Brutal Massacre at Four Paws Dog Shelter, Romania.

On Friday, 21st March 2014, several dog catchers from the Authority for the Supervision and Protection of Animals [ASPA] brutally raided the international animal welfare organisation's [Four Paws] shelter. Shocking images of the barbaric methods used by dog catchers have been splashed across social media over the weekend causing public uproar, and also leading to the creation of a petition to return the dogs to their shelter. The violent action was directed against the paddocks and the shelter in which the clinic is situated. Around 90 dogs were forcibly removed. According to several eye witnesses, at least four dogs died on the spot because of the aggressive handling. The dogs under the care of Four Paws were neutered, micro-chipped and registered. Most of them were already adopted and ready to be transported to their new owners. 

The action of the ASPA dog catchers who vandalised the shelter and the Vier Pfoten paddocks is told by an eye witness that witnessed the entire operation:

Cornel Constantin said, "At around 14:00, 13 ASPA vans came accompanied by policemen. They broke the lock at the entrance of the shelter and they began to destroy the paddock gates, which were locked. They simply destroyed everything. It's hard to describe how brutal the methods used to catch the dogs were. I saw with my own eyes at least 2 dead dogs. After I protested, the dog catchers threatened to beat me. Meanwhile, the police looked at / witnessed all of this without doing anything. I told them that what is going on is not normal, that there are dead dogs. They just told me to relax. After they finished vandalising the shelter, they started destroying the 2 kennels of Vier Pfoten, which were next to the clinic. They trampled the gates and destroyed everything. Luckily I managed to get my 5 dogs that were in the shelter, that I squeezed into my own car"

The defenceless dogs were covered with blood, dragged with clubs and thrown in cramped cages. This was carried out in the presence of the local area police who did nothing. Four Paws said,

"Several dogs were badly injured and some of them died due to violent treatment. The number of the dead dogs is not clear, as we only have statements based on eye witnesses and smartphone quality video footage. At the moment, I think that there are 4 to 6 dead animals, but we will only know for sure after getting the dogs back. The animals choked to death, as catchers intentionally or by their incompetence tightened the lace too much while enforcing the animals. Many dogs, even if they didn't die, were bleeding through their mouth due to being brutally manipulated . Unconscious (or dead?) animals were enforced together with moving animals in small cages".

The true horrors meted out on harmless dogs by an organisation that claims to "Protect Animals" were exposed in broad daylight. Moreover. the film taken demonstrates their cruel, unacceptable and unsympathetic handling of defenceless animals that maybe common practice. The dog catchers were behaving more like "hit men" rather than respected members employed by a local authority. The fact that the ASPA is currently being investigated by the Romanian National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) does not go in their favour at all [ Read the details here ] This is not the first time that Four Paws has clashed with the ASPA. In 2013, access to the clinic was blocked without due explanation. This barbaric raid on Four Paws occurred following the MEP's damning indictment on the mistreatment of Romanian dogs. In addition, on the 10th March 2013, Four Paws took legal steps at the Court of Appeal in Bucharest for the Romanian Government to freeze the killing of stray dogs. The timing of this raid is, therefore, of interest. Four Paws added,

"VIER PFOTEN has a legal contract ongoing with the 6th District City Hall for the stray dogs neutering project and for the use of the veterinary clinic. After their raid on Friday, ASPA representatives still forbid access in the facility. The way the City Hall of 6th District broke the Protocol is completely unexplainable, giving the fact that FOUR PAWS invested money from donations, a lot of effort and time in this project, which was requested by the City Hall. FOUR PAWS so far has neutered over 3,000 dogs in the 6th District. We filed a complaint to the police and we will open a legal action against ASPA. The main accusations: killing and cruelty against animals, theft, sequestration of private goods and vandalism."

More detailed reporting relating to the dispute can be found on Occupy For Animals. On the 24th March 2014, rescuers arrived at the doorstep of Bragadiru public dog shelter. With ASPA's reputation firmly in the gutter and no law to justify their barbaric actions, the dogs were given back to the rescuers. In the interim, no apologies have been issued for the death of the harmless, vulnerable animals. Moreover, no investigation into the brutal conduct of the dog catchers has been announced. Gabriel Paun, Director of Campaigns at FOUR PAWS bravely said,

"The dog catchers killed some, they injured others. We'll do our best to rescue those who survived the massacre again, and we hope to find loving families for them".

Undeterred by the current harassment they have been subjected to, Four Paws valiantly issued a petition asking Prime Minister Victor Ponta to squash all the laws that allow the mass killing of dogs. 

 Original Footage of the Raid on Four Paws 

With thanks to Mr BL.

This was written for the Huffington Post. 

ASPA and their illegal 'blacklist'

On Friday, 21st of March, the same day that ASPA raided a shelter run by volunteers and vandalized the adjacent VIER PFOTEN clinic in Bucharest, Răzvan Băncescu, head of ASPA -- which stands for 'Autoritatea pentru Supravegherea şi Protecţia Animalelor' and which, ironically means: "Authority for the Supervision and Protection of Animals", THE Romanian authority for the management of stray dogs and which is currently under investigation by the Romanian National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) -- announced that the authority would block adoptions of dogs in certain areas because some dog owners had made false declarations regarding their adoption.

NGOs and individuals who, through false statements or abandonment had not complied with the adoption of stray dogs will no longer be allowed to adopt animals from ASPA shelters, continued Bancescu, and that this ban would come into effect on Monday, 24th of March, 2014. The prohibition would cover 6 NGOs as well as 25 private individuals.

During his TV appearance, Bancescu siad:

1) due to the situation created yesterday -- referring to the woman was found dead, Thursday morning, in a market of Bucharest, with her face destroyed beyond recognition by dogs. As per usual, the dogs were blamed for her death, although the autopsy had not yet revealed the cause of the death of this person. On 21st of March, the day of Bancescu's TV appearance, however, it had been officially announced that the woman died of alcohol poisoning and because she chocked in her own vomit -- the adoptions will be limited and forbidden

2) according to the HCL 145/2013 (HCL is Local Council Decision) the adoptions will be forbidden for the people or organisations which are found guilty of abandonment. (please keep in mind that a HCL cannot supersede a law);

3) individuals or organisations who are found to abandon will be stopped immediately to adopt although the Police and Prosecutor's investigations are not completed;

THE 'BLACKLIST' GREW OVER NIGHT

From the moment that Bancescu made the above statement on Romanian national TV, til ASPA released their "blacklist" the next day, the list had grown from initially 6 to 19 NGOs, and from 25 to 39 private individuals. Just like that... in a matter of hours

NOTHING BUT A FUNNY COINCIDENCE?

ASPA's blacklist has not only been published on the website of ASPA, and in the Romanian newspapers but can also be found on the entrance doors of the public shelters, as shown on our website, in the picture taken by Mihnea Columbeanu, at Bragadiru prison which serves as public shelter, during the release of the 83 dogs on 24th of March, that ASPA had illegally seized on 21st of March, 2014, the same day as they released their illegal 'blacklist'

On top of the list we find the association Cutu-Cutu, who had reported ASPA to the National Anticorruption Directorate, and who has ordered their prosecution on 02/07/2014, under File number 424/P/2013, following 'Cutu Cutu's complaint.

A bit further down, we find also Mr Aurel Ambrozie who had his dog stolen from his arms by dog catchers because he could not present the dog's health card.

On Monday, 24th of March, desperate Mr Aurel Ambrozie, went to Bragadiru prison in the hope to find his dog there. This happened at the same time when the volunteers and Vier Pfoten who had their dogs stolen by ASPA were at the prison, together with reporters and journalists.

In the next pictures on our website, taken by Mihnea Columbeanu, you can see Mr Ambrozie at Bragadiru prison, talking to the media and showing the adoption agreement signed with ASPA for his stolen dog.

