"Romania will not be able to evolve if it continues to take cruel decisions against sensitive creatures, as defined by the European law, and which are, in fact, under its protection" French actress Brigitte Bardot, ex-60’s sex symbol, commented on Bucharest authorities' intention to change the law, so that euthanasia could be used for stray dogs, Agerpres informs.

The French actress, who runs an animal protection foundation, sent an open letter to all members of the Commission for public administration in the Romanian Deputies' Chamber.

• "Stray animals, neglected and threatened on the streets, mirror the fear of a country which fails to approach the future based on voluntary responsibility principle", the letter reads.

Brigitte Bardot "begs" the members of the commission to baffle "the illusory traps of drastic and expedite solutions" and to include in the law project the fruitful cooperation between authorities and local animal protection associations, "as it happens in most European countries".

• The French actress also asks the Romanian authorities to cooperate with local and international animal protection associations for the "ethical management" of the stray dogs, out of which many "have already had a terrifying and cruel life. The Government and local councils need to join this effort in a systematic manner and to receive budgets and logistical measures. To kill is not just a financial cost for administration, but also a moral one."

Stray dogs in shelters in Bucharest could be put to sleep if no one adopts them within seven days, according to a law draft presented at the end of last month by Bucharest's Prefect Mihai Cristian Atanasoaiei. The proposal has been submitted to the Public Administration Commission in the Chamber of Deputies. The sick and aggressive dogs are to be subjected to euthanasia immediately after getting into shelters. The evaluation will be performed by vets at the shelter. At the moment, the NGOs claim there are 40,000 stray dogs on the streets of Bucharest, while the city's council says they amount to 100,000.

"No country in the world that forbids dog euthanasia. Postponing this problem is favourable neither for people, not for dogs", Bucharest's Prefect said back then.