Romania: Veterinarians, Police and Authorities Fail to Enforce National Legislation to Protect Stray Animals – Just Like Serbia !

 

 

 

Just like the Balkans, the authorities, police and veterinarians appear to be able to do whatever they please, with scant regard for the law and legislation which they are employed (by taxpayers money) to enforce.

New animal protection law has allegedly been in effect since Jan 2008, and yet the dogs are killed by thousands here. 

It’s not about the bad situation in one city, it’s about the lack of involvement of institutions against animal cruelty here & pending dog legislation.

*** If you need more information, please write back.***

The 45 min footage is available on link for 10 days.

The facts – below.

D. Dragomir

FRPCA

http://frpca.blogspot.com/ 

Daniela can be contacted by e mail at –  danadrag@gmail.com

The images presented in this footage speak for themselves about the “actions” and ‘commitment’ of the so-called “animal police inspectors” of IGPPA, with the support of the representatives of Romanian Police.

IGPPA is a ‘structure’ within the NGO Commissariat for Civil Society (C.S.C.).

In Braila IGPPA’s representative is the veterinarian Gheorghe Sandu.

IGPPA heads were informed several times about the activity of their representative in Braila, and were told that this activity is incompatible with animal welfare & protection.

On March 20th FRPCA’s representative M. Serbanoiu spoke on ProTV about the involvement of IGPPA’s representative of Braila in acts of animal cruelty. In reply, Mr Prodan, chairman of CSC, to whom IGPPA belongs, said that the NGO lawyers would sue M. Serbanoiu for damaging their image.

Gheorghe Sandu claims to provide “veterinary care” to the dogs impounded by the concessionaire of dog management activity in Braila, i.e. the Environmental and Animal Protection Association Horez (APAM Horez). Since 2006 to date in the dogpound APAM Horez crimes over crimes have been committed, no institution (police or prosecutor’s office) putting any end to them. Crimes were the subject of many criminal complaints, for financial and economic crimes, embezzlement with public money, destruction, animal cruelty, fraud, etc.

Gheorghe Sandu provides veterinary services to APAM Horez by contract since March 2009 and has ‘provided’: shelter overcrowding that gets animals mauling and killing one another, lack of food to get the dogs to ‘undernourished’ and ‘rickety’ condition, killing of the dogs in the dogpound (euthanasia ) for “incurable disease” as well as the “three-legged dogs that do not have any form of defense” (Gheorghe Sandu’s statement).

In 2009, 2505 dogs died and were killed by APAM Horez & Sandu Gheorghe, i.e., all dogs picked by dogcatchers. That is, dog killing, while the Romanian law bans the euthanasia of healthy animals.

The footage shows what the “animal police inspector” deals with.

As the video shows, they terrorize animal lovers who want to save a dog from certain death. Ms Miu, an animal lover, was reported to dogcatchers that she fed dogs around the block (which is not a crime) and on 05/21/2010 the dogcatchers APAM Horez came to get the dogs to the dogpound, to do to them what they did to the others, i.e., to kill them. She called 112 asking police intervention for the dog she was protecting not to be taken from her arms, telling them that crimes are committed in Horez’s dogpound.

What exactly did the policemen do?

As seen in the footage, intimidated by the IGPPA ID card that Sandu Gheorghe put under their eyes, they got “shoulder to shoulder” posted in front of the block entrance, cutting woman’s retreat, in case she would have tried to escape with the dog (tranquilized by dogcatchers). The action of “terrorizing” a citizen, tax payer, which also pays the police representatives to do their duty of investigation and law enforcement took 45 minutes.

What they really do can be seen in the footage: they worked hardly to convince the woman to hand over the animal, and fined her for disturbing the public order, leaving the person who asked their help without protection at the sake of perpetrators. Their subsequent behavior leaves much to be desired. Who did disturb the public order, can be seen in the footage.

