Street dogs in Bucharest

In Bucharest - the capital city of Romania - the problem of stray dogs (maidanezi in Romanian) has been acknowledged for the past decades.^[1] The number of stray dogs has been reduced drastically in 2014, following the death of a 4-years old child who was attacked by a dog.^[2] In 2015, the Bucharest City Hall stated that over 51,200 stray dogs were captured between October 2013 and January 2015, with more than half being euthanized, about 23,000 being adopted, and 2,000 still residing in the municipality's shelters.^[3] The issue has not only been a heated subject of debate in Bucharest, but also on a nationwide scale.^[4]

Stray dogs using a crosswalk in Bucharest, late 2011

Background

Feral puppies in Bucuresti

The problem has been created as a result of the systematization, a policy imposed during the Communist regime that ruled Romania for decades.^[5]

The problem escalated in 2004, when the legislative framework that allowed the euthanasia of unclaimed stray dogs was repealed.^[6][7]

On 10 September 2013, the Parliament of Romania approved the Stray Dogs Euthanasia Law with an absolute majority.^[8]

On 24 September 2013, the Constitutional Court of Romania has deemed the law to be in compliance with the Constitution of Romania.^[9]

On 25 September 2013, the President of Romania signed the Stray Dogs Euthanasia Law.^[10]

Prior to 25 September 2013 (see below), the legislative framework of Romania did not allow the euthanasia of unclaimed stray dogs. The standard procedure stated that stray dogs were to be captured by an animal control officer. The dogs would then be taken to animal shelters operated independently by animal rights NGOs.^[11] At the shelter, the dogs were due to be sterilized and - if no one legally adopted them - they would be sent back on the streets or sent abroad for adoption.^[12][13][14]

Incidents

Dog bites occur on a regular basis as a result of the stray dog situation. In 2012 alone, 16,192 people were bitten by dogs in Bucharest. Out of these, 3,300 were children.^[15]

However, an even more alarming situation is that of death occurring as a direct result of dog bites. At least three deaths have occurred in Bucharest as a result of dog packs biting citizens. Those who died were either senior members of society or children.^[16]

The issue of stray dogs gained international attention in 2006, when a Japanese citizen was bitten by dogs on Victoria Square. The man died as a result of hemorrhagic shock caused by one of the many dog bites that severed an artery.^[17] The dog that was determined to have bitten the man was adopted by a German family and died of old age in April 2013.^[18]

In January 2011, a Romanian woman was lethally bitten by a dog. She died as a result of hemorrhagic shock, also caused by a dog bite that severed an artery.^[19]

Death of Ionuț Anghel

The situation escalated rapidly on 2 September 2013, when a four-year-old boy was attacked (not eaten alive)^[20][21] by a stray dog in the proximity of a park in Bucharest. The event has caused an instant outcry in the Romanian society.^[22] His death led to a series of changes in the legislative framework that allowed the euthanasia of stray dogs in an easier manner.^[23][24]

The child was playing together with his six-year-old brother, away from adult supervision. The two children were playing near private property, when a pack of dogs suddenly attacked the young boy. Since there were no adults around, his six-year-old brother ran away to get help from his grandmother (the woman was looking after them). By the time the grandmother arrived at the scene together with the police, the boy was found dead and disfigured in a bush. Although initially blamed on stray dogs, his death was later found to be caused by security dogs from a private company.^[25]

Two days later, it was revealed that the dog that bit the child was registered to an animal rights NGO.^[26][27]

The reactions to his death were almost unanimously that of shock. The accident was listed as breaking news on news channels in Romania for multiple days. Protests were organized - both in favor of^[28] and against^[29] - the stray dogs euthanasia laws.^[30]

The President of Romania urged the legislature to establish a set of laws urgently.^[31] The Prime Minister of Romania stated that he would support the Stray Dogs Euthanasia Law.^[32] As a result of the death, an investigation was started; those found guilty by a court of law will be sanctioned according to penal law.

Involvement

The issue of stray dogs in Bucharest has multiple parties, each bearing an interest in the issue.

Asociația Cuțu Cuțu

Asociația Cuțu Cuțu (literally translated Doggie Doggie Association in English) is a Romanian NGO that focuses on animal rights, and more specifically, stray dogs. It was founded in 2002 and has been lobbying against euthanasia, and other laws concerning stray dogs. It has been created as a response to the abuse stray dogs are facing.^[33]

In September 2013, an incident concerning a stray dog bite that led to the death of a four-year-old boy^[34] has brought ACC back under national and international media attention.^[35][36]

Controversy

On May 4, 2012, Cuțu Cuțu has issued a press release, which has been flagged as "shocking", "terrible" and has been associated with Reductio ad Hitlerum by the Romanian mass-media and bloggers.^[37][38][39] The press release compared dog shelters with the Nazi concentration camps. Two days after the press release, the Association has released another press statement, which mentioned the fact that they are not antisemitic and have "plenty of Romanian Jewish friends". Furthermore, it has been mentioned that what they wanted to point out is that the authorities treat dogs the way Jews were treated in 1940.^[40]

The National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) has self-mandated and is going to start an inquiry.^[41]

Later in May 2012, the head of the Municipality of Bucharest, Sorin Oprescu, has repealed the accusations. He said that his aim is to sterilize the stray dogs and take them off the streets.^[42] The media has responded positively towards his statement.^[43]

Vier Pfoten

Vier Pfoten (Four paws in English) - an Austrian animal rights NGO - has been actively involved in the adoption of animals that have been allegedly abused or mistreated in some way, including street dogs.^[44]

BBFWPA

In late 2013, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals (BBFWPA) has taken NVDA as a result of the animal abuse. Bardot has sent two open letters addressed to either the President of Romania or the European Commission.

The first letter was sent in order to "denounce" the Stray Dogs Euthanasia Law. She deemed the project to be a "project of systematic extermination".^[45] Furthermore, Bardot appealed to the "majority" in order to find a "solution approved by the European Union, from which Romania has been part of since 2007". The content of the letter has been received with criticism and skepticism in Romania.^[46] In response, the President of Romania has responded by saying that "Brigitte Bardot was beautiful during the reign of the Kings of France".^[47]

The second later was addressed to the "president of the unfortunate Romanian nation". Bardot stated that the President of Romania is "the successor of Nicolae Ceaușescu". In the letter, she asked "where the money from the European Commission was" and "where the 3.42 million vaccinated dogs were". Bardot said that "the dogs are paying with their life as a result of a corrupt management".^[48] She ended the letter by saying that she had "pleasant memories about Romania", but that she is "currently comparing it to hell".^[49]

In Popular Culture

Prominent San Francisco-based author, Peter Byrne, has chosen "The Dogs in Bucharest" as the title for his forthcoming memoir. Simon & Schuster currently hold publishing rights to the work, with a release expected early 2016 under the company's Free Press imprint.

Bibliography