ASPA's 'BLACKLIST' IS ILLEGAL!

The problem that we see with this this "blacklist" is that a LCD ( Local Council Decision) can not supersede a law, well... LAWS, in this case.

And this is what the Romanian Animal Protection LAWS say about abandonment:

Preamble

Law 258/2013 modifies and completes the GEO 155/2001 [OUG ) Governmental Emergency Ordinance].

GEO 155/2011 has 17 articles and 5 annexes. GEO 155/2011 has been approved by the Law 227/2002.

First, GEO 155/2011 has been modified and completed by the Law 391/2006: Art 4 and Art 7 (3) were modified.

Law 258/2013 modifies and completes GEO 155/2001 as follow: Art 1 to Art 15 is modified; Another six articles are added after Art 13 of Ordinance 155/2001, namely Art Art 13 1 to 13 ^ 6.

Law 9/2008 modifies and completes the Law 205/2004.

Abandonment punishment

According to the Law 258/2013, Art (2) a) that states:

Art 14 (2) The GMT actions constitute the violations, and they are punished as follows:

“Non-compliance with the provisions of Art 6 alinea (2) [note: Art 6 (2) of law 258] and also the cruelty towards the animals, stipulated in Art 6 (2) of Law 205/2004 with regard to animal protection, with the subsequent modifications and completions [Note: as mentioned in Preamble, Law 205/2004 has been completed and modified by Law 9/2008], [“is punishable by” – this piece of text is missing from the law’s text] jailing from 6 months to 3 years or with a penal fine of 1000 lei to 10,000 lei and the dog is seized”.

Observation:

Art 6 (2) of Law 205/2004 with regard to animal protection, with the subsequent modifications and completions brought by Law 9/2008

* Under the Law 205/2004, Art 6 (2): In the light of this law, by cruelty towards animals is understood:

[...]

e) abandonment of an animal who's existence depends on the care of humans.

* The Law 9/2008, modifies the art 6 (2) e) into Art 6 (2) f) which states: In the light of this law, by cruelty towards animals is understood:

[...]

f) abandonment and / or drive away of an animal who's existence depends on the care of humans.

Conclusion:

Therefore, based on the above comments: the abandonment is a form of cruelty towards animals and is punishable by jailing from 6 moths to 3 years or with a penal fine of 1000 lei to 10,000 lei and the dog is seized.

Additionally, it is important to note that ASPA's decision to block the adoptions for several NGOs and private individuals seems to be based on HCL 145/2013 of PMB [Art IV Art 6 alin (4) and (6)], and that states: "the abandonment is established by ASPA upon the consultation of their data base" and "individuals or NGOs who are abandoning dogs are forbidden to adopt dogs for 1 year from the last documented abandonment."

The word that shouts from the page is "documented abandonment"

Furthermore, it is very important to mention that the NORMS on Law 258/2013 state:

CHAPTER VI

Notifying the population in order to claim and adopt stray dogs. The notification of owners

Art. 16. – The specialized services for the management of stray dogs, respectively the operators of the specialized services for the management of stray dogs have the obligation to promote their adoption and claim and to inform periodically the population regarding the operation programme of stray dog public shelters in order to ensure transparency.

Meaning that the authorities must promote adoptions, NOT hinder or inhibit them by restricting people's access to shelters, or by prohibiting them without a "documented abandonment" in "order to "ensure transparency", because a dog can also have escaped or got lost.

Even, if the abandonment thing might seem contentious, the question that must be asked is: if a law is broken, where is the legal action against the lawbreaker?

You can consult all related laws on our website.

AND WHAT ABOUT EU FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS?

Charter of fundamental rights Europe:

CHAPTER II FREEDOMS

Article 8

Protection of personal data

Everyone has the right to the protection of personal data concerning him or her.

Such data must be processed fairly for specified purposes and on the basis of the consent of the person concerned or some other legitimate basis laid down by law. Everyone has the right of access to data which has been collected concerning him or her, and the right to have it rectified.
Compliance with these rules shall be subject to control by an independent authority.

WHAT DOES THE ROMANIAN CONSTITUTION SAY?

Romanian Constitution:

TITLUL II ( Title II ) Drepturile, libertăţile şi îndatoririle fundamentale (The fundamental rights, freedoms and duties)

ARTICOLUL 16 (1) Cetăţenii sunt egali în faţa legii şi a autorităţilor publice, fără privilegii şi fără discriminări. (The citizens are equal in front of the law, the public authorities, without privileges and discrimination)

(2) Nimeni nu este mai presus de lege. (Nobody is above the law)

...AND THE ROMANIAN CIVIL CODE?

Romanian Civil Code Codul Civil:

Dreptul la viaţa privată (The right to private life)

Art. 71. – (1) Orice persoană are dreptul la respectarea vieţii sale private. (All persons have the right to respect of their private life)

(2) Nimeni nu poate fi supus vreunor imixtiuni în viaţa intimă, personală sau de familie, nici în domiciliul, reşedinţa sau corespondenţa sa, fără consimţământul său ori fără respectarea limitelor prevăzute la art. 75. (Nobody can be subjected to any interference in his private life, personal life, family life, nor in his residence, or correspondence, without his/her own consent or without following the limits as presented in art. 75)

(3) Este, de asemenea, interzisă utilizarea, în orice mod, a corespondenţei, manuscriselor sau altor documente personale, precum şi a informaţiilor din viaţa privată a unei persoane, fără acordul acesteia ori fără respectarea limitelor prevăzute de art. 75. (The use, in any way, of the correspondence, manuscripts or personal documents, as well as the use of information of one private life is forbidden, without the consent of that person or without following the limits as presented in art.75)

THE EU, ROMANIA AND THEIR COSMETIC LAWS

How strong are the walls which protect the integrity of a society? Civilizations have evolved to respect order contained within law... Now, imagine if you will, a society which has such laws but never enacts them: Cosmetic... Deceptive... Anarchic!

There exists such a society! Not at the edge of civilization but by invitation, at the edge of the European Union. A Union where officials can freely invite but then declare that they have no controls... NO COMPETENCE.

They invite and then, if issues occur, they declare that they are INCOMPETENT! Et voilà!

Only words?

Here before you are the Laws of Romania and here also are the words of the Romanian Government. How broken is a society when even those who create the laws ignore them with derisive importunity?

There is no adherence to laws resulting in volatility, anarchy and instability... in a European country.

Let us lay down beside you - the discerning judge - the law and the government ignorance of their own laws. We speak not one word but let you, the discerning listener decide: a law abiding society or one which exists at the very edge of anarchy BUT regarded by the wise and astute in Brussels as a valid contemporary member of the European family?

All information about this illegal 'blacklist' the related laws, references, pictures and videos are compiled on our website, at:

http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---aspas-illegal-blacklist.html

All 68 dogs belonging to Paws2Rescue have been released this morning from Bragadiru shelter

"ALL 68 OF OUR DOGS ARE OUT of Bragadiru and we are taking them all away: every dog stolen on Friday has now been released. These are the happiest pictures we have ever seen. To all Paws2Rescue rescuers and everyone in Romania who has helped us today releasing these dogs - THANK YOU from everyone across the world who has been praying with us. We are crying with happiness.

The dogs need vet checks, medical treatment and some urgent vaccination, and our rescuers need help to cover the costs - there are a huge number of dogs to deal with.

Please send by paypal to: iordanaioana@yahoo.com to help our team out there pay the costs."

At this hour VIER PFOTEN team recovers the majority of the dogs taken ilegaly by ASPA on Friday, the 21st of March. We'll keep you posted!

Massacre in FOUR PAWS clinic in Bucharest

Massacre in FOUR PAWS clinic in Bucharest

Original link.

