Against the Euthanasia of Stray Dogs

ORGANIZZAZIONE DI VOLONTARIATO
,,SORRISO DEL SOLE “
www.sorrisodelsole.eu

PETITION AGAINST THE EUTHANASIA OF THE STRAY DOGS

The association for animal protection SUFLETE AG from the city Curtea de Argeş, Romania and the Organization of Volunteer Work, ,,SORRISO DEL SOLE” ITALY, brings to your attention the fact that a considerable part of the citizens from the EUROPEAN UNION categorically opposes to the euthanasia of the stray dogs in Romania as a part of the enforcement of the ordinance O.U.G. 155/2001 ruled by the Law 227/2002.

The indisputable argument is that in Romania there are already successfully functioning shelter centers for both treatment and adoption, with the support of the city councils, centers where the ordinance O.U.G 155/2001 does not apply.

Under these circumstances the choice of the institutions of the Romanian state to apply ad literam the above mentioned O.U.G. and the fact that they ignore the possibility to find a variant to manage the matter of the stray dogs that excludes their eradication, cannot be considered but a manifestation of contempt and inconsideration for the Romanian and foreign citizens who sign and sustain this petition; in Romania these citizens are, of course, tax payers and, periodically, electors.

Other arguments:
Law 227/2002 rules the enforcement of the ordinance O.U.G. 155/2001 and provides the possibility of the administrative mechanisms of each city to choose or not the euthanasia because it is stipulated in the law as a recommendation and not as an obligation. (art.7, pc.1 vs. annex 3).

The legislation for this matter, inclusively O.U.G. 155/2001, is not familiar for the citizens, especially to these citizens who are not constantly preoccupied with this field (professionally), for objective reasons. Thus, far too few people are aware that their money are to be used for mass murders, in murdering the representatives of a species profoundly attached to the human species, which exists for man and as well by man was left outside control, in Romania. We have the conviction that a great part of these people would reject application of this ordinance. Meanwhile we assure you that the signatories of this petition as their supporters explicitly refuse the use of their money for the eradication of the stray dogs.

The ad literam abiding by the O.U.G. 155/2001, in fulfilling of the recommendation of the euthanasia after the expiration of the term of 7 days will lead to the murder to the run away dogs, too, and they are not few; any owner of a dog is willing to explain anytime how important is a dog in a family and what deep sufferance is provoked by its loss, even when it happens by natural causes.

Romania has an obligation to respect the European Convention for companion animal protection, ratified at the 23rd of March 2004, the Universal Declaration of the Animal Rights, and has its own Law for animal protection 205/2004; hence, a sick dog, or injured, brought to the flaying centre will be compulsory treated and taken care for 7 days, until euthanasia. The nonsense is obvious, as are the costs.

There are physical and juridical persons or associations for animal protection already invested, in time, enormous amounts in treatment, sterilization, and maintenance of the stray dogs, as they have invested sentimentally; the dogs were for the most part relocated for reason that do not make the object of this investigation and petition. Murdering these dogs is the annulations of the lengthy effort and the dedication of thousands of people.

The topic of stray animals, dogs and cats, was never approached in Romania with consistence, in an organized, scientific, and objective manner; again, we underline that here it is about the closest species to man, domesticated by man for his benefit. Until the solution of murder as human beings and representatives of human beings you have the obligation to discuss the subject at the highest standards; not in televised shows and not through inflamed opinions, but in broad debates compulsory involving veterinary doctors, human medicine doctors, psychologists and the associations for animal protection from cities where the recommendation of euthanasia is not enforced, and from other countries.
In Romania, the only argument in favor of euthanasia for the dogs sheltered in the public flaying centers is that "the same way is in the civilized countries, too".

In a country where in the field of animal protection, a specific culture is as inexistent, the argument may be only one, and a fledgling one: there are as well countries where euthanasia does not apply. Thus, it is exclusively about a choice.

In conclusion, we state that the HUMANITARY ASSOCIATION SUFLETE AG has proposals that await to be listened to and especially that aside the explicit adhesion or aside the support from certain personalities from ROMANIA, ITALY, ENGLAND, but also from other countries, has in its structure a majority of young members, under 35, who do not think to leave the part of Romania that needs them. The murder of the dogs we tend to daily, as possible at present, is to be our passport, too.

PRESIDENTE
ADVOCATE
RADU PETRE