Go Romania! 700 Dogs Adopted, But It Doesn't End There

March 20, 2001 Bucharest, Romania

For those of you who have been following the Romanian stray dog story, there's more to it yet.

The topic first made international headlines on March 1 when, on the eve of a massive extermination campaign, Bucharest's Mayor Traian Basescu was instead persuaded into a more benevolent alternative by renowned celebrity Brigitte Bardot (click here to read The Scoop March 1, 2001 article).

The nation's capital has been overrun by overwhelming numbers of stray dogs; it was estimated that more than 100,000 dogs were left to the streets following a massive, citywide demolition of homes in recent years.

The late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had ordered tens of thousands of homes demolished in order to make way for new construction, an unsuccessful vision that has since been criticized as arrogant and "megalomaniacal".  The result: citizens en masse moved into smaller apartment blocks, often being forced to abandon their pets to the streets.

Beginning last month, the animal rights group Foundation Brigitte Bardot began proposing a plan to clean up, sterilize and adopt out the city's stray dogs.

Brigitte Bardot and friend 

So far, the plan has been successful, thanks to the Romanian people living up to their reputation as dog-lovers.  At last count, over 700 dogs (who would otherwise have been killed two weeks ago) have been adopted into homes; that's almost half the capacity of Bucharest's shelters.  

Ms. Bardot herself has brought 14 of the strays into her own home.

 One mobile sterilization center is pictured below.

But there are still almost 200,000 dogs on the streets and in city shelters, where they can only be held for 10 days before being killed.

Still far from being solved, the problem has prompted Bucharest's animal control agencies to begin sending dogs abroad.  Many foreign animal rescue organizations have offered to help.  

The first 16 dogs were sent to Brussels on Sunday, reports Animaux Sans Frontières (Animals Without Borders), a Belgium-based rescue group.  They have received more than 100 requests to adopt Romanian strays.

Requests have come from as far away as Los Angeles, USA.

Editor's note: The Scoop is currently researching whom to contact, should you wish to adopt or sponsor a Romanian stray. Please check this article for updates.

Update, 8:09PM EST March 20, 2001
The Animaux Sans Frontières website is currently off-line.  Please contact them at 
tel: 00 32 - 427 42 75
fax: 00 32 - 427 31 64

Vier Pfoten (Four Paws) may be contacted
Tel: 040 / 399 249-0
Fax: 040 / 399 249-99
Email: Office@vier-pfoten.de

Update, April 18, 2001
Here's the link to Animaux Sans Frontières
Thanks to our Belgian Correspondent, Herma!

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