2. SAMPLE LETTER TO BE SENT TO THE EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND ROMANIAN MASS-MEDIA:
Dear Madam / Sir
I have recently become aware of a distressing situation in Romania regarding the massive killing of stray dogs in nearly every town. This fact is due to the tragically event, happened on 29^th of January 2006 in Bucharest, when a Japanese business man died because of a wound made by a dog bite. So far there are no proofs and no witnesses to demonstrate that this tragically accident involved a stray dog, but there are rumors that it might be a crime that used a fight dog as a killing weapon. The case is unfortunately closed, being easily for the authorities to blame a stray dog than to solve a possible murder. The political decision of the authorities jumped to the conclusions, following a very aggressive media campaign that created panic and different violent reaction (dogs are poisoned, mutilated, burned).
I know that Romania prides itself on the fact it is to join the European community in 2007 and I was astounded by this facts. Apparently the Romanian government’s answer to the stray dog overpopulation problem is to kill them in any way possible, including the barbaric means of poisoning, beating and shooting animals to death instead of sterilizing them, housing them in shelters, and offering them for adoption.
Something has to be done to change the policy of brutality and disregard for common decency that is evident in Romania. Even though there is ample evidence (photos, videos, eyewitnesses) of poisonings, beatings, and other atrocities committed on these innocent dogs, the government apparently does not regard this policy as inappropriate. Harmless and gentle dogs are brutally culled from protected neighborhoods where they have been neutered, vaccinated, fed and looked after by the local people. Those who try to protect the animals are often insulted and aggressed by the dog catchers.
I have written to the President of Romania, the Prime Minister, the Mayor of Bucharest, and other government officials, but am doubtful that it will make a difference to them, as they condone these acts. I understand that the policy toward strays in European countries is quite the opposite of Romania, and I hope that you will consider these creatures as equally deserving of kind treatment. It is with this thought that I reach out to you, in hopes that you will look into the situation, and perhaps be the catalyst for change.