City hall dog catchers illegally enter FOUR PAWS veterinary clinic and abuse dogs

Last Friday, 21 March 2014, several dog catchers of the local authority for stray dogs management ASPA abused and illegally took 18 dogs treated by the international animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS. They broke the lock of the entrance, took the dogs and vandalized the post-operation paddocks of FOUR PAWS veterinary clinic in 6th District of Bucharest. FOUR PAWS sharply condemns the illegal and cruel action ordered by the City Hall of Bucharest and perpetrated by the ASPA.

The dogs under treatment were captured by the city hall catchers applying extremely brutal methods (see video) and were taken to the public shelter of Bragadiru near Bucharest. The abusive action was directed not only against the FOUR PAWS paddocks but also against the shelter in which the clinic is situated. Around 75 dogs were brutally taken out from there by the catchers. According to several eye witnesses, at least four dogs died on the spot because of the brutal handling. The public shelter’s administration refuses to give back the dogs, breaking several articles of the new law of stray dogs management. “The lethal action of ASPA has no meaning“, explains Gabriel Paun, Director of Campaigns at FOUR PAWS. „These dogs were rescued by us from terrible conditions and our teams brought them back to life. They were to be adopted. The dog catchers killed some, they injured others. We’ll do our best to rescue again those who survived the massacre and we hope to find loving families for them”.

FOUR PAWS has a legal contract ongoing with the 6th District City Hall for a stray dogs neutering project and for the use of the veterinary clinic which is property of the City Hall. Since last Friday, ASPA representatives forbid FOUR PAWS members the access to the facility.The Protocol for stray dogs neutering signed with the 6th District city hall is still valid until April 2014, and FOUR PAWS has not received any evacuation ordinance up to this date. The way the City Hall of 6th District broke the Protocol is completely unexplainable, giving the fact that FOUR PAWS invested money from donations, a lot of efforts and time in this project, which was requested by the City Hall. FOUR PAWS so far has neutered over 3.000 dogs in the 6th District. „Breaking the locks and vandalizing the paddocks of FOUR PAWS by the city hall catchers is an illegal action“, stresses Gabriel Paun. „We filed complaint to the police and we will open a legal action against ASPA. The main accusations: killing and cruelty against anim als, theft, sequestration of private goods and vandalism.“

All these abuses were carried out in the presence of the Local Police of 6th District. Instead of intervening for the law enforcement, the local policemen obstructed the access of FOUR PAWS representatives into the paddock.

In October 2013 a stray dog killing law came into force following a tragic incident in which a little boy was fatally injured by stray dogs a month earlier. The methodology to be applied to the killing came to light at Christmas time and the killing started soon after. In recent weeks many animal welfare NGOs and citizens reported cases of abuse and law breaking by the local authorities. On 10 March FOUR PAWS has submitted legal steps at the Court of Appeal in Bucharest for the Romanian Government to freeze the killing of stray dogs. „The situation is obviously out of control. It is time for the prime minister to take the lead and stop the killing law and the abuse. He is the only one with the power to do so”, says Gabriel Paun.

On the violent and illegal ASPA-raid on a shelter run by volunteers and the adjacent veterinary clinic of VIER PFOTEN on 21st of March, 2014 and the fight for the dogs

On 21st of March, 2014, at around 14.00 o'clock, ASPA, the Romanian authority for the management of stray dogs, raided a pound located in Bucharest, District 6, run by volunteers under the supervision of the government paid veterinarian, Bogdan Brasla, as well as the adjacent clinic of Vier Pfoten.

ASPA confiscated all dogs they could get hold of. They took 18 dogs - 15 dogs belonging to VIER PFOTEN and 3 dogs belonging to the volunteers and who were under the care of VIER PFOTEN at the time of the raid - after they vandalized their post-operative veterinary clinic. ASPA confiscated also 57 dogs cared for by volunteers who are being supported by Paws2Rescue, a charity registered in the United Kingdom, making it a total of 75 dogs.

ASPA broke the lock of the entrance, took the dogs and vandalized the post-operation paddocks of VIER PFOTEN's veterinary clinic in 6th District of Bucharest. VIER PFOTEN sharply condemns the illegal and cruel action ordered by the City Hall of Bucharest and perpetrated by the ASPA.

The dogs were captured using extremely brutal methods and taken to the public shelter of Bragadiru. Dogs covered with blood were dragged in the dust and thrown in cages, all in a huddle. Four dogs died on spot because of the cruel handling. The animals choked to death, as catchers intentionally or due to their incompetence tightened the lace too much while enforcing the animals. Many dogs, even if they didn't die, were bleeding through their mouth because they had been manipulated so brutally. Unconscious (or dead) animals were enforced together with moving animals in small cages. A total of 8 dead dogs has been reported to us the next day by the volunteers.

ASPA, who turned up with 13 vans, escorted by the local police, acted very brutally, breaking the locks of the paddocks before removing the dogs. They didn't give a reason for their action, nor did they show a document that would justify or at least explain their brutal intervention, not even after having been asked several times by the volunteers. The government paid veterinarian, Bogdan Brasla, who was in charge of the pound cared for by the volunteers, didn't show up, although the volunteers asked him several times to intervene or, at least, to come.

Although VIER PFOTEN has a legal contract ongoing with the 6th District City Hall for the stray dogs neutering project and for the use of the veterinary clinic and which is valid until April 17, 2014, on Saturday, the local policemen obstructed the access of VIER PFOTEN representatives into the paddock.

VIER PFOTEN claim that they have not received any evacuation ordinance up to this date.

"The way the District 6 Hall chose to end their cooperation with us is inexplicable given that FOUR PAWS has invested its own resources, time and efforts in this project at the express request of the City Hall. I sterilized over 3,000 stray dogs during the two-year project in Sector 6 and can not understand this attitude" said VIER PFOTEN coordinator Anca Tomescu.

Animal protection organizations and citizens recently reported numerous violations of the new legislation for the management of stray dogs by local authorities and the situation risks spiraling out of control, and only a swift and effective government intervention can stop these abuses, said FOUR PAWS and warned that Romania tolerating this situation was "out of the map of civilized Europe"

According to the information received from the VIER PFOTEN press center:

- VIER PFOTEN people went to the facility immediately to check the damage - and because all the dogs were missing - at the police station to file a complaint against ASPA for vandalism, stealing and illegal trespassing.

- Another VIER PFOTEN team went to Bragadiru public shelter to claim the dogs, but the shelter administration illegally forbid the access in the facility.

-The representative of VIER PFOTEN on the spot filed a complaint to the police, about illegal access ban and several law infringements regarding a clear displaying of the daily activity of the shelter, as mentioned by the law.

- VIER PFOTEN Romania is starting legal actions against ASPA for abuse and theft of the dogs from 6’th district VIER PFOTEN facility.
VIER PFOTEN Romania is starting legal actions against ASPA for breaking the law regarding public access in a public shelter.

- VIER PFOTEN Romania is starting legal actions against ASPA for not answering to VIER PFOTEN's request filled, in the 30 day-term mentioned by the law for Public Services.

- VIER PFOTEN Romania is starting legal actions against district 6 City Hall for breaking the contract they had with VIER PFOTEN regarding the facility they have in district 6 in Bucharest.

- VIER PFOTEN Romania is starting legal actions against district 6 Local Police for abuse (law 9/2008)

The videos taken during the raid, of which the first video is a compilation made by VIER PFOTEN, based on the video material by Ioana Iordana that you can see in the following videos, are compiled on our website, at:

http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---aspa-raided-a-private-shelter-and-the-adjucent-clinic-of-vier-pfoten-in-bucharest-on-21st-of-march-2014.html

ABOUT THE RAID OF THE SHELTER CARED FOR BY VOLUNTEERS

OFA conducted extensive interviews with the volunteers who run the raided shelter and this is what we have learned:

The shelter, which is cared for by volunteers and supported by a UK charity, is located on a land owned by the City Hall of Bucharest and is under the supervision of the government paid veterinarian, Bogdan Brasla. The volunteers run this shelters since more or less three years. During this period the supervising veterinarian showed up only 3 times.

