The stray Dogs of Constanta

** Please be warned - this page contains graphic content/pictures **

Constanta is a beautiful part of Romania, on the east coast its population of people is approx 60,000 with a stray dog population of approximately 10,000.  

Romania is not a land for dogs, for many dogs are not seen to be part of the family, merely as pests.  As such the treatment that many face is beyond what we can compare.  

the stray dogs experience

During my time in Romanian in 2013 and again 2014 I have seen and met many stray dogs.  I have yet to meet an aggressive dog, furthermore have never seen or heard of a dog with rabies.  Of all the dogs I have met, the strays in particular have all been friendly and would approach you for nothing more than a pet and some food if you have it. 

In 2013 you could see a dog, at least one, on any street or road.  In Bucharest dogs were evident in most areas, in small groups they would search for food, water and sanctuary.

​However on revisiting in 2014 hardly any dogs were evident, especially in Bucharest.  In late 2013 this was the area first targeted to rid the streets of strays and it is apparent that the friendly strays are gone.  Many organisations and private individuals work hard every day to help neuter and vaccinate the strays in many areas of Romania.  The dogs once neutered are meant to remain safe as no risk to the population, no chance of breeding and increasing numbers and no risk of spreading disease.  Sadly many ear tagged dogs are still rounded up.

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The Life of a Stray in the Land of Death - Romania

The Romanian Government in 2013 passed a law stating that any stray dog can be rounded up and once caught placed into a Public Shelter for 14 days.  If not claimed the dogs will be humanely euthanised.   The truth however is that the dogs are rarely if ever humanely euthanised as its far cheaper to use other methods.   

The dog catchers are paid for their duties - most are not dog people and as such the methods used are traumatic to say the least leaving many dogs in constant fear of humans thereafter.   Many are killed in the process of catching and sadly for the majority they will spend the rest of their natural lives locked up with little or no food or water, no treatment for sickness or injury and their lasting memory will be the moment they are sent to Rainbow Bridge by whatever means necessary. 

To highlight the treatment of dogs in Public Shelters please see the photos regarding the slaughter at Botosani during May 2011.  Overnight over 200 dogs were needlessly slaughtered, the mayor and vets declared all were humanely destroyed by injection however the NGOs and volunteers who attended say otherwise.  Only a few dogs survived and were removed to a place of safety.  The saddest part of this was that most of the dogs there were already reserved for adoption through Asociatia Ador - warning these photos are graphic and show deceased dogs: 

Pictures courtest of Asociata Ador

Pictures courtesy of PS Botosani 

Since then this continues.  Botosani transported overnight a van full of stray dogs to Constanta, which were intercepted and saved.  This is not an isolated incident, it happens everyday and will continue until the laws of Romania are changed to provide a better answer to the killing of dogs (see below photos of the Botosani dogs transported to Constanta in November 2013). 

​What can you do to help? 

​Killing is not the answer!  Please help us to highlight the plight of the strays - share our page, like our Facebook page and if you can attend any upcoming demonstrations in your area to help show others that this needs to stop.   Until the legalised killing of dogs stops, we will continue to help with the rehoming of a small number to suitable homes throughout Scotland and other parts of the UK.

Pictures courtesy of CNN

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