Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Text in German and English Below – follow flags!

ERFOLG in Rumänien:

Ploiesti Stadtverwaltung ADOPTIERTE eine humane Streunerhund-Handhabung

Ihr Lieben

Ich beginne dieses Jahr mit der Ankündigung von guten Neuigkeiten, in der Hoffnung, dass andere Städte ähnliche Regelungen einführen und die Behörden etwas Weisheit zeigen warden.

Die Allianz fur humane Rechte in Rumänien (ADOR) aus Ploiesti veranlasste eine öffentliche Anhörung über Streunerhunde in Ploiesti. Ich hatte die Ehre, von dem Journalisten Eugen Cristescu, dem Präsidenten von ARDOR, als Vorsitzende des Experten-Kommittees eingeladen zu warden.

Ich arbeitete später einen besonderen Report über die öffentliche Anhörung aus, und ich bereitete einen Entwurf der Entscheidungen des örtlichen Stadtrats über die Handhabung von Streunerhunden vor, der den Stadtrats-Mitgliedern der Stadtverwaltung von Ploiesti und anderen Anwesenden vorgelegt wurde. Der Entwurf lief unter dem Aktions-Aufruf “Keine Streunerhunde mehr – durch ethische und rationale Maßnahmen”, der von ADOR iniziiert wurde. Ich erklärte den Mitgliedern des Stadtrats, wie eine korrekte, humane und effektive Strategie zur Lösung des Streunerhunde-Problems aussieht, und ADOR setzte sich konsequent und wirksam für den Entwurf ein.

Nach mehreren Modifikationen, die von beiden Seiten vorgeschlagen wurden (wir argumentierten heftig gegen Vorschläge von Stadtrats-Mitgliedern, die auf Kosten der Tiere gegangen wären), gelang es uns, die wichtigsten Bestimmungen des Entwurfs in der Form, die ich ausgearbeitet hatte, beizuhalten, entsprechend der Forderungen von Ethik, Kultur, und Wirksamkeit.

Der Vorentwurf wurde einstimmig von den Mitgliedern des Stadtrats von Ploiesti angenommen, was einen grossen Erfolg bedeutet, besonders im Zusammenhang mit aktuellen Maßnahmen in Rumänien, wo die Gesetzgebung Massentötungen erlaubt, und besonders in einer Stadt wie Ploiesti, die fast andauernd schlimme Probleme mit grausamer und illegaler Streunerhunde-Verwaltung hatte, wie es im Ausland weit bekannt ist.

Die wichtigsten Bestimmungen der Entscheidungen des Stadtrats sind wie folgt:

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Streunerhunde werden kastriert und dann ZURUCKGEBRACHT zu ihrem ursprünglichen Platz, und sie bekommen den Status von Gemeinde-Hunden (Artikel 3 (6) a);

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>“die Hunde zu ihrem Ursprungsort zurückzubringen, ist immer die bevorzugte Lösung” (Artikel 3 (8) d);

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Es ist verboten, Hunde zu fangen und ins Tierheim zu bringen, die schon kastriert und zurückgebracht wurden (es sei denn, sie werden agressiv oder brauchen dringend tierärztliche Betreuung) (Artikel 3 (7) b);

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Agressive Hunde dürfen nur eingeschläfert werden, wenn das agressive Verhalten von einer Kommission erfahren und bestätigt wird, die aus Vertretern des Stadtrats und Vertretern einer Tierschutz-Organisation (NGO) besteht, und mit der Unterschrift von mindestens zwei Zeugen bestätigt wird! (Artikel 3 (8) ). Einschläferung ist nur für Hunde mit unheilbaren Krankheiten vorgesehen (Artikel 3 (8) d). Einschläferung darf nur in der Gegenwart eines Vertreters einer NGO ausgeübt werden (Ausnahmen sind Fälle von höherer Gewalt, und nur, nachdem die NGO davon benachrichtigt wurde, dass ein Hund dringend eingeschläfert werden muss) (Artikel 3 (9) );

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Vertreter von NGOs haben unbeschränkten Zugang zum öffentlichen Tierheim (Artikel 7);

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Eine mobile Klinik wird zur Verfügung stehen, die Sterilisationen, Notbehandlung, Impfungen usw. ausführen kann (Artikel 3 (12) );