After the policemen’s departure dogcatchers finished the action, like thieves on the highway, dispossessing Ms. Miu of the dog she protected in her arms. But the policemen did their duty, came, saw, and punished …. leaving the citizen, Ms. Miu, without the “safety and reliability” police ought to provide.
Or maybe this logo translates into “safe and reliable for criminals“?

Those involved in actions knew they were filmed. After the police left, the dogcatchers, the plaintiff (administrator of blockhouse) and police’s witness (the neighbour in jeans coat) noticed that the cameraman had gone to change the battery. Seeing that they were no longer filmed, they bullied the woman, and forcefully took the dog from her arms.

In the end of the footage she is pushed by 2 dogcatchers & the veterinarian Sandu Gheorghe, while the third dogcatcher (driver, in leather jacket) sets off the car. Sandu Gheorghe (in camouflage outfit and hood, not to be recognized) pushes the woman once again, then walks to shake hands with the plaintiff. 

Also, town hall employee shakes hands with the plaintiff, this proving once again that all complaint was an act of revenge against the women, of the block administrator, involving the town hall employee, dogcatchers, with the support of the Police.

Also under policemen’s eyes 2 persons (dogcatchers) who are not allowed to use tranquilizers, use them unhindered.   Policemen didn’t check the persons using the non-lethal weapons, their authorization.

In fact the policemen did not give any importance of this action in progress, nor follow what happens as ‘each is responsible for his or her deeds’. What is the role of police, other than finding the violations that occur even in the presence of police?

The exclusive objective of police was monitoring and charging penalty to the woman.
In the presence of police, the plaintiff kicks the young dog, tranquilized already, which runs passing by them.

Each of the two 3-4 month old dogs that was tranquilized during the filming were shot 2 times, they were shot under the cars, in blind, by people who had not the right to use tranquilizers, dogcatchers carried the tranquilized dogs to car hidden from eyesight, for their condition to not be caught by camera. Sandu Gheorghe, the veterinarian, did not attend the tranquilization process at all, leaving the tranquilization entirely in dogcatchers’ assessment and hands. In fact he paid no attention to the animals or their handling during this action, as veterinarian.

Actually this is the current practice.

According the national veterinarian authority, ANSVSA ‘tranquilizing weapons are considered veterinary biological product of veterinarian use and are used only by veterinarians as part of the medical-veterinarian care.

Government emergency ordinance 155 / 2001 – Annex 2 – Rules for catching and transporting dogs, Article 8: Weapons of capture can’t be used to catch young dogs, since they can be seriously injured.
All the four dogs three month old and three adults were captured by tranquilization.

Meanwhile, the two policemen worked on convincing ms Miu to hand over the dog to dogcatchers, because the situation was ‘already tensed’, and they circled her together with the employees of APAM Horez (NGO of animal protection!!), the witness (neighbour), plaintiff, town hall employee, for her not to run away with the dog.

Woman keeps calm; it is not her that who causes trouble and altercation.
When she is asked to sign the penalty report, she asks the ‘invectives’ for which she gets the penalty to be written down as well. The policeman says: you cannot oblige anyone to write what you want.

Then I can’t sign it, Miu said.

The report issued by police mentions: Miu disturbed the public order, had altercation and called abusive words to Sandu Gheorghe, in his quality of doctor inspector in the animal protection.

We call the police representatives to take notice of the abuses and illegalities presented by the footage and take appropriate necessary measures.

Video link:

http://dl.transfer.ro/Miu_si_Politia_21.05.2010-transfer_ro-22may-addd7a76f.mp4

 The 45 min footage is available on link for 10 days.

 

 

South Africa: World Cup Animal Slaughters – Government Contact Details and Sample Letter

Info supplied by ‘Scotland for Animals’:

http://www.scotlandforanimals.org/

We’ve been asked by many of you asking for South African Govt. and Consular contacts. Please see below details and sample email.

