BUCHAREST – Humane World for Animals Romania (formerly called Humane Society International Europe), in partnership with the Ilfov County Council's Animal Protection Department, held its second national roundtable, “An Efficient and Humane Approach to Companion Animal Management”, on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.
The event gathered over 90 participants, including representatives from Giurgiu, Teleorman, Cluj, Sibiu, Timiș, Harghita county councils, participants from the education system and Romanian Police, as well as members of the Parliament committed to identifying humane and sustainable solutions for Romania’s animal welfare challenges, including high rates of pet abandonment and lack of access to veterinary services. The Minister of Education, Daniel David, also joined the event online, as one of the key topics discussed was humane education: “For years I have been a promoter of human–animal interaction. For me, this is a fundamental topic, and the proposed solutions will have a strong impact. The curriculum you submitted is currently under review by the evaluation committee. You have a supporter in me,” the minister stated.
The second round table event focused on humane, efficient and responsible approaches to managing stray animal populations, as well as the vital role of education in reinforcing the important roles of those who keep pets in improving animal welfare, avoiding human-animal conflicts and changing public perception and behaviour towards free-roaming animals.
A highlight of this year’s roundtable was the presentation of a new school program developed by Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department, “An hour with and about animals”, available as an optional class for fifth- and sixth-grade students in Ilfov primary schools. The program teaches animal care, responsible petkeeping, how to be safe around animals, and the practical value animal welfare legislation. In July 2025, Ilfov County Council submitted a request to the Ministry of Education to include this program in the national list of optional classes, making it available to schools across Romania.
“Education is the only way to address the issue of animal management, especially for stray animals, in the long term, by changing people’s mindset,” emphasized Ilfov County Council President Hubert Thuma.
“Dog population management must be approached as a complex, coordinated, and long-term plan built on prevention, education and reliable data, not as a series of isolated, short-lived actions that consume a fortune from the public budget and bring only a temporary resolution. Humane education is not just about learning how to care for animals, it’s about shaping attitudes and behaviours that prevent cruelty, neglect, and abandonment in the first place,” says Andreea Roseti, country director at Humane World for Animals Romania. “When institutions work together with shared responsibility and evidence-based understanding, we can prevent abandonment, improve public safety, and ensure that animals live without unnecessary suffering. Education is our strongest tool for creating a safer, more humane world.”
The Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department continues to serve as a model of good practice. During the event, the team presented 10 projects that any county council in Romania can implement, ranging from spay/neuter and microchipping programs to public information and education campaigns, as well as inspection and regulatory initiatives, all essential for reducing abandonment and preventing conflicts between people and animals. Attendees received resources, including templates and legal frameworks, to enable other municipalities to adopt similar models.
“The situation of animals on the streets is an old one, and it is because of us, humans. Through real involvement, collaboration between authorities, organizations, and the community, and by fostering responsibility, we can really solve the issue between people and animals,” stated Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection, Ilfov County Council.
“Effective animal welfare begins with understanding the connection between humans and animals,” says Roseti, “Stray animals are a reflection of human responsibility. Through education, preventive measures, and strong collaboration with local authorities, we can create communities where both people and animals thrive.”
Humane World for Animals works across the globe to improve the welfare of street, community and companion dogs and cats. We promote humane, sustainable approaches to reduce street animal populations and support peaceful coexistence with people, offering solutions in place of lethal or inhumane methods. We also increase access to care for companion animals in underserved communities, help people care for their animals and prevent cruelty and abandonment. This work is advanced in North America and countries including South Africa, Mexico, India, Chile, Costa Rica, Romania and Bolivia.
In Romania, Humane World for Animals began its partnership with Ilfov County Council and its Animal Protection Department in 2024, recognizing the institution’s innovative and humane approach to animal welfare.
Together, the partners launched a large-scale program providing free spay / neuter surgeries, vaccination and first aid for dogs and cats acrossthe county. So far, more than 1500 dogs and cats have received free veterinary care, in collaboration with local veterinary teams such as Nomad Vet and WAVE.
In 2024, Humane World for Animals, together with its partners, conducted a dog population census in 14 localities in Ilfov, under the supervision of Dr. Amit Chaudhari, director of monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment at Humane World for Animals, to understand the number and scale of stray and owned animals and recommend scientific approaches to addressing related challenges. The study, the first of its kind in Romania, included household surveys to better understand community knowledge, attitudes and practices related to dogs and cates. This information was presented during the first annual roundtable event in November 2024, providing an accurate overview of the local dog population and setting the stage for establishing a foundation for effective animal welfare interventions with long-term results in Romania. The second roundtable gave participants an opportunity to reflect and share progress on key recommendations from that report.