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Um die Sterilisierung von Hunden mit Eigentümern zu erleichtern, wurde eine Bestimmung hinzugefügt, die von Tierärzten, die für die Stadt arbeiten, verlangt, dass sie nicht mehr verlangen für die Sterilisierung von Hunden mit Eigentümern als das, was sie für Streunerhunde bekommen. (Artikel 5 (9) );

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Eine Polizei-Station für Tiere wird eingerichtet, bei der bis zu vier Polizisten arbeiten, die im Umgang mit Tieren trainiert wurden. Diese Station wird bei ALLEN Aktivitäten mit Vertretern einer NGO zusammenarbeiten (Artikel 11);

<!–[if !supportLists]–>§  <!–[endif]–>Die Stadtverwaltung, im Zusammenhang mit NGOs, wird Mediakampagnen für das Projekt veranstalten und die Öffentlichkeit darüber aufklären, wie wichtig es ist, die Rechte von Tieren zu respektieren. Das geschieht durch den Einsatz von Informations-und Aufklärungsprogrammen, auch in Schulen; durch Werbeplakate in öffentlichen Gegenden, die auf Adoption und Sterilisierung aufmerksam machen; durch die Einführung von Adoptions-Märkten alle zwei Monate; und durch das Drucken und Verteilen von Informationsbroschüren in Schulen, Stadtparks, Hausbesitzer-Vereinigungen, und öffentlichen Gebäuden (Artikel 8).

Wir hoffen, dass andere Bürgermeister mit der grausamen und ineffektiven Behandlung von Streunerhunden aufhören und zu dem Beispiel übergehen, das der Stadtrat von Ploiesti für eine humane und wirksame Verwaltung von Streunerhunden eingeführt hat.

Alles Gute,

Carmen ARSENE

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Success in Romania: Ploiesti City Council ADOPTED Humane Stray Dog Management 

Dear Friends,

I start this year with the announcement of some good news, hoping that other towns will pick up the same policy and that the officials will show some wisdom.

Alliance for Humane Rights in Romania (ADOR) from Ploiesti initiated a Public Hearing about stray dogs in Ploiesti where I had the honor to be invited as the Chairman of the Committee of Experts, by journalist Eugen Cristescu, ADOR’s president.

Later I developed a specific report of the Public Hearing and I also drew up a Draft Local Council Decision for the management of stray dogs that we presented and proposed to local councilors of the Ploiesti City Council and to other local authorities present. It was advocated and lobbied for under the campaign slogan “No stray dogs any more – through ethics and rationality” which was initiated by ADOR. I explained to the councilors the correct, humane, and effective strategy that should be implemented to solve the stray dog problem and ADOR consistently and effectively lobbied the proposed project.

After several modifications of the project which were proposed by both sides (we tried to argue every change we made against the changes made by the local councilors at the expense of the animals) we managed to keep most of the provisions of the draft project in the form that I had drawn up, as close as possible to the demands of ethics, civilization, and efficiency.

The Draft Project was voted for unanimously by the local councilors of Ploiesti and represents a great success, especially within the context of current policies in Romania where the legislation promotes mass killings, and especially in a city like Ploiesti which almost constantly had serious problems concerning cruel and illegal stray dog management, which is well known everywhere abroad.

The most important provisions of the Local Council Decision are:

stray dogs will be neutered and RETURNED to their former place and they will have the status of community dogs; (Article 3 (6) a);

returning dogs to their place of origin is always preferred solution” (Article 3 (8) d);

it is prohibited to catch and accommodate in the shelter those dogs that were already returned (unless they become aggressive or require urgent medical care) (Article 3 (7) b);

Aggressive dogs shall be euthanized only if aggressiveness is ascertained and confirmed by a commission formed by representatives of the City Council and representatives of an Animal Welfare Organization (NGO) and confirmed by the signatures of at least two witnesses! (Article 3 (8)). Euthanasia is recommended only for dogs with incurable diseases (Article 3 (8) d). Euthanasia will be performed only in the presence of an NGO representative (except for cases of force majeure and only if the NGO has been notified about the fact there is a dog that needs to be urgently euthanized;) (Article 3 (9));

NGO representatives have unrestricted access to the public shelter (Article 7);

A mobile clinic will be established that can perform sterilizations, emergency treatment, vaccinations, etc. (Article 3 (12));

