Stop Killing Dogs
No EU Funds for Killing shelter in Romania
Dogs are tortured, abused, and in some cases burned alive in kill shelters! And you’re paying for it with your taxes. Do you want to end the killing? Sign and share the petition now, because together we can give these dogs a voice.
In Romania, there are millions of stray dogs as well as dogs owned by people who let them roam freely, which is why the dogs are multiplying uncontrollably. Dog catchers receive a bounty or reward for each dog they capture. The dogs are taken to public shelters, known as killing shelter. After a period of usually 14 days, they will be killed.
The EU supports efforts to control the dog population with taxes. Romania receives both earmarked and non-earmarked EU funds. How exactly these funds are used is left up to the Romanian government. As a result, over 130 killing shelters are partly financed by taxpayer money – even though killing has been proven not to reduce the population. The only solution is widespread spaying and neutering, along with public education.
We from Hunderettung Europa have been advocating for sustainable animal welfare through our organization for years. We have already neutered over 50,000 animals. We teach animal welfare classes in Romanian schools, participate in demonstrations, speak with local citizens, and engage in political advocacy at the municipal level. We’ve already convinced some cities to work with us and put an end to killing dogs. In these cities, our success is evident: there are almost no stray dogs left.
We’re collecting signatures to show the EU that we’re paying attention. That we’re saying No. That we’re getting loud. Until the killing stops and the EU, together with Romania, promotes spaying and neutering instead of killing.
Animal lovers, get loud: Stop the killing of dogs!
Sign the Online Petition now:
Cover Letter for Petition
Dear Ms. Ursula von der Leyen,
Dear Mr. Oliver Varhely,
The European Union has committed itself to taking animal welfare into account in its policymaking. In Romania, dogs are captured from the streets and taken to public animal shelters, where they may be killed after a 14-day period has elapsed.
These Romanian dog killing stations violate fundamental principles of animal welfare, the ethical standards of the European Union, and Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. And yet, Romania receives financial support from the EU to curb the stray dog population.
To provide a sustainable, effective, and animal-welfare-compliant solution to the problem of stray animals, spay-and-neuter programs must be implemented on a large scale, and public awareness campaigns must be expanded.
We appeal to you, together with the many supporters of this petition: Ensure that the killing stations are closed and that EU funds are directed toward spay-and-neuter programs and the sustainable work of animal welfare organizations.
supporters out of 100,000
Be the next voice!
(last updated on June 24, 2026)
What else can you do:
Write to the European Commission, for example, via Instagram or email
Just enter your name below and use the following contact information:
Instagram: @eukommission
Email: eu-de-kommission@ec.europa.eu
Dear Sir or Madam,
I call on the European Commission to immediately cease funding dog killing shelters in Romania.
The systematic killing of healthy animals violates fundamental principles of animal welfare, the ethical standards of the European Union, and Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This article states that animals are recognized as sentient beings and that the EU institutions and all Member States must respect animals as sentient beings and are fully responsible for their welfare.
The EU supports Romania in controlling the stray dog population. And Romania uses these funds to finance public animal shelters where stray dogs are killed after a certain period (usually 14 days). Killing healthy animals contradicts the EU’s core values!
I demand that these funds be directed toward sustainable alternatives that comply with animal welfare standards, such as spay/neuter programs carried out in collaboration with animal welfare organizations.
We will fight, day after day, for the sake of the animals, and we will speak out for those who have no voice until the killing ends!
I urge you to take action now.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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Support rescue efforts from the killing shelter and sustainable animal welfare
Help us save even more dogs‘ lives! Support our work with a donation so that we can provide sustainable animal welfare and put an end to the suffering of stray animals.
Our donation account
Tierschutzverein Hunderettung Europa e.V.
IBAN: DE59354611067617256015
BIC: GENODED1NRH
Paypal: spenden@hunderettungeuropa.de
For donations from abroad:
Tierschutzverein Hunderettung Europa e.V.
Waldstraße 14
47199 Duisburg
Press contact
Svenja Gruszeczka
1st Chairwoman of the Animal Welfare Association Hunderettung Europa e.V.
Email: kommunikation@hunderettungeuropa.de