The usage of the shelter is for free, meaning that the animal rescuers don't pay any rent and have also never been asked by the city hall to pay a rent. A few weeks ago, the supervising veterinarian told the volunteers that, in order "for the dogs to be safe", they should pay a rent now and that he would guarantee for the safety of the dogs.

This "proposal" came too late: the volunteers had already rented a farm to make their very own shelter there and they informed the veterinarian Bogdan Brasla of it and also of the fact that they would move the dogs to this farm as soon as possible.

Bogdan Brasla replied that this was not possible and that the dogs would need to stay in this shelter until he would have called the ASPA so that they would come and finalize the registration of the micro chips of the dogs, implemented by VIER PFOTEN in their clinic.

What the vet Bogdan Brasla told the volunteers is NONSENSE: the microchips do no longer need to be registered to ASPA but to the College of Veterinarians.

Anyway... ASPA might argue that since the dogs were in a shelter owned by the city hall, they were their property, but NOT SO de facto. More than half of the dogs were brought from two private shelters almost 3 years ago and were dogs that they had raised since they were puppies. According to the law, the volunteers were allowed to adopt these dogs from the other rescuers as well as the stray dogs that they found inside the shelter, almost dying of starvation.

So the volunteers micro-chipped them all, made their adoption papers ready, and bought the rabies vaccines while waiting for the ASPA to come in order to finalize the registration as advised by the ASPA-veterinarian.

And the ASPA came. But not to register the dogs...

Another point that is very important to be mentioned, is that, although the ASPA veterinarian, Bogdan Brasla, said that the volunteers "should pay a rent so that the dogs would be safe", no rent has ever been claimed by the city hall, according to the volunteers. Since the city hall has never asked for a rent, consequently no rent was due and an eviction - if we would call the brutal ASPA-raid an "eviction" - was not justified.

Also, the volunteers has never been asked - neither verbally nor by written notification - to leave the shelter. Right the contrary: when they wanted to leave and move the dogs to the rented farm, the ASPA-vet, Bogdan Brasla, hindered them from doing so by saying that this was not possible until the micro chip registration had been finalized by ASPA.

IN SUMMATION

The dogs would have been moved to the rented farm already more than 2 weeks ago if the ASPA-vet had not inhibited this.

When the volunteers returned to the shelter the next day, Saturday, to take back their cages and other materials, they were denied access by the corrupt ASPA-veterinarian who now intends to make this his OWN shelter.

THE FIGHT FOR THE DOGS

Today, Monday, 24th of March, Ioana, one of the volunteers, returned to the Bragadiru prison, which serves as a public shelter. Ioana was accompanied by Codrut Feher as well as some VIER PFOTEN representatives. Present were also ASPA chef Bancescu, the police, as well as several media representatives.

The shelter management of Bragadiru prison allowed only one person at the time to enter the shelter and so far, 10.30 o'clock, Ioana managed to take 3 dogs out of there.

We will update our website as well as our Facebook-page as soon as we receive new information.

http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---aspa-raided-a-private-shelter-and-the-adjucent-clinic-of-vier-pfoten-in-bucharest-on-21st-of-march-2014.html

HOW TO HELP:

Please send this information to your media contacts and please write to the European Union to voice your outrage over the fact that this is happening in a country, member of the EU.

Please sign the petition in the following link, calling for an investigation and that Razvan Bancescu, the head of ASPA, be fired, and please share it with your friends and contacts.

Thank you very much, in advance.

Please SIGN here: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/attorney-general-of-romania-nitu-tiberiu-mihail-please-investigate-the-actions-of-aspa-bucharest-decided-by-razvan-bancescu-va-rugam-sa-dispuneti-deschiderea-unei-anchete-minutioase-in-actiunile-aspa-bucuresti-ordonate-de-razvan-bancescu#share

Independent Finnish filmmaker releases beautiful documentary on the Romanian stray animals situation filmed in Romania in November 2013

"Stray Dog Rescuers" is the title of a very interesting and beautiful documentary film that has just been released and comes with subtitles in English, Finnish, German and Romanian.

You will see many familiar faces in the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbFH-vrQShc

The movie contains NO violent or graphic images.

ASPA under investigation by the Romanian National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA)

Below online translation of the Romanian press release:

National Anticorruption Directorate has ordered the prosecution of the Authority for the Supervision and Protection of Animals-ASPA on 02/07/2014 File number 424/P/2013, following the complaint made by the Association 'dog, puppy' animal protection organization, represented by Marcela Pisla president accused are:

One. Director General of the Authority for the Supervision and Protection of Animals-ASPA, Treeroiu Cristian Bogdan, based in Bucharest, Calea Calarasi. 179 sector 3, tel.02131295.55,

Two. Bancescu Razvan ASPA project coordinator, based in Bucharest, Calea Calarasi. 179 sector 3, tel.02131295.55,

Three. Alexander Miron, Bragadiru project coordinator, based in Bucharest, Calea Calarasi. 179 sector 3, tel.02131295.55.

ASPA is under investigation in case no. 11232/P/2013 for similar offenses, following criminal complaint filed by the Prosecutor our association sector declined in March and the DNA, which ordered the prosecution to 04.10.2013.

Re: is the commission of crimes of corruption and service provided and punishable under the Criminal Code:

I FEED

I noticed on the DNA information held under the supervision authorities and animal protection (ASPA), budgetary institution subordinated mayor of Bucharest, brought into being in December 2013 acquisition of food for shelter dogs from Bragadiru inmates using a Another CPV code than usual. City Hall has opened a new shelter for dogs with joint holders Bragadiru with the support of the National Administration of Penitentiaries.

According to the above-licitatie.ro statement attached to the file, ASPA acquired on December 6, 2013 'pet food' and in December 18, 2013, 12 days later, ASPA has purchased 12,000 kilograms of .... 'animal feed', ie food for guinea pigs and other rodents, pigs or cows, feed the, Under the law, for farm animals. Only accepted accounting code for pets (dogs, cats) is called 'pet food'. Using a different accounting code at the 'feed', was done with the obvious purpose of circumventing legislative acts under which procurement takes place, because I had to carry a bidding procedure.

By changing CPV code to purchase the same product basically two acquisitions were made directly, the total probably exceeds direct acquisition threshold. Change framing the food was made with the written approval of the mayor Sorin Oprescu. Company from which they purchased 12,000 kg 'feed' for dogs, worth £ 45,600 (about 10,000 euros), on 18/12/2013, called SC YOUR STUFF SRL and how progress was offline.

II. SITE database and server

I called investigative bodies to consider the following:

a) ASPA acquired through direct acquisition procedure, a server, a database and a website, each worth U.S. $ 100,000 each, were produced and paid at the end of 2013. Their purchase prices are huge, much more than their actual cost.

b) site server and the database are in working even now, although it is stipulated in the contract, which it is also a violation of the rules in force. Moreover, on 02/14/2014, ASPA received from DSV Giurgiu a fine of £ 5000 for the 'No proof remedy made public on the site. " Fine refers to the obligation to make the site ASPA all dogs captured and taken to shelters where they are because you want to take people to not have to go to all the shelters to look for them, but where they are taken strictly. In the absence of this site, at which everyone could access easy and convenient, citizens are forced to spend huge amounts of money and a lot of time and nerves sometimes absent from work to travel to the three shelters in Bucharest, Mihailesti and Pallady.

c) Furthermore, all three products were purchased from the same company, newly established, declared non-taxable. The problem is that at least one of the bills is fictitious, because the numbers add up in the first two bills placed the company in a position to pay VAT.

d) We believe the company has been specifically established for this acquisition and future acquisitions such. Besides, the invoice number ASPA is no. 1, 2, 3. Probably these firms are founded by people close to the three defendants, the money going ... 'family'.

e) The website and database were acquired on 11/13/2013, although Law 258/2013 clearly state since 9.26.2013 (!) as the database for dogs with a master's ANSVSA you do not ASPA.

