More than four million owned dogs are registered in Romania, and an entire industry depends on animal lovers. Dog parks have become a fashion in recent years, being demanded insistently in some cities in Romania, but they bring with them a responsibility that is often neglected.
Romania is among the countries with the highest density of owned dogs. More than 4.2 million dogs are registered here, i.e. one dog for every 4–5 inhabitants. Romanians are also cat lovers: figures from the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) show that more than 4.4 million cats live in and around Romanian households.
The “dog industry” in Romania
Among the European countries, only in Hungary the ratio between dogs and people is closer, being one dog for three people. In contrast, in the Nordic countries, such as Sweden and Denmark, but also in Ireland, Austria and Greece, there are at least ten people for every pet dog.
Names like Rex, Max, Bobiță, Ursu, Bobi, Bella, Pufi, Nero, Maia and Lăbus are most often given to dogs in Romania, a country where the dominant breeds are the Maltese Bichon, the German Shepherd, the Pekingese, the Mioritic Shepherd, the Labrador Retriever, the Carpathian Romanian Shepherd, the Havanese Bichon, the Amstaff, the Caucasian Shepherd and the Yorkshire Terrier.
An entire industry is supported by breeders and pet owners, from dog food and accessories, to veterinary services (over 7,000 practices), grooming and dog grooming. In recent years, pet cemeteries have been set up in several cities, where most graves, often richly decorated, have been reserved for dogs.
Under pressure from animal-loving locals, some city halls in Romanian cities have set up special parks dedicated to dogs, sometimes with costs estimated at hundreds of thousands of lei. Quadruped areas are fenced, grassy areas, sometimes with separate areas for large and small dogs, various obstacles, such as tunnels, ramps and platforms, benches and shaded areas, boots, trash cans, and surveillance cameras.
Demanded strongly in years past, some such places have proved less useful for pet owners. In Deva and Hunedoara, for example, two such parks were set up in 2016, following investments financed from funds from the local budgets of the municipalities, but over time, their furniture deteriorated or disappeared, and the number of those who frequent them decreased.
Dog owners advised to be vigilant
Hailed as initiatives, dog parks often cause resentment among pet owners because of the way they are cared for and, above all, the behavior of other dog owners.
“Our dog park has gotten so bad that I can’t even take my dog there anymore. I understand that some dogs eat poop, but that’s all my dog does at the park now, and then he comes home and throws it up. He really likes the park, so I wish I could take him again, but right now we can’t.”complains the owner of a dog on the Reddit platform.
A man who claims to be a professional dog trainer and veterinary technician says dog parks are not a great idea because many people, especially men, are on their phones and not watching their dogs at all.
“The risk of illness or injury is not worth it. I never recommend dog parks. Plus, the lack of responsibility on the part of the owners is astounding. If you go to a dog park, you should keep an eye on your dog at all times. It’s not human socializing time, and you shouldn’t be staring at your phone. When you see your dog defecating, it’s no one else’s responsibility to pick up after him – only yours. No one should be forced to step in or among your dog’s droppings,” he states.
Another veterinarian says that he has seen many visibly stressed dogs in animal parks, which may attack people or other animals, but whose owners do not notice this.
“The level of irresponsibility in places like this is appalling. I don’t trust most other dog owners. It’s easy to forget that your usually sweet and loving four-legged friend is still a predator and can cause serious damage. And the average owner doesn’t even know where to start to break up a dog fight. I’d bet no one at a dog park has any safety tool. I would never take my dogs to a dog park. Better to find a small and reliable group and choose a private and safe place to socialize.” says someone else.
Another netizen claims that dog parks aren’t necessary, at least in his case.
“Other people’s dogs are unknown and you can’t predict what might happen. My dog has anxiety and is reactive so I have to be very careful where and when I walk him (always on a lead) unfortunately. As soon as I see another dog in the distance I turn around.” he states.
Some Romanians think that it would be a good idea for all dog parks to have specialized staff to take care of their maintenance or, at least, to be equipped with surveillance cameras, a minimum condition for their operation. In some European countries, the regulations are much stricter.
“A dog park near me doesn’t allow entry unless you can prove your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations and can socialize peacefully with other dogs. It’s run by local authorities. You have to pay about $25 a year, register, etc. You can’t get in without an access card. They also have separate areas for small and large dogs. That probably reduces the chances of something bad happening, but it doesn’t eliminate them completely.” says a US netizen.
Unseen risks in parks
Another says that after walking his dog in a pet area, he got conjunctivitis.
“My dog also has the misfortune of being attacked by aggressive dogs under seven pounds, I don’t know why, and she doesn’t react at all, so she just ends up being ridden in front of some chihuahua while the owner sleeps in the car”he claims.
For other dog owners, special parks have become some of the few places in cities where they can leave their animals off-leash.
“I’ve been taking my dogs to a park like this 2-3 times a week for many years and I’ve never seen a serious fight or anything seriously go wrong. At most, owners bringing over-exuberant dogs or kids mixing with the animals when they shouldn’t.” says someone else.
One netizen advises pet owners to be aware of dogs already inside before entering with their pets, and to be aware of those who enter after them.
“You will notice behavioral changes in all dogs when one is about to become agitated or turbulent. Then you must act immediately“, he recommends.
Some dog owners complain that their pets have picked up the bad behaviors of other dogs that their owners have not corrected. Others say they started avoiding the parks when they noticed conflicts between the people who frequent them.
“I only let my dog in the park if there are no other dogs there, so we don’t go very often”, adds another.
