Spaying and Neutering Programs Romania – NetAP

Stray Animals / Spaying and Neutering in Romania

NetAP has been carrying out spay and neuter operations and conducting large-scale spay and neuter programs in Romania since 2012.

Many dogs were being killed in Romania prior to 2013. Although the law only allowed this in exceptional cases, these exceptions (illness and aggression) were interpreted more liberally. In 2011, the government wanted to reintroduce the legalization of the killing of all street dogs, but failed before the Romanian Constitutional Court in 2012.

Following the tragic death of a child in September 2013, which according to media reports was caused by an attack by several street dogs in Bucharest, the Romanian president, within just a few days, introduced a new law on the killing of street and shelter dogs. Despite worldwide protests, both the Romanian parliament and the constitutional court approved the new legislation.

In some regions of Romania, an incomparably brutal hunt and mass killing of dogs began, unworthy of a European country.

Despite these extremely difficult circumstances, we then intensified our existing commitment in Romania. In particular, we have expanded our neutering and spaying programs to include dogs (and cats) owned by private individuals. Mainly private owners cannot or do not want to pay for neutering and spaying and are therefore constantly causing more animals and their offspring to land on the streets. Only neutering can end this cycle of misery.

We have also expanded our activities to include training local vets, educating the public and advising animal welfare organizations and authorities.

At the same time, we have made contact with politicians in Switzerland, the EU and Romania in order to take legal and political action against the killing methods and the corruption associated with the whole issue.

To increase our commitment even further, we opened our own neutering practice in Timisoara in the fall of 2015. Destitute pet owners, animal shelters and local animal welfare organizations have the opportunity to have dogs and cats neutered free of charge and treated at reduced rates. The opening attracted a great deal of interest from the authorities, the press and, above all, the local population. This was followed by numerous other programs in collaboration with local practices.