Animal Law in Romania: A Global Discourse in Place

This contribution provides a general overview of animal law in Romania by referring to both supranational (European) and national legal provisions and case-law. It argues that Romanian society seems willing to take up some of the questions relevant for the debate surrounding the protection of animals. The numerous non-governmental associations seeking the protection of animals that have emerged in the last two decades attest to such a will at least from the part of civil society. While important institutions like the Constitutional Court also proved to be a reliable partner of dialogue, the chapter maintains, by looking specifically at the example of stray dogs, that some serious pitfalls persist in achieving the goals of justice for animals, most notably the people’s mentality, the lack of resources, or the inefficiency of implementing authorities.