Thus, Article 13 index 3, paragraph 4 states:

'Register of stray dogs is managed by the College of Veterinarians. "

The Law 258/2013 also specifies in Article II: "Upon the entry into force of this Act, any contrary provision be repealed. ' So and HCGMB no. 145/2013 is repealed. However, ASPA is bound HCGMB 145/2013 (passed in May May 2013 but abolished in September 2013) of Bucharest all dog owners to register dogs from ASPA in a database on a particular site . Only at the beginning of 2014 ASPA was ordered media not to register dogs with dogs in Bucharest, they must actually go veterinarians to register dogs! A special record kept of ASPA away dogs and dogs forced owners to come on Calea Calarasi at its headquarters, although the law does not allow, in order to justify the need for the site, database and server all purchased fraudulently November?

III. Dacia Duster.

On cars Dacia Duster irregularities noticed are:

a) ASPA bought 3 cars Dacia Duster type 'utility' type instead to purchase vehicles 'utility transport animals'. Although legislation ('Ordinance Boc "), the IMF agreement, allows only the purchase of vehicles for the transport of animals and prohibiting the purchase of cars for transportation management in the euro 3.3 million received in 2013, ASPA has spent 54,000 euros fraudulent acquisition of three cars Dacia Duster transport Treeroiu directors, Bancescu and Ancuta. Each Dacia Duster worth 18,000 euros each.

b) Factory Dacia factory not 'Dacia Duster cars vans to transport animals'. Does not even have a prototype 'van to transport animals'! ASPA management used a trick here, namely, that Dacia Duster purchased are recorded as 'vans' in the registration certificate. These cars Dacia Duster 'vans', equipped with two seats in the back are mostly used by courier companies to transport small packages. The cars are designed to carry workers accompanied by tools. But animal! If it was 'utility machines for animal transport', was written this in 'Registration Certificate'. However, this is not mentioned. I attach the certificate to the file, according to which Dacia Duster listed in category 'N1, van'. The car is not van has rear windows instead of plate, no ventilation (ventilation for animals) is not fitted with lattice partition between the cockpit and animals has no place for cages.

c) Directors do not have such cars. It is clear that directors are not going to catch and transport the dogs later, because it is not their job function. For this there are professionals. These cars were achitizionate fraudulent.

IV. PRIVATE pound.

The three companies involved are:

One. SC Elen Basic Bussines company with headquarters based in St. Aurel Botea no. 3, CUI 30,441,432, with the object of business consulting

Two. About Best Marketing Ltd based in Bucharest Blvd Burebista, no. 2, Bucharest, CUI 16,678,884, with the object of 'consulting business and management'

Three. About Terra Magique Ltd. located in Bucharest, str dam Sadului no. 7 A-7 B, sector 2, with the object of 'intermediation in the sale of furniture, household goods and ironmongery', CUI 17,606,614.

I asked layout verification in the following aspects:

a) a dog catching oversized Price: 219 lei. How it came to determining the value? We believe that the price is exaggerated and that do not reflect true costs. Most dogs are gentle and can be easily caught by hand. Even for those who are caught with nets, catching costs can not rise at a price so high. FOUR PAWS Foundation has publicly stated that this money can perform many more actions, namely, can 'catch, sterilize, postoperative stay and carry' the same dog. ASPA Probably no hidden financial interests public money ASPA budget is huge, ie 18.6 million. ASPA management found, asttfel a way to circumvent the face of public funds allocated for 2013 ASPA and the friends and relatives of direct their obvious purpose is to obtain financial benefits, both ASPA and 3 private companies. By catching the pound dogs get private money is easy! With four dogs caught (219 lei / dog caught) win company works as an honest man in a month. And in a few months can raise his villa! For our money, the taxpayers.

b) There are great questions and doubts on how did the non-public auction in August-September 2013 on the acquisition of private companies by the pound, organized at the ASPA, in Calea Calarasi. 179 sector 3. How were the contracts awarded by the three companies preferred by ASPA leadership? ASPA management has planned it megaafacere public money on private pound, taking advantage of the fact that the tender was non-public.

c) The three companies have become overnight winning the auction for private pound apparently had nothing related to animals before auction, with only 7 employees. By rendering-services contracts signed with ASPA probably 'wrinkle' enormous amounts of money into the pockets of ASPA management support private dog track, given that they carry out illegal activity inconsistent with the objects of said. We believe that in fact we are dealing with a 'misappropriation' under the Criminal Code. From our sources pound private companies had contracts with the ASPA at the word 'dog' in the subject activity. ASPA was allowed to contract with such firms that deal, according to the documents, the ... 'blacksmith' and 'housekeeping'? What experience has recommended for dogs got work?

d) Probably pound lead private firms is composed of close acquaintances ASPA management because the pound to pound the state for the movement on the last cars even before two months of winning the auction (June 2013), to 'learn' to catch dogs , according to our sources.

e) ASPA conducted in the month of December 2013 payments totaling 700,000 euros to veterinary practices and the pound private firms. This amount was properly attributed?

f) There are suspicions and on the number of dogs caught in real life. It 'flashy' pound that private firms declaring in most acts .... same number of dogs caught. Practice shows that it is impossible for them to catch the same number of dogs every day!

Compared to the above, we requested the investigation of the facts mentioned.

*** Decision DNA extracted from www.e-licitatie.ro, data sheet description of the Dacia Duster, a fine of £ 5,000 received by ASPA.

Source: http://www.agerpres.ro/comunicate/2014/03/22/comunicat-de-presa-asociatia-cutu-cutu-10-43-11

Please sign the petition demanding ASPA give back the stolen dogs

ASPA give back the stolen dogs

Dog Catchers Ambush Four Paws Private Shelter. [Updates]

 15.40 O'CLOCK UPDATE Action illegal hingherilor ASPA, who vandalized the shelter from the ADP 6 and place their PAWS, is told by a witness who witnessed the whole operation. John Carpenter: "at around 14.00 came about 13 cars of the ASPA, with gendarmes. Broke the padlock of the shelter and began to destroy the Paddock gates. Vandalized simply everything. It's hard to describe why brutal methods they used to pick up the dogs. To my protests, catchers were threatened with beating. During this time, the gendarmes asistau complacent all these things. I told them that's not normally what happens, that dogs are dead, and they replied that to sit quiet. After you have finished with the vandalized the two pens of FOUR PAWS, next to the clinic. They trampled the gates and destroyed everything. Luckily I managed to recover my 5 dogs in the shelter, which i squeezed into the personal machine ".

At this time, several representatives of the FOUR PAWS are The 25 police to file criminal complaint against ASPA for vandalism, burglary and theft through penetration. 

UPDATE 16.37 dozens of dogs lift the illegal dog catchers ASPA, brutal methods, from the 6th District Court of ADP and place their PAWS were transported in the middle of Los Angeles. Most of the dogs were sterilizați, microcipați, booklets and health had to be moved to a new shelter. The arrival of machinery was filmed shortly ago.

UPDATE 19.30 PAWS to Team tried in vain to obtain access to Makati City shelter for the recovery of the 15 dogs caught abusively catchers ASPA today. PAWS members arrived at the shelter at around 4 pm and requested the intervention of the local police, bearing in mind that, according to the law, public access can be made daily between 10.00-18.00. Police entered the shelter and recorded the statement of interior, according to which "the open between 10.00-14.00 because working in the prison system". FOUR PAWS keep to clarify that, according to an official of the Prison Administration response, it does not have the "authority in determining the terms of access for the public visitor".