To facilitate sterilization of dogs with owners a provision has been added that asks of vets who contract with City Hall to provide sterilization services for stray dogs to charge no more for the sterilization of dogs with owners (Article 5 (9));

A Police Department for Animals will be established which will be made up of four police officers who will be trained in animal welfare. The Department will work with representatives of NGOs in ALL their actions (Article 11);

City Hall, in collaboration with the NGOs, will run media campaigns for the project and raise awareness by educating the public of the necessity to respect animal rights by: implementation of programs of information and education, also in schools; arrangement of advertising in public spaces to promote adoption and sterilization; organization of bimonthly fairs for adoptions; printing and sharing of   information material in schools, parks, owners’ associations, public services (Article 8).

We hope that other mayors will stop the cruel and ineffective management of stray dogs and will transition to the example of Ploiesti’s City Council for adopting a humane and efficient dog management.

All the best,

Carmen ARSENE

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SAV Comment – BIG congratulations to Carmen for hopefully setting a new policy in Romania now.  If only Serbian politicians would wake up to the same proposals rather than continue with their Kill only approach and attitude.

Please see more of Carmen and her work at the EU recently by looking at the following links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCi60m33qzg

(the translation into German of the broadcast can be found at:

http://mapofhope.de/2015/10/14/kriminelle-dringen-in-ihr-zuhause-ein-und-toten-ihr-haustier-vor-ihren-augen/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/11/11/romania-carmens-report-of-her-meetings-at-the-eu-regarding-romanian-dogs/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/10/20/romania-carmen-tells-of-her-meetings-at-the-eu-regarding-romanian-stray-animals/

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

We have some very exciting news about a project that is attempting to take shape in Romania.  After years of stray animal abuse and killing; we may now be witnessing the start of change.

As an additional issue to the (new project) news we have detailed below, the brilliant Carmen has recently being going to the very top at EU level to give detailed reports about the situation for stray animals.  You can see links and videos of our recent articles relating to this directly below, which includes in depth work by Mr Janusz Wojciechowski MEP who has worked very hard at EU Parliament level for the better welfare of the animals.

Here are some of the main videos on the entire situation over EU work by Carmen which you may wish to look at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCi60m33qzg

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/10/20/romania-carmen-tells-of-her-meetings-at-the-eu-regarding-romanian-stray-animals/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9eZuVkH7xA&feature=share

https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2015/11/11/romania-carmens-report-of-her-meetings-at-the-eu-regarding-romanian-dogs/

But now on to the new project.

It is called ‘Dog Town’ for Romania and is currently being set up by veterinarians and other animal welfare supporters.  You can see much more on the idea by clicking on the video link given below – and we really suggest you take a look at this.  The facilities are superbly clean and modern; and the concept to help Romanian strays is just a great one.  But like all new projects, getting financial support is half the job.  This is in progress and you can see more via the same link following.

Below are the words from the people involved themselves – an insight into the project and the answer to several questions which may be asked.

So here goes; after reading and watching the video via the link below we hope you may consider giving something financially to keep this dream project moving forward.

As many of you will be aware; we have covered the issue of Romanian strays in quite some detail in the past.  This single link:

  https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/category/romania-stray-animal-killings-2013/ 

should allow you to view directly many of our past reports.  The pictures are often graphic; but we (as always) will show the actual reality of the situation and not dress it up to show something else.

SAV.

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Dog Town for Romania

After the act of killing stray dogs was brought into force in 2013, 60.000 dogs were captured and brutally killed.

The municipal animal shelters are totally crowded. Many times the poor creatures are dreadfully mistreated, get no veterinary treatment and are starving with hunger. Many of these dogs die in agony or freeze to death during the winter time, which has already begun. Dog Town is the salvation for those poor souls – for a new life in a loving family ! Without us they have no chance!

Watch more on the people involved and the facilities which it is hoped will be purchased and used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wsSHKqOurs

What is this project all about?

As you are reading this, in Romania stray dogs are captured and cruelly killed. Since a law was passed in 2013 that allows the killing of dogs 14 days after their capture, the situation had dramatically worsened and made a business out of killing stray dogs.