Please send and forward on to all contacts

South African High Commission UK: london.general@foreign.gov.za

( If outside UK for embassies in your own country visit: http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/SouthAfrica )

Ministry of Tourism: ministry@tourism.gov.za

President Jacob Zuma: president@po.gov.za

Director General, Ministry of Sport and Recreation: vernie@srsa.gov.za

Sample email letter;

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am writing to complain regarding your Government’s decision to endorse the ritual sacrifice of live animals at stadiums during the coming World Cup event.

I am dismayed that this is being promoted as a “cultural event” and being carried out to ensure the tournament goes ahead in “true African style”.

I find it very hard to believe that the practice of torturing and killing animals is seen by most Africans as a positive or acceptable act that is somehow linked to African culture. I note that your “Rainbow Nation” is trying very hard to present itself to the world as a modern, dynamic state.  I am extremely doubtful that the brutalisation of defenceless animals will be seen as a positive advance from the horrors of Apartheid and other shameful periods in your nation’s history that has so damaged it.

As the South African economy is so reliant on tourism and international trade I would appeal to you to think very carefully about letting this spectacle take place as I am aware that, despite your best efforts to keep plans for this slaughter quiet, word is rapidly spreading and potential visitors are far from happy.

I hope that you will reconsider the situation and prevent any acts of animal sacrifice from going ahead.

Yours faithfully

**Please ensure you include your postal address at all times**

Hungary: Appeal For Donations to Flooded Animal Shelter

 

 

 

Translation

SOS help is needed!  

gazditkeresek.hu gazditkeresek.hu – 2010 május 21, péntek – 11:392010

May 21, Friday – 11:39

A zempléni kutyaotthont 2010.

The Zemplén kutyaotthont 2010th 05.17.-én elöntötte az árvíz. 05.17.-on wave of flooding. Mára már jócskán apadt, de gumicsizmával lehet csak közlekedni. It is now greatly dwindled, but can only travel in rubber boots. A kutyákat próbálták elhelyezni , ám sokuknak vízben kell töltenie a napjaikat. The dogs are trying to place, but many of them in the water to fill their days. Még most is aktuális, hogy akár örökbefogadással, de egy-két kutya ideiglenes befogadásával is nagyon sokat segítenének rajtuk. Even now, the current, up to adoption, but a couple of temporary accommodation is very much a dog would help them.

Aki csak teheti küldjön, élelmet, kutyaólat, anyagi támogatást.

Everyone who can send out for food, kennels, for financial support. Várnak továbbá kétkezi segítséget, fuvart a mentéshez, üzemanyagot, sódert, kavicsot, faanyagot, dróthálót, meleg takarókat, fűrészport szalmát! A kutyák fáznak, vízben állnak, száz állatot ment négy asszony. Waiting for help and manual, to save freight, fuel, gravel, stone, wood, wire mesh, warm blankets, straw, sawdust! “The dogs are cold water consist of hundreds of animals went in four women.

Minden segítségre szükség van! All the help you need!
Az Állatotthon gazdája: Szilágyi Lászlóné, Júlia, 0630/576-89-35

The owner Állatotthon: László Szilágyi, Júlia, 0630/576-89-35

Eseti felajánlások:

Ad hoc donations:

Zemplén Gazdátlan Állataiért Alapítvány KutyaotthonaOrphan Foundation Zemplén Állataiért Kutyaotthona
10402757-27500503-00000000

10402757-27500503-00000000

http://www.gazdatlankutyak.eoldal.hu/oldal/a-menhelyrol

http://www.gazdatlankutyak.eoldal.hu/oldal/a-menhelyrol

FOR DONATIONS to help

UPDATE 25/05/10 Donations

Thanks to Juli for more information on donations:

I can read Hungarian somewhat ….and according to above, you can donate to them via this weblink or you can donate directly to their bank account, info included below:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=hu&tl=en&u=http://www.adhat.hu/onlineadomany/55115&rurl=translate.google.com

HUF or Hungarian Forint is the currency, as the Euro is not yet widely accepted and it is not the recognized currency yet.
For example, $25.00 USD is approx equivalent to 5600 Forint. That is not a great deal of money, maybe enough for a dinner for two in a reasonablly nice restaurant, but I am sure it would be very useful for the shelter, as every little bit counts!