Source - Four Paws.

Razvan Bancescu: Aspa will limit the adoptions for 6 NGOs and 25 persons starting on monday

Razvan BANCESCU, Director General of the Authority for the Supervision and Protection of Animals ( ASPA ), said on Friday that the organization will block Monday adoptions of dogs in certain areas, as some dog owners have made false declarations regarding their adoption. NGOs and individuals , through false statements or abandonment had not complied with the adoption of stray dogs will not be allowed , starting on Monday, to take animals, announced BANCESCU. 

The ban covers six non-governmental organizations and 25 individuals, said coordinator Authority for Supervision and Protection of Animals (ASPA). This measure was ordered after the district found in their case, false declarations about adopted dogs and even their abandonment. ASPA coordinator gave as an example, in this context, the case of an individual who has a adopted a dog that was later found in the yard of a kindergarten Razvan BANCESCU also said that municipalities sectors 1 and 2 refused the request for verification of compliance by those who have adopted stray dogs, although they allocated money to manage stray dogs problem. "Sectors 3, 4, 5 and 6 made these checks. District 2 responded that this activity is the responsibility of the local police, and the same problem we have in District 1, where we found out that local police is dealing with only the dogs that are in the shelter of this administrative area of the capital (Odai street), "said BANCESCU. 

He also added in the video below: "We have no more problems with the management of dogs because we started to euthanize them. We have room in Bragadiru shelter for next week's caught dogs, meanwhile in Pallady and Mihailesti shelter the term will expire for the rest of the dogs..."

 

Just minutes ago! Dogs taken illegally by ASPA from private shelter & vier pfoten clinic, many of whom had owners in the UK!

Post by Mariana Lepadatu.

Post by Ioana Iordana.

Post by Ioana Iordana.

The investigation of Ionut Anghel's death has been finalized, the culprits are to be prosecuted.

Prosecutors from the Department of forensic investigations completed the investigation in the case know generically as "child killed by strays" and ordered the indictment of the Public Domain Administration Sector 2 Bucharest and SC TEI Residential SRL Bucharest for manslaughter, provided for and punishable under Article 178, paragraph 2 of the Penal Code of 1969, with the application of Article 5, paragraph 1 of the new Penal Code, reads a press release from the Prosecutor's Office, from the High Court Of Justice.

In the same case Constantin Ciorascu was also put on trial for manslaughter, punishable under article 192, paragraph 2, from the Penal code.

"There's a difference that exists in terms of legal classification of the offense of manslaughter incriminating legal persons and that of manslaughter incriminating natural persons. This is based on the sequence of criminal laws that intervened from the time the offense occurred until now. So, if the individual liability limits were kept by the new Penal Code (imprisonment from 2 to 7 years), the criminal liability of the legal person has seen a growth of the fine limits, under the provisions of the new Penal Code, prosecutors said.

In the case of Constantin Ciorascu, we used the individual liability from the new Penal Code and in terms of the legal person's liability we applied the exception that derives from the  principle of the most favorable criminal law enforcement.

Prosecutors show that in the indictment sent to the court, the Administration of the Public Domain, sector 2, Bucharest, has not taken adequate measures concerning boundary fencing or delimitation of the Tei park area from the vacant land in the immediate vicinity, which allowed the passing of Ionut Anghel and his brother into "a wild area and created the conditions for their unhindered entry on a private property, without fencing, guarded by seven dogs, whose attacks led to the death of the minor A.I.C.".

In the case of Tei Residential SRL Bucharest company and its manager, Constantin Ciorascu, it must be retained that "they did not provide the organizational framework to prevent the dog atack on the minor A.I.C, did not maintain the integrity of the fence for keeping the company dogs exclusively withing the fenced perimeter of the firm, and the obligations arising from the law relating to the ownership of dogs, including those dangerous or aggressive, circumstances that led to the death of the minor A.I.C."

The case was sent to the court of law in Sector 2, Bucharest. Ionut Anghel, four years old, died on September 2, 2013, after being attacked by dogs on a land near Tei Park.

Death was caused by external hemorrhage, with hundreds of wounds being found on it's body, said on the 3rd of September 2013, for Mediafax, the doctor who did the autopsy, Abdo Salem, from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. The doctor stated that only the child's sole didn't have  any plagues, the rest of the body having hundreds of dog bites.

The case of Ionut Anghel's death was opened on the 3rd of September 2013, and a day after the investigation was taken over by the prosecutors from the supreme court, who have done the investigations regarding manslaughter.

The investigators have heard in this case, among others, the parents and the grandmother of Ionut Anghel, Razvan Bancescu, project coordinator at ASPA, Carmen Secareanu, president of the Kaleidoscope Association, Lavinia Mirela Nica, ex-volunteer of Kaleidoscope Association, Marcela Pisla, president of the "Cutu, cutu" Association, Constantin Ciorascu, the owner of the land where Ionut Anghel was killed by dogs and Octavian Sandu, the man who brought Ionut Anghel's brother to his grandmother, in Tei Park.

Six dogs were seized in September 2nd, 2013, from the firm's property on Tuzla street, near Tei park, where Ionut Anghel was killed by dogs. One of them, who had blood on his nose, was sterilized by ASPA and adopted by the Kaleidoscope Foundation in 2008, said Razvan Bancescu.

Policemen fined in september 2013, the SC Tei Residential SRL company, which manages the land where Ionut Anghel was killed by dogs. Representatives of the company were fined 2000 lei(aprox. 450 euros)  because they didn't have a security plan for the property, police sources told Mediafax.

Also, the man guarding the property was fined 300 lei (aprox. 65 euros) because he was not qualified to provide security services.

Images captured by camers in Tei Park on september 2nd 2013, before Ionut Anghel was found dead, aired on september 19th in the media. Ionut Anghel and his 6  year old brother were seen while playing and running on an alley in the park, their grandmother doesn't appear on the recording. At one point Ionut's brother is brought in the park by a man. This man goes with the child to a security guard, and after a few seconds the three men were seen headed to where the children's grandmother would have been.

After a few minutes, the man who brought the boy appears in the video while moving toward the park's exit. At around 11:30, Ionut was found killed by dogs on a private property near Tei park.

After the images where shown by the media, the investigating prosecutor ordered the seizing of the images captured by the security cameras in Tei park.

Prosecutors have questioned Octavian Sandu, as a witness, the man who took Ionut Anghel's brother to his grandmother in Tei park.

Octavian Sandu, said, on his way out from the Prosecutor's office, that on september 2nd 2013 he saw  Ionut's brother on the street and that he was scared. He took him and brought him to his grandmother in Tei park. He mentioned that he approached the boy after seeing he was crying, realizing that something wrong happened. He said he found out that there was another child that got lost when he brought Ionut's brother to his grandmother.

source: http://www.realitatea.net/cazul-ionu-ancheta-privind-decesul-lui-ionut-este-finalizata-dosarul-va-fi-trimis-in-instanta_1403961.html

OFA's position and clarifying statement regarding our support for FPAM's legal actions against the Romanian government and the ANVSA

Due to a quite unpleasant and very sad event that occurred on our page on 16th of March, 2014 when OFA had been attacked by a British rescuer in our post where we tried to help FPAM to gather evidence and witness testimonies for their lawsuit against the Romanian government and the ANVSA, and because said rescuer continues to spread misinformation about our organisation without giving people access to the full information, we now - sadly - feel obliged to issue the following clarifying statement:

We have tried to explain our position to said rescuer in quite a few emails and hours long discussions without any result and even worse: to judge from the content of the latest mail that said rescuer has sent to us tonight, this person did, very obviously, not even bother to open our link and to have a look at the proof for FPAM's lawsuit which is the legal document and which can be read on our website, along with the collaboration protocol that FPAM had signed with Victor Ponta and Daniel Constantin - at that time the leaders of the USL party - on 21st of December, 2011 and which clearly states, among others, that the euthanasia of stray dogs is banned. This contract goes until 21st of December, 2020.

