An undercover investigation by the international animal welfare organization Four Paws has revealed systemic neglect in Romania's publicly funded shelters for stray dogs. The investigation, conducted between January 8 and 18, 2026, documented overcrowded kennels, dogs with untreated open wounds, and animals exposed to freezing temperatures without bedding or heating.
Disturbing Conditions Documented
Investigators visited nine shelters across Romania, capturing video footage of dogs in steel-mesh pens licking icy water and chewing on dried feces. The report describes high death rates and disturbing conditions that amount to systemic neglect. In some shelters, enclosures were soiled with feces and overcrowded, leading to aggression and fighting among the dogs. One dog appeared to have bitten off parts of its own tail due to the highly stressful environment.
Calls for Systemic Change
Manuela Rowlings, a stray animal specialist at Four Paws, stated that the cases are not isolated and a systems change is needed. Public shelters in Romania are horrible places where dogs are locked up to die without receiving minimum care or standards. The report also criticized shelters for their reluctance to facilitate adoptions and lack of transparency on funding, intake, and euthanasia figures.
Government Response and Legislation
Romania's National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, which oversees animal welfare and shelter management, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In 2024, data from a shelter in Galati County showed that of 644 dogs admitted, only 134 were adopted, 28 were legally euthanized, and 412 died of other causes. Rowlings noted that keeping dogs in very poor conditions is not illegal under current laws.
In 2013, after a fatal attack by strays, Romania passed a law allowing mass euthanasia of unadopted dogs after 14 days. Animal welfare campaigners advocate for mass neutering as a long-term solution. Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection at Ilfov County Council, argued that stray dogs have become a money-making machine, with public funds going to private shelters that profit from the status quo.
A legislative bill filed in November 2025 proposes recognizing animals as living beings with rights and suggests a shift from euthanasia to sterilization and microchipping. Parliamentarian Andrei Baciu noted that Romania has spent over 1.3 billion euros on euthanizing stray dogs in the last three decades, while sterilization could be more cost-effective.
