Stray Dogs in Romania - Policies, legal framework and solutions Roxana Pencea I Tudor Brădățan January 2015 g There has been no consistently documented interest to regulate the status of stray dogs in Romania. Law#258/ 2013 was adopted hastily, without genuine and unbiased prior debates. The initial proposal was amended at the last min­ute so as to allow euthanizing the unwanted dogs living in the streets of Ro­mania. g Many authorities that manage stray dogs are under suspicion of corruption. Such suspicions are worsened by a lack of transparency. Citizens suspect that the arrangements between local authorities and various subcontracting com­panies are a way to transfer public funds to private entities owned by persons close to decision-makers. g Capturing and euthanizing dogs is not a viable solution. Even if the popula­tion is temporarily reduced, the breeding dynamics allow for a repopulation in record time. In other EU-countries comprehensive programs are designed and implemented that put in place education of animal owners, mandatory iden­tification and registration, control of pet animal reproduction, and prevention of abandonment. g Mandatory neutering of all dogs is constantly identified by civil society or­ganizations as a solution for controlling the canine population. Support is needed for owners to neuter their dogs. Street dogs should be captured, neu­tered and returned to the places they came from.