You can read both documents, at: http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---fpam-takes-legal-actions-against-the-romanian-government-and-anvsa.html

IN CLEAR:

Occupy for Animals has no affiliation whatsoever with the Romanian group FPAM.

Contrary to what is being told by the British rescuer, we are neither supporting nor defending them, or any of their actions. We are simply trying to help them to gather evidence and witness testimonies for their legal actions against both the Romanian government and the ANVSA because we believe this to be a true chance to turn the situation in Romania around.

Their apparent inability to enact any change to shelter conditions inside their country, as claimed by said rescuer, has been noted. What we do know is that previous legal actions which they have introduced have been successful and maybe they function better at this higher political level than at the grassroots level of the shelters.

So what we have is an organisation which has attracted the contempt of this British rescuer, but they introduced a legal challenge which we would all have sought to introduce, namely one to stop the killing. If we were Romanian, we would have sought to achieve exactly what FPAM have just done. We would have sought to introduce a legal action. But we can't, we are not from Romania.

A legal action by FPAM is critically important and it is unwise to interfere at this moment, to not support this important action, let alone to boycott it.

This would be a betrayal of all Romanian dogs and their protectors and we must endorse one of the very few possibilities to stop the horrors which all of us together in our different ways wish to see ended.

It may only be a small chink of light at the end of a long dark tunnel but it IS a light in the darkness, and OFA will always simply support any honest possibility for positive change which benefits the people and animals of Romania.

Personal perspectives and differences are deemed irrelevant when such opportunities are presented.

FPAM will challenge and seek to prevent the Law 258/2013 from being enacted and this is exactly what every animal lover seeks to be achieved. Any opposition to this is counter to the potential health and safety of all Romanian animals.

The action has already been filed at the Romanian Court of Appeal and we should ALL applaud and welcome this action and we are, again, calling on all our Romanian friends to support FPAM in their lawsuit against the Romanian government and the ANVSA by submitting their evidence. People from abroad who have visited shelters and witnessed neglect or abuse can also submit their evidence which must be legalized at a notary.

All information about this important action, including the collaboration protocol from 21st of December, 2011 and the legal documents that FPAM has submitted to the Romanian Court of Appeal, can be read on our website, at:

http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---fpam-takes-legal-actions-against-the-romanian-government-and-anvsa.html

This "issue" has taken up too much of our limited time already and we will not be responding to any further comments on this subject.

For all further information about this important lawsuit, about FPAM in general, or the claims made by the British rescuer, we respectfully suggest that you get in touch with FPAM directly. You can contact them by email at: office@fpam.ro

OFA supports FPAM's important legal actions against the Romanian government and will continue to do just that. Nothing more. Nothing less.

March 20, 2014

- Occupy for Animals -

Flavius Barbulescu resigns

"Service Management stray dogs in Brasov remained without a head, after Flavius Barbulescu, who led the institution since its inception, has resigned. In recent months, however, and other employees of the Service (or caregivers) have resigned, and their complaints were related to the new provisions of the law "strays" that forces them to do the work in three shifts, so as to ensure permanent shelter dogs 24 hours 24. Lately, the service has undergone a number of changes caused by the change of legislation. However, the administrative management services stray dog is being moved to the shelter of the Stupini Civic Center, so there is a malfunction in the conduct of all activities, and be able to provide permanent asylum." 

Original link.

The Fight Against Romania Continues. Latest Protests

The world against romanian dogs slaughter!

FPAM has filled a lawsuit against the Romanian government and the ANVSA at the Romanian Court of Appeal on 13th of March, 2014

FPAM calls on Romanian activists, rescuers and citizens who have witnessed cruelty and neglect in public "shelters", to join them in their lawsuit and to testify against the Romanian Government and the ANVSA.

INTRODUCTION:

On 21st of December, 2011 USL leaders Victor Ponta and Daniel Constantin, signed a cooperation protocol with the Federation for the Protection of Animals and the Environment headed by their Honorary President, Marius Marinescu, prohibiting the euthanasia of stray dogs through a legislative initiative, during a conference held at the Capital Hotel Rin. The agreement is valid until 21 December 2020.

PURPOSE:

Protecting the environment and animal rights in Romania.

OBJECTIVES:

1.The refer to permanent and will take steps to harmonize the Romanian legislation with the European one, considering the EU regulations, the European and global treaties and conventions profile. This will monitor the compliance and enforcement provisions of the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights (Paris, 1978), the World Health Organization recommendations (1992), the Treaty of Lisbon (2009), the Declaration of the European Parliament of 13 October 2011, the Kioto Protocol (1997), Protocol on Environment in Copenhagen (2009), Convention in Durban (2011) and other relevant international documents to which Romania is a party.

2.Uniunea Socilal-free and Federation for Animal Welfare and Environment will work to implement environmental policies and animals.

3. Will implement and Animal and Environment Police. The entity will operate though a single telephone number that that will operate at national level.

4. USL and Federation for Animal Welfare and Environment will monitor the work of the Executive, so stop and prevent abusive measures taken by the authorities, and violation of Roman law, the European regulations and European and global treaties and conventions on environmental protection and animal.

5. After consultation with the Federation for Animal Welfare and Environment, Social-Liberal Union will submit the Romanian Parliament in the legislative session in early 2012, a legislative initiative to the European Union regarding management of stray dogs by banning euthanasia.

--------

During the conference from 21st of December, 2011, Victor Ponta said that people should not think this collaboration protocol had been signed to get the votes from the Romanian animals... No, no, they signed this agreement out of concern for the country that they live in, and which is far more important than any political interest, Ponta said.

Of course...

Fact is that they have got the votes from the Romanian animal lovers on 10th of June, 2013 during their latest local elections. Their deal with FPAM, however, seems to have been forgotten!

On 10th September the Lower House of the Romanian Parliament voted GEO 155/2001 to legitimise a 'catch and kill' policy for all homeless animals. The terminology used during the debate at the parliament was 'eradication'.

On 25th September, 2013 Constitutional Court judge Petre Lăzăroiu, suggested that "the mass killing of stray dogs in Romania could traumatize the population"... then the entire place ruled to cull all dogs... and that the eradication of Romania's homeless animals - although it had been ruled unconstitutional in January 2012 - was now "constitutional"!

On 25th of September, the Romanian Constitutional Court had an opportunity to define whether Romania is a country worthy of being called civilized or whether it should be consigned to popular perception of a country unworthy of being considered anything other than barbaric, mismanaged, corrupt and dangerous. They chose the latter.

FPAM FILLED LAWSUIT AGAINST THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE ANVSA

On 31st of January, 2014 FPAM introduced a formal complaint to the Romanian Government which remained without response after the legal period of 30 days was exhausted. On 13th of March, 2014 FPAM - represented by their Honorary President, Mr Marius Marinescu - filed a lawsuit against the Romanian Government and the ANVSA at the Romanian Court of Appeal.

The goal of FPAM's action - according to the text taken from their website - is to stop the mass euthanasia of dogs by the authorities, and the cruelty which takes place in most cities in Romania (poisonings, shooting, torturing, etc...) with the help from representatives of DSVSA, ANSVSA implicitly, which from 2001 until now, did not take any legal measures against the local administrations for not solving the situation with stray dogs, neither against the trauma to which these animals have been subjected to by the local administrations, but instead, they managed to punish animal lovers and owners.

