Romanian Parliament grants license to kill stray dogs.

Urged in early September by President Basescu to legalise mass killing of stray dogs, the Romanian Parliament reacted immediately. On September 10th the plenary granted local authorities the license to start killing the dogs immediately. The President's demands arose after a recent and well-covered tragedy. This decision has no ethical, technical or financial ground. In the past, the government has culled 140,000 dogs using public funds and still the situation remains unsolved. The new law sends Romania back to the stone age.

In the meantime, animal haters have start the torture and killing of stray dogs. Authorities are tolerating these actions. FOUR PAWS' veterinarians are being forced to stop neutering and treating injured strays, but they are bravely continuing their work and trying to save as many dogs as possible. Over 100,000 friendly dogs have been neutered and released by FOUR PAWS' Stray Animal Care teams in the last decade. The authorities want to kill them too.

Stray dogs have been part of urban and rural Romania for decades. So far, there have been few incidents where humans and strays have come in conflict. Unfortunately, when these incidents occur, it is often due to lack of public awareness and proper management of the situation by the local authorities.

About one million dogs will be killed in the upcoming days and months, gratifying the country's leaders and baying public. However, this unethical and reactive decision is far removed from the real solution to manage the stray dog situation in a humane way.

-FOUR PAWS

 Give the Romanian stray dogs a chance to live

Asociaţia PetHope - Bobby, the decay of a Romanian street dog

Asociaţia PetHope:

We are 10-20 people that came together out of love for animals. Our animal protection association was founded in April 2010.

We focus on spay & neuter, education and emergencies.

Bobby, the decay of a Romanian street dog

Bobby is a 1 year old street dog. He was living near the site where a 12-puppy litter was born and we went to take care of them, take them to adoption fairs, etc 

Imagine him always being around, always jumping on you and wanting to play. A wonderful dog! The neighbors loved him, fed him, played with him. We love him too. 
  His eye was infected and when we went to take him to the vet he wasn't to be found. Finally, we were called because he was lying on the field and couldn't move. The ladies say he was beaten by someone.

Before and after he was beaten

These are his injuries:
- damaged eye, cannot be saved, will be taken out in the near future (older injury)
- 2 missing teeth
- broken right leg, will recover by itself
- badly broken left front leg, needed to be fixed with metal parts
- wounds on his back leg and ear 

We don't know how this wonderful dog got in such a state, the whole thing is very sad... But we won't rest until we find out. Bobby is a very kind and gentle dog. When we visited him all he wanted was to come to us even when his leg hurt. The vet also said he has rarely seen a street dog with such good behavior.

You can watch a short video of him: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=217480404988418

He really needs a FOREVER HOME, because being the nicest street dog didn't work out for poor Bobby. 


The costs for his surgery and hospital stay are 690 Lei (160 Euro). Any donation for him is of great help because we still have to pay this: 

Lei Account:
Asociaţia Pet Hope
IBAN: RO96 RZBR 0000 0600 1253 5915
Banca Raiffeisen Bank CIF 26863617 

Euro Account:
Asociaţia Pet Hope
RO45 RZBR 0000 0600 1378 2216
Banca Raiffeisen Bank
SWIFT (BIC): RZBRROBU 

Paypal: pethope@live.com

UPDATE #1
Bobby is at Dog City (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001754093545) now, in a dog hotel. Thanks guys for that. The ladies from the neighborhood he lived in collected donations to pay for another month, which is great to see!!!
Bobby really needs this foster place because of the metal frame around his leg. We went to the vet and he said it is remarkable how well the leg is: not swollen, puts it down sometimes, but not when he runs fast. That is very good. The eye will be removed when the metal parts will be removed (in 3-4 weeks), to prevent an infection. The trip with Bobby was great. He has a really wonderful personality and the one who will adopt him will be a lucky man!