E-mail : luca@businesstel.hu

You could also donate directly to their bank account – here is the info:
Account nbr.: 18431324-1-05
Bank info: 10402757-27500503-00000000

You can contact them also via telephone but probably (I have no idea) they might not speak English.

Tel numbers:
Julikla- Tel: +47/ 321-365 and/ or 30/576-89-35

Marika- Tel: +47/322-158 and 20/242-11-61

I hope this helps!! Let me know if you need more info, as I could always call them at the shelter, at the phone numbers listed.

Thank you.

Spain: Bull Gets Revenge Before It Dies

 

 

 

 

Youtube footage:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpLXXM1L5yY&feature=player_embedded 

THIS pic shows a Spanish matador being gored by a bull.

Veteran bullfighter Julio Aparicio stumbles and falls to the ground, then the bull charges him.

The bull’s horn enters Aparicio’s throat and protrudes through his mouth, during the fight at Plaza de Toros las Ventas bullring as part of the San Isidro Festival in Madrid.

Apricio is in hospital in a critical condition.

Photo and text link:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/warning-graphic-pics-of-bullfight/story-e6frf7jo-1225869901001

——————————————————–

SAV Comment – and the bull died as always in such pathetic events.

Romania: Brigitte Bardot in Protest Over Bucharest Dog Cull.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/romania/7740947/Brigitte-Bardot-in-protest-over-Bucharest-dog-cull.html
Daily Telegraph. 19 May 2010.

 

Brigitte Bardot in protest over Bucharest dog cull.

The French actress Brigitte Bardot has said that “Romania will not be able to evolve” as a country if it introduces a law to cull thousands of stray dogs in Bucharest.

Brigitte Bardot has written an open letter to Romanian MPs to protest about the mass cull Photo: AP In an open letter to Romanian MPs, Bardot, a passionate advocate of animal rights, condemned plans to introduce a law that would allow street dogs to be killed if they remain unclaimed after seven days.  “Romania will not be able to evolve if it continues to takecruel decisions against sensitive creatures, which are under the protection of European law,” the actress wrote.

“Stray animals, neglected and threatened on the streets, mirror the fear of a country which fails to approach the future based on the principle of voluntary responsibility.” She begged MPs, currently debating the law, to reject the legislation and to avoid the “illusory traps of drastic and expedite measures.” This is not the first time the Bardot has leapt to the defence of Romanian dogs. In 2001 she donated £98,000 to a sterilisation scheme for Bucharest’s strays. 

The film star’s latest intervention added to heated debate in Romania about what to do with the dogs that roam the streets of the nation’s capital. City authorities claim that up to 100,000 strays live in Bucharest, and that over 2,000 people have already been bitten this year. Last year, hospitals treated 11,000 bite victims, with medical bills for treatment coming to £341,000.

With Romania facing severe austerity measures owing to the financial crisis, Bucharest’s leaders claim that the city can no longer afford to maintain the upkeep for captured strays and hospitals bills for those bitten, and also argue that culling is a more humane than allowing the dogs to live wretched lives on the streets. But animal rights groups have described the cull plans as barbaric, calling instead for increased sterilisation.