On 13th of March, 2014, FPAM opened a legal action in the Romanian Court of Appeal, against the Romanian Government, the ANSVSA included, asking the Court to force the above mentioned to modify or to void some articles from the Methodological Norms for Government Emergency Ordinance OUG 155/2001 (which later became law 258/2013). FPAM have also asked the Court to verify the legality of all the actions and administrative procedure prior to the Norms and also to inform the population about the measures they took from 2001 until now by the representatives of the local administration and why they had no results in stopping the phenomenon of the stray dogs over-population.

Furthermore, FPAM states that 80% of Romanian towns (cities, town, communes) have not organized services for the management of the stray dogs population - although the law obliged them to do so - and that they do not have public shelters for stray dogs as required, not even NOW. In the meantime, dogs die in these miserable public shelters all over Romania all the while the ANSVSA representatives sleep in their chairs.

►►►► URGENT CALL FROM FPAM

FPAM calls on Romanian activists, rescuers and citizens who have witnessed cruelty and neglect in public "shelters", to join them in their lawsuit and to testify against the Romanian Government and the ANVSA

Those from Romania who would like to show the illegalities committed by the local authorities and want to become material witnesses in this trial, are invited to sign up by filling in the form at the right side of the following page on the FPAM website.

Europeans who have visited public shelters in Romania can also participate in the trial in Romania as witnesses. What counts the most, is the material proof a witness can bring and not necessarily their presence in the trial.

All probative evidence, legalized at a notary is welcomed. Ideally it would be to be sent by land mail, and those who want to help in this manner should please contact:

Mihnea Columbeanu by sending and email at:

mihneacolumbeanu@yahoo.com

who is the legal representative of FPAM and who will advise you.

Thank you, in advance.

All information in English is compiled on our website, at:
http://www.occupyforanimals.org/romania---fpam-takes-legal-actions-against-the-romanian-government-and-anvsa.html

Fundulea "private shelter", Romania.

Dead dogs, dogs in agony, dogs eaten by other dogs and the stench of death everywhere.

Post by Kola Kariola.

FOUR PAWS takes legal steps for Romanian Government to stop the killing

 

FOUR PAWS has submitted legal steps for the Romanian Government to freeze the killing of stray dogs at the Court of Appeal in Bucharest on 11/03/2014.

From FOUR PAWS Press Release: http://www.vier-pfoten.org/en/news-press/press-archive/2014/killing-of-stray-dogs-season-in-romania-has-officially-started/

Over 1,000 supporters joined the protest last weekend in Bucharest, unfolding a banner calling on the Government to “Give dogs a chance to live”

11.3.2014, Bucharest. “We already warned the authorities that killing the stray dogs is not a genuine solution to empty the streets of strays. We will take all necessary steps to convince the Government to stop this law and replace it with one that will bring a sustainable solution for the situation in the country and welfare for people and for dogs, without resorting to killing. Taking it to the Court of Appeal is the first step now the killing season is open”, stated Gabriel Paun, Director of Campaigns at FOUR PAWS.

The killing law came into force last October following a tragic incident in which a little boy was fatally injured by stray dogs a month earlier. The methodology to be applied to the killing came to light at Christmas time and the killing started soon after. It has aspects that contradict several laws and make it unacceptable. For example, the local authorities may now delegate the management of the stray dogs to any private company. On the enforcement level the law is impracticable under several aspects. One example is the indistinct authority given to administrative units, which may step in to collect and kill dogs from each other’s territories. Public access to monitor shelters is severely restricted and there are few opportunities for adoptions. Furthermore, dog owners must notify the local authorities when they leave their residence for longer than 2 weeks – a requirement which is neither adequate nor practicable.

“We found legal weaknesses in the methodology of the law and we attacked it. It treats dog owners as prisoners. It discourages adoptions. It encourages fraud and illicit killing business while local authorities will clash, stepping on each other’s toes. The court may suspend the killing law at the first judicial hearing, to be scheduled soon”, added Paun.

FOUR PAWS has already reported over 70 abuse cases to authorities in the past few months (shooting, poisoning and other barbarian methods). So far, the police were not able to bring the criminals to justice. “The picture of a killing law includes additional abuse and deadly torture by free criminals under the eyes of an impotent police”, concluded Paun.

FOUR PAWS calls on the Romanian Government to freeze the current killing law and to issue an Emergency Governmental Ordinance that will cancel killing and manage the stray dog population in a humane and sustainable manner.

Source: http://www.vier-pfoten.org/en/news-press/press-archive/2014/killing-of-stray-dogs-season-in-romania-has-officially-started/

 

 

MEP Andrea Zanoni (PD), one of the Vice-Presidents of the INTERGROUP writes to Commissioner Borg about the 'Rabies Letter"

"The Commission has the legal power to intervene!"

Below, Google translation into English of the Press Release that Mr Zanoni has published on his personal blog, at:

http://www.andreazanoni.it/it/news/comunicati-stampa/randagismo-in-romania-zanoni-%28pd%29-scrive-a-borg-la-commissione-ha-il-potere-giuridico-di-intervenire.html

Press Release of March 7, 2014

MEP PD must sign a letter signed by hundreds of associations and citizens to EU Commissioner Tonio Borg that highlights the illegitimacy of using EU funds to manage the dog population so violent in Romania. Zanoni: "The Commission can and should intervene. The European taxpayers' money can not be used to commit these barbaric."

MEP PD Andrea Zanoni, vice president of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare and Conservation of Animals to the European Parliament, has signed a letter along with well 211 between associations and European citizens addressed to EU Commissioner Tonio Borg to propose a solution to the violence in stray dogs in Romania. "The letter clearly shows that the European Commission has the legal authority to intervene in the ongoing cruelty directed at the canine population in Romania," said Zanoni.

"In order to qualify for the co- financing of the EU , EU law provides for the selection of effective policies. Beyond the moral condemnation that we have repeatedly addressed in Bucharest , according to the unanimous opinion of experts worldwide, the "catch and kill " put into practice in Romania in no way constitutes an effective policy - adds Zanoni - This means that until this strategy can not be replaced by a solution based on international best practice, the Romanian program for the eradication of rabies is not legally eligible for co-financing by the guarantee Fund of the EU".

"Any continuation of the co- financing of a policy is not only ineffective constitute a violation of EU law, but a flagrant violation against European values", urges MEP who has personally visited Romania in December last year to make the point of the situation and ask local authorities a clear commitment to take non-violent management of stray dogs.

The letter also says that the burden of proof is the Commission's view that Romania does not use funds awarded under other programs, directly or indirectly, to finance large-scale management activities of the canine population enriching private contractors who operate as contractors for local government clients.

The letter, sent a copy to the European Court of Auditors, the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals of the EP and the Director of the G DG SANCO " eterinary Affairs and International", Bernard Van Goethem, was signed by: Teresa Rizzo, President, Association bastard race non-profit organization, Alessandro Di Rienzo, President, Coordination Isa, Carla Rocchi, President, National Board RSPCA Animal Protection, Massimo Pradella, Chairman, International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA), Gianluca Felicetti President, LAV, Gian Marco Prampolini, President, League Leal Antivivisezionista non-profit organization, Piera Rosati, President, National League for the Defense of the Dog, Massimo Comparotto, President, Italian OIPA (International Organization for Animal Protection), Solveig Boccatius, Shelter-Canalba, Sara Turetta, President, Save the Dogs and Other Animals.

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Vi ringrazio molto, caro Signor Zanoni!

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For further information on the ECT-letter and how YOUR money is being used to fuel the Romanian extermination enterprise, please visit:

http://europeancommunicationsteam.weebly.com/

and please SIGN OUR PETITION at:

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/european-commission-freeze-all-funding-to-romania-until-a-humanely-compliant-dog-population-control-strategy-is-adopted

Thank you, in advance.

Your European Communications Team