UPDATE #2
Metal parts removed before Christmas and now Bobby is walking great! His eye didn't need to be removed.
BEST NEWS: Bobby has a home!!! He shares the yard with a German shepherd lady. She needed a partner to guard the house that is under construction. We visited one evening and he was so excited!!! We will visit him every time we go to Dog City as it is near them. Thank you guys from Dog City for finding him a place to stay!!! Bobby is a special dog and we will keep in touch with him always!

UPDATE #3
We had to take Bobby back because his owner didn't want him anymore :(
He is the same playful and loving dog :)
His legs are fully recovered, his eye is affected but not infected so he can keep it, even though he probably doesn't see with it. The other eye is OK.
Bobby deserves a LOVING HOME! Please consider adopting him!

 
This was Bobby. Always there, always happy, always jumping on you.
People in the neighborhood loved him, fed him, played with him.

He lived at a site where a 12-puppy litter was born. We took care of the pups, gave them up for adoption. Every time we went there he was always by our side. Simply a lovely dog.

 One day we noticed that he had a problem with his eye.
The next day we wanted to take him to a vet but he wasn't to be found.

 Finally we were called that he lies in the field and cannot move. We rushed him to the vet.
His eye cannot be saved. It was an external object that hurt his eye.
But the other problems were much more severe.

People in the neighborhood said he was beaten by someone. We won't rest until we find out what happened to him.

He had wounds on his back leg and on his ear.

The biggest problem is that both front legs were fractured.
One not so bad, it will recover by itself, but the other was broken in 2 places.

 His surgery for the broken leg went well. He will have to carry the metal parts for 6 weeks.

 


  He is such a kind dog. When we visited him all he wanted is to come beside a human being, even if he walks very slow.

The vet also says he has rarely seen a street dog which such a nice behavior.
The eye will need to be taken out, but not now, because he is going through a lot already.

 This is the solution for his leg to recover. These metal parts will come out in 6 weeks.

 It was so sad to see in what a state he was... after seeing the dog he was.

 We really hope, and the vet assures us, that he will make a full recovery and that we'll find a nice loving family for him.

Our lovely partners Dog City made space in their dog hotel for Bobby, because it was such a desperate case and we found no foster home for him.
 

 
 Dog trainer Robert told us Bobby has great character. He is allowed to take walks outside with the other dogs and he is very sociable & nice.
Romanians would say "e un caine de treaba"
 

 Here's Bobby in his last home before being returned by his new owner..... Life being chained just isn't for Bobby (or any other dog for that matter).

 




And this is Bobby now (to the right)
 Who would have thought? One eyed Bobby is the boss of the yard he lives in from day 1!

 
As you can see his favorite thing are still people, which he tries to keep there as long as possible :)

 The students from the vet college came to treat, socialize and take samples. The dogs where so happy, including Bobby of course :D as he is always happy.


















                                                                                                            

For more pictures and updates of Bobby, please visit PetHope's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001793812916

Thank you for taking the time to read about Bobby.

Romania Animal Helpline

For anyone and everyone living in Romania - Romania Animal Helpline

"Romania Animal Helpline was initiated to provide the first structured support Helpline in Eastern Europe with the objective of ensuring that abuse of animals will be successfully prosecuted under the existing Animal Welfare Laws. The Helpline will operate initially in Bucharest with a view to expanding as resources permit.

This initiative is to facilitate the introduction of an animal cruelty Helpline in Romania. For anyone reporting an incident, Helpline will provide them with a 24/7 response by volunteers, who will in turn have immediate access to a veterinary surgeon and legal advice.

 In addition to the animal being afforded swift attention, a legally compliant, evidence supported process will be initiated with a view to prosecuting the person or persons responsible. Arrangements will be made for the rescued animal to receive medical treatment and to be temporarily fostered until a permanent home can be found

It is envisaged that with each successful prosecution, a case history will be created and act as precedent for subsequent cases.. Also as more successful prosecutions are publicised, the likelihood of criminal acts of abuse will diminish with the deterrent  of a fine or custodial sentence. It is also envisaged the the status and regard for animals will increase as they will be equated to a person's financial disadvantage or personal liberty, whereas currently an animals value is freely disposable."