Thousands of dogs to be killed in Romania

Parliament has voted in favour of putting down the thousands of stray dogs that roam the streets, angering animal welfare activists who have lobbied to stop the measure.

Bucharest alone is home to an estimated 50,000 strays, and they are a part of city life.

But backers of the law say the authorities must have the option to euthanise because the dogs are a health hazard. A Romanian woman died this year after she was mauled by dogs. In 2006, a tourist was killed by a stray.