Dogs a hauled to public kennels and “euthanized” if nobody adopts them within 14 days. Every year thousands of dogs fall victim to those publicly endorsed killing schemes and all efforts to implement a sustainable and humane “neuter and release” program have been shattered.

However, amongst the Romanian population, support for animal rights is constantly growing. People rise up against the corrupt dog killing business and with great personal involvement try to save stray dogs from death row, often giving their last penny to feed and shelter the mistreated animals. The images of abandoned, crippled and tortured dogs have burned themselves into Romania´s collective memory. Those who suffer most, are often children. They are traumatized by the everyday dramas unfolding in front of their eyes and the violence they witness live or in the media.

Dog Town is a one of a kind project that offers stray dogs and their saviors a real perspective. The facilities on the huge grounds in the vicinity of Bucharest, provide shelter food and medical aid for hundreds of animals in need. There is space for up to 3000 animals.

Public shelters are no real alternative. They are overcrowded and often house dogs under dreadful conditions. Excrecta on cold concrete floors, no roofs and crammed kennels lead to a high starvation rate. The survivors are “euthanized” after 14 painful days.

Dog Town can offer a true perspective to those animals. Designed as a refuge center it marks the first step towards a place in a new loving home. You can help to make it happen.

What is the project goal and who is the project for?

Dog Town provides a place of refuge for dogs that have been rescued from killing stations by non-profit organizations and dedicated local animal rights activists. Today activists are in despair, because even after having saved an animal from certain death in a killing station or unimaginable suffering in horror shelters, there is simply no place to go.

Animal Shelters are over-flooding and local non profit organizations or activists can not shoulder the financial implications of giving food, shelter and basic medical care to thousands of dogs in despair. Dog Town is a chance to change this scenario. With your help and the donations of animal rights supporters from around the world, we can provide a perspective for animals in need.

Dog Town will be a rescue center and a temporary home to dogs rescued from killing stations and unbearable suffering. We will provide food, shelter and medical care until they can be placed in a new permanent home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wsSHKqOurs

Why would you support this project?

Dog Town is an impressive and inspiring project that is the only one of its kind in Europe. On 3.8 acres of land in the vicinity of Bucharest, it hosts 6 kennels for up to 300 dogs each, provides free running areas and is equipped with a fully operational animal hospital. There is space for up to 3000 animals. The staff live on the grounds in six proprietary flats. Overall it is a safe heaven for dogs that would otherwise face death in a killing station. This safe heaven is in imminent danger.

Without funding, the owner of the complex will start to deconstruct the facilities and with them the hopes of all those who have given their heart and soul to rescuing dogs from death and despair in Romania. We cannot let this happen.

We have the structures in place to safe Dog Town, we have the trustworthy partners to run it, but we need financial support to make it happen – your support.

How will we use the money if the project is successfully funded? 

Upon reaching the funding threshold, we can secure the project via contract by depositing the money for a three months’ rent. We have the guarantee, that some monthly rents can be paid, plus some extra charges. We can start with some premises, where small improvements are needed. We can also recruit staff. We have the chance, that some employees, who have formerly been working in Dog Town, may be hired again. We can start negotiations with a first vet. Small renovation work on the entire site can be made. The rental prices for organizations and associations can be calculated. A first selection of tenants for the six halls can be started and after contracts have been signed, they can move in.

Upon reaching the funding objective, the vet’s facilities and equipment can be optimized. The entire infrastructure can also be improved. We can provide 6 apartments, recruit additional staff and possibly further veterinarians. Maybe we can also improve electricity by using solar panels. It will then be possible to have an outdoor area for the animals. If the halls have not yet been occupied completely, this will be changed as quickly as possible.

Upon reaching the funding goal, we acquire the rights for the purchase of Dog Town. It would be utmost advantageous, if we might buy the premises within two years’ time, because during this period 50% of the paid rent will be credited.

Dog Town is a joint project. In the future it shall be operated by several organizations and associations. After the lease agreement has been signed, sub- lease agreements may be concluded with organizations and associations. Part of the operating costs will be covered by the rental fees. Another part may be covered by the leasing cost for the installation of solar panels. This topic is currently discussed. The area and the roofs offer enormous potential and are very much asked for. We will continue to contact potential sponsors and supporters and will also keep in touch with large animal welfare organisations.

