Romanian Constitutional Court deems stray dogs euthanasia law unconstitutional

Romania's Constitutional Court rejected the law which allowed authorities to euthanize stray dogs, saying parts of it were unconstitutional. Several NGOs as well as Members of the Parliament requested the Constitutional Court to check the new piece of law prior to enforcement. The law passed the Chamber of Deputies in November last year. MPs argued that, apart from a cover up for animal abuse, the new law would allow mayors to get rich by setting up companies which would euthanize dogs, under sub-contracts with city halls. The initiators of the law brought to the argument several cases of stray dogs who caused severe injuries or even the death of some people in the past. Around 300 people are bit by stray dogs every day, according to Ştefan Pirpiliu, head of the Sector 5 Bucharest organization of the Democrat Liberal Party (PDL). The organization will raise funds to create a shelter for stray dogs in Bucharest and plans to start a social campaign asking people to adopt a stray dog.

editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Arhivafoto.ro)