The German Animal Welfare Federation and its member organization Tierhilfe Hoffnung are pleased about an important political success of their long-standing joint commitment to street animals in Romania: The Romanian veterinary authorities have initiated a change in the law to strengthen the castration, identification, registration and rabies vaccination of Romanian dogs and cats by their owners in Argeș County. There is already a nationwide obligation for owner animals. However, this has hardly been implemented to date. With this amendment, the authorities are paving the way for an exemplary model project, which is based on the overall concept for street dogs in Romania developed by the German Animal Welfare Federation and Tierhilfe Hoffnung and is being implemented for the first time in the district of Argeș. The largest animal shelter in the world, the Smeura, which is run by Tierhilfe Hoffnung, is also located here.
"This is great news at the end of the year for animal welfare in Romania, which is encouraging! The authorities are showing great willingness to shape the legal framework for our model project in Arges in such a way that it really can become a successful example for the whole country - not something to be taken for granted. Our perseverance and a lot of persuasion and educational work are finally starting to pay off," comments Luca Secker, specialist for pets and animal welfare abroad at the German Animal Welfare Federation.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PET OWNERS
In the view of the German Animal Welfare Federation, neutering is the key to reducing the population of stray dogs and cats in a sustainable and animal-friendly way, and the comprehensive neutering of all and especially free-roaming owner pets is an important first step. So far, however, various socio-political factors have prevented implementation. These include reservations about neutering male animals in particular, poverty among the population, a lack of knowledge and a lack of controls. With the amendment to the law, vets and authorities in the district of Arges will now have a clear legal mandate to implement the existing obligations. Local authorities will also be required to finance neutering, identification and registration.
INCREASING OPENNESS FOR ANIMAL WELFARE SOLUTIONS
The German Animal Welfare Federation, together with Tierhilfe Hoffnung and the support of German politicians, has been active in Romania for years on behalf of street animals in Argeș. In discussions with politicians and veterinary authorities, the federation advocates the principle of "catch, neuter, release" and is now also supported by the German embassy. In Romania, it has no longer been legally possible to release street dogs after neutering since 2013. After a 14-day period, the animals can be killed. "We very much hope that this cruel and senseless method of killing will soon be a thing of the past," says Secker.
