Constitutional Court rules against bill that allows euthanasia of stray dogs

Newsroom 11/01/2012 | 15:53

The Constitutional Court has today ruled against the law that allows the euthanasia of stray dogs in Romania, declaring that two articles in this law are unconstitutional.

 The decision is final.

The bill will now have to return to Parliament, where it is to be discussed in the Senate, then in the Chamber of Deputies. The law will then return to the Constitutional Court for approval.

 At the initiative of several NGOs, over 120 deputies of the opposition notified the Constitutional Court regarding the fact that this law is unconstitutional.

 Under its current form, the law stipulated that stray dogs can be euthanized after local authorities consult the population via opinion polls, referendums, or neighborhood gatherings.

The Bucharest general council as well as local councils of other cities are under the obligation to found within 60 days since the law enters into force specialized services for the management of stray dogs.

 They are also under the obligation to set up public shelters for dogs from their own funds. The dogs should have been kept for 30 days in the shelters and if no one claimed them during this time, euthanized or returned to the street, dependong on the decision of the respective district.

 “If the dogs have not been claimed or adopted after the term expires, they can be kept in the shelters, returned on the street, euthanized or a combination of the above, function of the decision of local councils, or the Bucharest General Council, after consulting the population in the respective area,” said the bill.

 The bill also stipulated that, in order to adopt a dog, the would-be owner would have to fulfill certain criteria:

  • present proof of an adequate space for the dog
  • present proof of possessing the financial means to take care of the dog
  • obtain the approval of the neighbors in case of adopting more than two dogs.
  • pay a tax for adoption established by the local council.
  • register the dog in the Dog Owners’ Registry
  • identify the dog by micro-chip or other means.

Otilia Haraga

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