Undercover in Romania's abusive dog shelters | DW Reporter

Injured and dead dogs, and millions in public funds: In Romania, animal welfare activists are investigating suspicions of a lucrative business.

There are at least half a million stray dogs in Romania, mostly in villages and in the countryside. Yet the problem could have been solved long ago through widespread spaying and neutering, for which public funds are available. Despite this, tens of thousands of strays are killed nationwide every year. Behind this animal suffering lies a business worth millions.

Local communities are legally required to round up stray dogs, and while doing so, they often contract private animal shelters. Depending on the contract, operators receive up to 400 euros per dog taken in for housing, care, and spaying or neutering. But some operators barely care for or rehouse the dogs. Instead, they are neglected or killed illegally. This is much cheaper, and quickly frees up space for new, lucrative contracts. We investigate what's behind the business of animal torture.

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#Romania #AnimalAbuse #Dogs #dwreporter #dwcurrentaffairs

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