Why We Need to Act Now

Across the area, the situation for stray dogs is becoming increasingly urgent.

A new enforcement framework allows the systematic capture of stray dogs and their transfer to public shelters. After a legal holding period of 14 days, euthanasia may follow.

In this context, immediate preventive action is essential.

The campaign aims to sterilize between 300 and 500 dogs in order to reduce uncontrolled reproduction, prevent future suffering, and decrease the number of animals exposed to capture, shelter confinement, and possible euthanasia.

Sterilization is not the only answer to stray dog overpopulation, but it is one of the most effective, humane, and sustainable tools available to address the crisis at its source.

Why Sterilization Matters

Without immediate intervention, the number of stray dogs will continue to increase, placing more animals at risk of capture and euthanasia.

Every new litter born on the streets adds pressure to an already fragile system.

Public shelters become overcrowded, local authorities are pushed toward reactive measures, and dogs continue to suffer from abandonment, hunger, disease, accidents, and violence.

A structured sterilization campaign can interrupt this cycle.

By preventing unwanted births, we can reduce the growth of the stray dog population in a humane and measurable way, while also decreasing long-term pressure on shelters and local communities.

How You Can Make the Difference

The local team is ready. Veterinary professionals are ready. The operational structure is already in place.

What is missing now is the funding needed to cover sterilization procedures, medication, transport, field logistics, and post-operative care.

Even a small donation can help bring one more dog into safety, treatment, and protection.

If many of us contribute, we can make this campaign possible.

What We Can Achieve Together

With the support of our community, this campaign can sterilize between 300 and 500 dogs.

The impact will not stop there. Every sterilized dog means fewer unwanted litters, fewer puppies born into abandonment, and fewer animals exposed to capture and possible euthanasia.

Together, we can support a humane response based on prevention, care, and responsibility.

• 300 to 500 dogs sterilized
• Fewer unwanted litters
• Less suffering on the streets
• Reduced pressure on shelters
• Fewer dogs exposed to possible euthanasia
• A humane model that can inspire future campaigns

Help Us Protect Stray Dogs in Romania

The dogs of Ernei and surrounding areas need urgent help.

By donating to this campaign, you can help us sterilize dogs, prevent future suffering, and support a humane alternative to euthanasia-based population control.

This is a concrete action.
This is prevention.
This is how our community can help save lives.

 

When making a donation please specify- Romania Ernei Campaign

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Your Donation Can Prevent Suffering

A donation today can help cover sterilization, medication, transport, and post-operative care for dogs at immediate risk.

One sterilization can prevent many future births and reduce the number of dogs exposed to abandonment, capture, and possible euthanasia.

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L'articolo Sterilization, Not Euthanasia: Emergency Appeal for Romania proviene da OIPA.

The memorandum addresses the legal framework governing the management of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), a strictly protected species under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. Under Article 12 of the Directive, Member States are required to ensure a system of strict protection, prohibiting the deliberate killing, capture or disturbance of individuals in the wild.

Derogations from this regime are permitted only under Article 16 and solely where strict conditions are met, including the absence of satisfactory alternatives and the guarantee that such measures do not compromise the favourable conservation status of the species.

Romania hosts the largest population of brown bears in the European Union, playing a crucial role in the conservation of the Carpathian population. For this reason, national measures affecting the species may have broader implications at the European level.

In this context, concerns have been raised regarding recent legislative developments, including Law no. 242/2024 and Emergency Ordinance no. 60/2025, particularly in relation to the introduction of intervention mechanisms and culling quotas. According to established case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, derogations from strict protection must be interpreted restrictively and based on solid scientific evidence.

Alongside judicial developments, public debate in Romania has intensified in recent months, with increasing concern among civil society organisations regarding the growing use of emergency narratives surrounding brown bears and the potential impact of such narratives on wildlife management policies.

On 29 April, a public protest was organised in front of the Ministry of Environment in Bucharest, during which representatives of civil society met with the Minister to discuss alternative approaches focused on prevention, coexistence and non-lethal conflict mitigation measures. During the meeting, concerns were also raised regarding the lack of adequate preventive measures, including waste management systems, habitat protection and long-term conflict prevention strategies.

Additional concerns have emerged regarding habitat degradation, increasing human disturbance in bear territories and the broader implications of potential proposals aimed at revising the protection status of the species at European level.

Civil society mobilisation also continues at the European level. A petition calling for improved protection of both people and bears in Romania, and for policies based on prevention rather than lethal control, has been launched and is currently under review at the European level.

To support this initiative, readers can sign the petition here:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION

The situation in Romania reflects a broader challenge across Europe: ensuring that wildlife management policies remain aligned with scientific evidence, legal obligations and the principles of biodiversity conservation.

OIPA reiterates its commitment to promoting approaches that prioritise coexistence, prevention and respect for wildlife, in line with European and international standards.

L'articolo OIPA ETS raises concerns over Romania’s bear management policies under EU law proviene da OIPA.

From Neglect to Care: Animals Reached During the Mission

Many of the animals brought to the campaign — particularly in Ceacu, where the team worked for two days — were strays living in extremely poor conditions. They were often infested with ticks, weakened, and suffering from neglect.

Each animal received not only sterilization, but also parasite treatment and identification through ear tags and tattoos, ensuring that they are now recognized as sterilized.

At the same time, several urgent medical cases highlighted the severity of the situation.

An infant puppy weighing less than 1 kilogram was brought to the Center of Hope with a serious rectal prolapse. Thanks to the expertise of Dr. Aurelian Stefan, the puppy underwent delicate surgery and is now receiving care.

A cat with a broken and bleeding jaw, likely the result of a road accident, was also transferred for emergency treatment.

Another stray dog, found in Perisoru, was suffering from two perforated eardrums and severe fungal infections, enduring intense pain before finally receiving the care it needed.

In addition, several dogs required full grooming, as their fur was so matted that it had become a source of further suffering.

A Coordinated Effort on the Ground

This mission was made possible by the extraordinary dedication of the veterinary team led by Dr. Aurelian Stefan and Dr. Roxana Elena Sten, supported by veterinary technicians Lakmal, Ovidiu, Roshan, and Amila.

They were joined by international volunteers and members of Romania Animal Rescue, as well as local organizers and volunteers in Ceacu and Perisoru, who ensured that animals were brought in and that the campaign could run efficiently.

Their combined efforts allowed the team to reach animals who would otherwise remain invisible and without care.

Moving Forward

With this campaign, Romania Animal Rescue is approaching an extraordinary milestone of 155,000 sterilizations carried out over the years.

Yet, the situation in many rural areas of Romania remains critical. Thousands of animals still live without access to veterinary services, exposed to disease, injury, and neglect.

Each sterilization is not just a single act of care — it is a step toward breaking a cycle of suffering that affects entire generations.

 

Thank You

To everyone who contributed to this campaign:
your support made this work possible.

Behind every number is a life changed — and a future made safer.

 

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L'articolo Three Days to Save Lives: Join the Spay & Neuter Campaign in Romania proviene da OIPA.