The Romanian Parliament on Tuesday voted to euthanize stray dogs, despite heavy lobbying against the measure. Romanian lawmakers decided authorities can hold stray dogs from the streets and keep them for 30 days in shelters, and then kill them if no one adopts the homeless during this period. They based their decision on the public health hazard stray dogs cause. An estimated 50,000 stray dogs wander the streets of Bucharest. A woman died earlier this year after she was bit by a pack of dogs. A Japanese tourist was killed by a stray dog in 2006.

The voting session in the Romanian parliament on Tuesday was met with animal rights groups' protests. Activists have asked for higher funds for sterilizing stray dogs, instead of funding to kill them.

Most homeless dogs in Bucharest have plastic tags on their ear, a sign they have been sterilized.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source:: Arhivafoto.ro)