they attempted to avoid a dog or a horse loose on the road.

• Moreover, there are quite a few incidents when game is attacked by starving dogs, which are reverting to the condition of a wild animal.

Animal protection:

• Paradoxically, an animal protection program existed during the communist regime. There were non-governmental organizations which acted sporadically.

• Civil society was extremely active during the time of monarchy in Romania, between the two World Wars. The first organization for animal protection and the first animal protection law were founded in 1935. In 1938 there was a large number of professional organizations being set up, especially dealing with liberal professions, which developed significantly.

• The National Associations of Veterinarians was founded in this time. Veterinary medicine developed due to two factors: horses (which were used in the army, for sport, hunting and work) and dogs as pets and hunting.

• Once communism was installed, agriculture was collectivized and mechanized, and many horses used for farm work were killed. Horses used for recreation and dogs kept as pets were associated with capitalist society.

Animal protection legislation:

• The first 5 years after 1989 revolution, 10 NGO's dealing with animal protection appeared.

• In 1999 there were 36 animal protection organizations and more than 50 practices. Currently, there are over 130 organizations, over 230 practices and hospitals and over 60 private and public shelters for stray dogs.

• In 2001, the Government issued regulation 155, regarding the program of managing stray dogs, a regulation which was approved by Law 227/2002.

• In 2004, the Parliament passed Law 60, regarding the ratification of European Convention for pet protection. Also, authorities passed Law 205, regarding animal protection, which was modified and completed by Law 9/2008.

For a detailed take on the solution strategies for the canine overpopulation in Romania, please read the following link by Liviu Harbuz, President of College of Romanian Veterinarians.

http://www.vier-pfoten.eu/website/output.php?idfile=2872

• Romania ratified the European arrangement for the protection of home animals which came into force on the 01.03.2005.

• Romania is a member of the EU since 1.1.2007. Cruelty towards animals is against the EU values that Romania has adopted when joining the Community. 

"The Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the Member States relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage."

I hardly think abusing and killing stray dogs can in anyones book be seen as a romanian religious, cultural or regional tradition... Only education, information and a big change in common attitudes will change how people perceive these amazingly forgiving creatures.