Should we be able to reach the amount we are aiming for or even top the target, these additional earnings would not only help to implement further actions on development but to come closer to the goal to secure and buy Dog Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wsSHKqOurs

Who are the people behind the project?

STARROMANIA (Swiss veterinarians for Romania), who have a long track record of successful animal rights projects in Romania and animal rights legend Claudiu Dumitriu back the project. With all their experience, they are well aware, that Dog Town is the only chance to safe hundreds of dogs who would otherwise face death in a killing station.

Dr. Josef Zihlmann – For the last 25 years, I have backed aid projects across Romania as a veterinarian. We have supported schools, hospitals. physicians, veterinarians, farmers, agricultural collectives. small businesses and formation centers for young farmers.

As president of STARROMANIA I have endorsed projects for stray dogs across Romania. A focus of our work has been the region of Transylvania and the town of Gheorgheni. As honorary ambassador for animal welfare og Gheorgheni, my wife Sylvia and me will continue to support projects across Romania.

Silvia Zihlmann –  I have inherited my love for animals from my parents and grandparents. Animals have always been an integral part of my life and I can not imagine our family without a dog as a beloved member.

Together with my husband, I travelled to Romania and under the impression of the horrible situation founded STARROMANIA. Ever since then we have actively and continously worked to improve the conditions for stray dogs in Romania. My ongoing visits to Romania have strenghtened my conviction, that those dogs need our support. Today more than ever. That´s why we continue to fight for them with all means necessary.

Claudiu Dumitriu – Animal rights activist, chairman of the association “Alliance against abuses”, partner of STAR ROMANIA in Romania and initiator of DOG TOWN -The man on the spot

I am constantly fighting against the recalcitrant, corrupt and unpredictable veterinary authorities in Romania – against the suffering of Romanian stray dogs, i risking death by fighting against the dog mafia. I quit my job as an engineer in order to stand up solely for the rights of animals. I  give my road dogs a voice in Brussels and conduct countless lawsuits against the injustice, that thousands of stray dogs have to bear.

I name and shame this incredible arbitrariness and cruelty to animals at various demonstrations, in forums, conferences and vet meetings.

As co-author of the document about the Romanian stray dogs, I inform people about the background of the mass killings. I am also responsible for the petition, which is addressed to FVE (Federation of Veterinarians of Europe) and demands the exclusion of all FVE-representatives of Romania.

I won’t stop fighting until the day when I will be sure, that my work has achieved sustained success.

Tierhilfe Grenzenlos Deutschland e. V.  – In 2013, due to the new legislation concerning “Streunermanagement”, we became alert to Romania and founded our association to help and support romanian animal-rights activist early 2014.  We became attentive to Romania through their new law concerning “dog caster management” in 2013 and then founded our association to help and support romanian animal-rights activists early 2014.

Through the preparatory work we have met Silvia and Josef Zihlmann who very much helped us with the negotiations in Bacau. A deep friendship raised out of this encounter and it goes without saying that we also dedicate our campaign for the projects of Starromania.

Today we are able to help our friends in Romania and others associations with the supply of food through a variety of romanian food manufacturer.

The registered association Tierhilfe Grenzenlos Deutschland e. V. (a non-profit organization) supports our work by kindly providing their registered association account to our Project Dog Town in order to issue in Germany valid donation receipts.

You can also make your donation by directly transferring money to the Starromania account. We will then take care of the transaction with Startnext. Important: please make sure you include your email address and Startnext in the transfer form, this enables us to keep track and ensure that your chosen perk will come your way in the future.

STARROMANIA – Account for donations:

Post – CHF 
IBAN CH18 0900 0000 6160 3033 2 BIC POFICHBEXXX or, instead of: Post – EURO IBAN CH38 0900 0000 9183 5016 3 BIC POFICHBEXXX

Jasmin Ellger – For more than 15 years I stand up for the protection and the rights of animals and support people and animals in need.

Animals are part of my life. Since childhood I have accompanied my father to his veterinarian practice and to the farm animals. For the benefit of all beings I renounce the consumption of animal products.

I quit the job as an independent architect to concentrate fully on the fight for animal welfare.

With the crowdfunding campaign I want to contribute to the realization of the Dog Town project and support the great initiators of that campaign in their struggle for these tortured and helpless creatures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wsSHKqOurs

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Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, Romania - Stray Animal Killings 2013, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »