Over 200 people are protesting today, April 29, against the law draft launched by Prefect Mihai Cristian Atanasoaiei, which wants to see the stray dogs in Bucharest's centres put to sleep within seven days, Romanian press agency Mediafax informs.

Protesters came with banners that urge to stop the adoption of the law: "Stop state abuses", "Stop the massacre", "Take pity on dogs without an owner", "SOS the Capital", "Adopt, don't kill" etc.

The protest will last until 2 pm (local time). Politician Corneliu Vadim Tudor (PRM) and actress Monica Davidescu are taking part in the protest.

Prefect Mihai Atanasoaiei announced on Tuesday that he has submitted to the Deputies' Chamber a draft meant to modify the law addressing stray dogs, proposing the euthanasia in case of the very ill, the aggressive and the dogs that fail to be adopted within seven days .

NGOs claims that 40.000 stray dogs walk the streets of Bucharest, while the general council believes the figures are closer to 100,000.

The prefect says that the costs of keeping the dogs in shelters and the medical services are very high. In Bucharest, putting to sleep 40,000 dogs would cost around 100.000 euros, Atanasoaiei claims. "There is no country to ban stray dog euthanasia. Postponing this issue is neither to the benefit of people, nor to the benefit of dogs", he added.