The problem of Bucharest’s strays dates back to the days of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. To make way for the grandiose building schemes the leader favoured thousands of houses were razed to the ground, and with people re-housed in small flats pet dogs were often abandoned.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe’s Ghoulish Gift for North Korea Will Not Survive.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/mugabe-sends-exotic-animals-north-korean-death/story?id=10650497
ABC News. 14 May 2010.
Mugabe’s Ghoulish Gift for North Korea’s Kim Jong Il. Experts Fear Exotic Animals, Including Baby Elephants, Will Not Survive.
By DANA HUGHES

Conservationists and game wardens are alarmed that Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has ordered several wild animals, including baby elephants too young to leave their mothers, be sent to North Korea as a gift — and almost certain death. The gift from Zimbabwe’s dictator is apparently meant for North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Il.  But the decision, made by presidential decree and shrouded in secrecy, has drawn the ire of conservationist groups and local game wardens.  Johnny Rodrigues, head of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force based in Harare, told ABC News that he’s been asked by members of Mugabe’s own government to speak out against the impending action.  “We had one of the national park game wardens and others who were unhappy about the animals being exported come to us,” said Rodrigues. “They asked me to expose it to the world.”

According to Rodrigues the animals living in Zimbabwe’s western Hwange National Park have been captured over the last two months. Witnesses have seen government vehicles carrying cages and putting animals in quarantine. They don’t know the exact number or species of all the animals yet, said
Rodrigues, but zebras, giraffes, and baby elephants have been spotted. Two 18-month-old elephants are reportedly being prepared to be airlifted to the Asian country. Rodrigues said this will almost certainly result in their deaths.  “They are still suckling their mothers and need to do it until they are five years old. They are too young to be removed from their parents,” he said. “Just the trauma alone may kill them.”

Mugabe has a history of sending wildlife to countries, including North Korea, and the result has almost always been bad for the animals. In the 1980’s Mugabe sent two rhinos, which are on the endangered species list, to North Korea.  They died after only a few months there. Two other rhinos, sent to the Belgrade zoo in the former Yugoslavia around the same period, also died.  Zoos that meet international standards, like those in the United States, have expertly trained veterinarians and scientists who care for animals living in conditions very different than their natural habitat.

Rodrigues doubts that North Korea, which is considered one of the most isolated countries in the world, has the facilities or capability to properly care for African wildlife.  “They haven’t even had a professional scientist from North Korea come to Zimbabwe to make sure that these animals can live in their habitat,” said Rodrigues. It’s unclear when the move will occur, but witnesses say an airfield has been cleared and the park is on lock-down. Rodrigues and other conservationist groups are reaching out to the international community to try and stop the exchange. There are international laws governing the transport of wild animals. but neither Zimbabwe nor North Korea, both heavily sanctioned countries, are known to adhere to international laws on almost any issue.

ABC News was unable to reach Zimbabwe’s Park and Wildlife Management Authority for comment on the story.  Over the last few years, Zimbabwe has become increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. Mugabe has worked to cultivate favor with other isolated nations such as North Korea and Iran, hoping for increased investment in Zimbabwe.  Last month he hosted Iranian President Ahmadinejad in Zimbabwe, calling him a great friend to the country, and called for the two countries to have a closer relationship, allied against the West. He also announced that the North Korea national soccer team would be training in Zimbabwe.  Giving away wild animals, one of Zimbabwe’s greatest natural resources, is viewed as a thank you gift from the president to these countries and as a way to strengthen ties.  The problem with that, said Rodrigues, is that Mugabe is giving away something that does not belong to him. “These animals are our heritage, they are for future generations,” Rodrigues said. “The wildlife in Zimbabwe belongs to the Zimbabwe people. It doesn’t belong to the president.”

Japan: Over 100,000 Pigs and Cows to be Slaughtered – Take Action Now – Link Supplied.

Link – Compassion In World Farming:   http://www.ciwf.org.uk/

Urgent Action:

Over 100,000 pigs and cows to be slaughtered in Japan

Plans are in place for Japan to slaughter over 100,000 pigs and cows following an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the south of the country.

If veterinary advice is that the animals should be slaughtered, we must ensure that the cull is carried out humanely, without causing the animals unnecessary suffering.

Please voice your concerns and email your Japanese Ambassador today.

Click here to take action now.

Why is Compassion concerned?

Animals can suffer greatly during emergency culls when governments overlook animal welfare. We hope that the Japanese authorities don’t forget animal welfare in their haste to control disease.