Austria was the first country in the European Union to ban wild animals in circuses. This ban, besides saving many animals from a life of suffering, has also set a precedent that paves the way for bans all over Europe. Regrettably, EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is now trying to overturn the ban in Austria.
Horrible actions against stray dogs continues in Romania. After 29th of January the campaign of mass-killing stray dogs made by Romanian authorities has got very brutal aspects. We have sent numerous appeals to European Commission asking them to stop the maddness in Romania. There have not been many answers and because of that we continue our focus and have made new appeal to EU-commissioners with demand EU to act and stop this maddness. Please, join us to fight for animals rights. You can find e-mail addresses of EU-commissioners under the appeal.
I have recently become aware of the most distressing situation of the Romanian stray dogs. Stray dogs are brutally killed daily literally everywhere in Romania. All this is due to the tragic event of 29th of January 2006 in Bucharest. Sadly a Japanese business man died of a wound bitten by a dog. However this does not justify the brutal methods the Romanian authorities and people have taken against the stray dogs.
Animal lovers and organizations all over the world have sent thousands of appeals and petitions to Romanian authorities in vain. They are not willing to adopt more humane methods with stray dogs. Alternatives like neutering dogs and co-operating with local and international animal protection organizations are no option for the authorities. Instead they seem to deal with this issue on their own way i.e. with cruel massacres.
Numerous appeals and petitions have also been sent to European Union by concerned citizens. The typical reply to such appeals is that there is no Europe wide legislation in the field of animal welfare. Therefore EU has no possibility to legislate the concerned countries and each country should find their own solution on such matters.
Countless people have also contacted the Romanian EU-delegation in order to improve the horrible situation in Romania. The answer was - "With accession, Romania will need to comply with the provisions of EU legislation and to bring up the animal welfare standard to EU level. The control of stray animals, however, falls under the exclusive competence of the current and future Member States".
With same logic the concentration camps of Nazi Germany were also an internal national issue and others shouldn't have got involved.
Animal protection laws do exist in the most countries of EU. Failing to respect these laws incurs penalties. The latest law voted in relation to the protection of animals dates from 14th August 1986 and was modified by the laws of 26 March 1993 and 4th May 1995. To enable a Europe wide legislation based on this, is therefore not such a great challenge. Hence a legal basis already exists on which to establish and adopt new EU wide legal framework which should be extended to all candidate countries. Ignoring the law would lead to the imposition of penalties.
The preamble of the proposed European Constitution states that the Union aims to advance progress and civilization. Respect for animal life is no hindrance to progress or economic and social development. Union wishing to be coherent and advancing the road of civilisation is under every obligation to deal with the issue of animal welfare. It must ensure that its members deal with all animals in a humane way. Even an expanding Union must respect life in its all forms and do everything in its power to put an end to the current massacres perpetrated on animals.
The Union should also take the initiative to use its legal competence to vote in the European directive on the subject or at least a framework law on animal protection. The images of extreme cruelty to which we are constantly confronted are shocking and most distressing to all animal lovers and they seriously damage the image of the countries concerned.
I' am convinced that you will take the necessary measures rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter, which at the moment is such a great concern to a large number of Europeans. This matter can not be solved by Romanian authorities only - they seem to be incompetent to act in a humane way and with not acting EU actually silently approves the brutality.
Right now a massive massacre of the street dogs is taking place in Romania. Dogs are taken, by the dog-catchers, from the arms of the people that are feeding and taking care of them for years and many of them are brutally killed on the way to the city pounds. People who try to oppose are verbally and physically aggressed by the dog catchers. The “lucky” dogs who manage to arrive alive at the city pounds are kept in horrible conditions, in over-populated kennels. The poor dogs are drenched with cold water at temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius (below 23 degrees Fahrenheit), are beaten and left to starve. People who come to take their dogs back home are treated with disrespect by the city pounds personnel and are not allowed to see their dogs and take them home. Please take attitude regarding the slaughter of the Romanian Street dogs. Get involved by sending protest letters to the European organizations and representatives, and to the Romanian Authorities and Mass-Media. Please personalize the sample letters below or write a letter of you own:
1. SAMPLE LETTER TO BE SENT TO THE ROMANIAN AUTHORITIES:
Dear Madam / Sir, I write as a very concerned world citizen that has recently been made aware of horrendous massacres of street dogs that take place throughout Romania in an attempt to ‘clean up’ its cities’ image. I am aware that Romania prides itself on the fact it is to join the European community in 2007. However, I can assure you that any form of extermination of the kind undertaken in your country, the “so called euthanasia” including the barbaric means of poisoning, beating and shooting animals to death is no longer a European option. I have information that many dogs are 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 strongly urge you to do everything in your power to stop the killing of street dogs and address overpopulation issues in the only proven humane way that works! The comprehensive studies of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)prove the method scientifically. The ONLY acceptable means of controlling stray animal population by civilized nations is through TRIED AND TESTED STERILIZATION PROGRAMS: "In the long term, control of reproduction is by far the most effective strategy of dog population management" — W.H.O., Guidelines for Dog Population Management, page 72. "Removal and killing of dogs should never be considered as the most effective way of dealing with a problem of surplus dogs in the community: it has no effect whatsoever on the root cause of the problem." — W.H.O Guidelines for Dog Population Management, page 74. "In none of the study areas did the elimination of dogs by any method have any significant long term effect on dog population size." — Report of W.H.O. Consultation on Dog Ecology Studies related to Rabies Control Please ensure a strict Neuter - Release program is implemented,in conjunctionwith educational campaigns focusing on the importance of neutering, vaccination and identification, and with national adoption campaigns. The International community is both appalled and disappointed to learn that such atrocities are being carried out in 2006 in Romania. I implore you to continue to accept assistance from International animal welfare organisations, but use it in the manor for which it is intended; namely that of saving the lives of healthy animals and not contributing to their senseless murder. I look forward to your reply, Sincerely, Your Full Name, Your Address (City and Country) E-mail addresses of the Romanian Authorities: procetatean@presidency.ro; drp@cancelarie.ro; srp@cdep.ro; anastase@cdep.ro; cp06@cdep.ro; cp14@cdep.ro; presa@cdep.ro; dan.vasiliu@senat.ro; cabu@senat.ro; capot@senat.ro; mihaela.ivan@cultura.ro; paloma_petrescu@mec.edu.ro; gabriel.friptu@dr.mie.ro; ene.dinga@mie.ro; ministru@ms.ro; euintegr@ms.ro; ioan.onisei@cultura.ro; contact@ppcd.ro; pdsr@pdsr.ro; pdsr@unix1.senat.ro; guv@kappa.ro; prm@cdep.ro; prm@unix1.senat.ro; pnl@cdep.ro; rfalex@unix1.senat.ro;avideanu@bucuresti-primaria.ro; primar@videanu.ro; Ludovic.Orban@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Razvan.Murgeanu@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Dumitru.Stanescu@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Laura.Zainescu@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Lia.Licanescu@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Mariana.Stefanescu@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Cristian.Iftimoaie@bucuresti-primaria.ro; Viorel.Uleia@bucuresti-primaria.ro; office@ansv.ro
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 29th 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.
Respectfully, Your Full Name, Your Address (City, Country)
Yesterday, a Japanese man had died in Bucharest (Romania) because of bite injuries. Nobody knows how exactly this incident happened (it is belived that it was a breed dog and it was actually in a yard), but media blames the stray dogs and is encouraging a histerical massive KILLING campaign !!!
The authorities are now thinking about KILLING THEM ALL after a 72 hours truce!
A Romanian TV channel is asking for our opinion, please, express yours at:
The POOL is in Romanian and the translation in english is as follows:
How do you think the problem of stray dogs should be solved?
·The euthanasation of strays (first answer)
·THE NEUTERING OF THE STRAYS (SECOND)
·By giving a fine to those feeding the strays (third)
If you want to post a comment they ask you about your Name, Occupation and City (Country) (first row at the bottom of the pool) and then the Comment (second row). You’ll find the questions in Romanian; in the bottom right corner (I highlighted the exact paragraph) Thank you and, please take action! This is how that paragraf looks in Romanian: http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/226/194269317/ACTION_NEEDED_/sondaj.jpg.html
Romanian strays - TODAY urgent help needed!!!! please crosspost everywhere!!!!
Dear friends, I need your help, please write today, because the meeting for the decision is tomorrow in the morning! I am so desperate, i just found out, please improve the letter, but just write! Thank you very much
On Thursday, 10th of November the bucharest City hall is planning the extermination of the Romanian stray dogs
I do not have the time to transalte everything, here are the main points:
- adoption fee - 5.000.000 lei = 135 Euro / and the minimum wages = 81 Euro (TOO Much for the Romanian people - the middle salary in Romania is less than 150 Euro) - the dogs which are not adopted will be killed after 7 days, not after 14 days.. - the dogcatchers are allowed to enter any public institution, even if the dogs over there are protected by the owners - you are allowed to adopt ONLY ONE dog!
Please send your protest letter TODAY! Please crosspost everywhere!
This is a protest against adopting the Project for giving dogs from adoption and deciding the adoption fee! We consider that the followiing proposed mesasure are an abuse: - 5.000.000 lei fee - dogs' killing after 7 days from their catching - unauthorized entry in public institutions - the obligativity to adopt only one dog! These are abusive measures and they were not presented to the audience, the Romanian citizens who pay for their taxes and have the right to decide how many dogs they want to adopt, and are entitled to their own opinion! This is not possible to be happening in 2005, in a European capital, in a country supposed the enter the European union soon. The only acceptable means of controlling stray animal population by civilized nations is through tried and tested sterilization programs. The way a society treats companion animals, reveals that society's sense of humanity and respect for life. Romania is gaining a poor reputation among nations and people like myself who refuse to travel and to invest in a country where animal welfare is not a priority. I know that there are national and international organizations willing to help you with free sterilization and adoptions campaign, but this project is a proof that you are not interested to cooperate!
You can contact Daisy Hope foundation for free sterilizations and adoptions campaing (TV, press, internet campaing to give the stray dogs for adoption).
Wednesday, December 23,
2009 7:24 PM
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