Tierhilfe Hoffnung – Help for Animals in Need e.V. operates The Smeura in Romania – the largest animal shelter in the world.
The shelter grounds, once a fox fur farm, now cover six hectares of forested land near the small town of Pitești, about 120 km from Bucharest.
The German association was founded in 2000 by Ute Langenkamp and has been rescuing and caring for Romanian stray dogs ever since — dogs that would otherwise be killed. Matthias Schmidt, now the association’s chairman, has been part of this mission from the very beginning.
The Killing Law for Stray Dogs
Dogs caught on the streets in Romania are brought to public shelters.
However, these are killing stations, since animals are kept there only for 14 days. If no one claims them within that time, they are euthanized.
Tierhilfe Hoffnung tries to rescue as many dogs as possible from surrounding killing stations and takes them into the Smeura.
Many are also abandoned or found by Smeura staff before the dog catchers can take them.
Today, the Smeura provides a home for more than 6,000 dogs, including about 1,200 puppies and young dogs.
Cats Are Also Among the Residents
The Smeura is also home to several hundred cats.
Unlike dogs, cats in Romania are not threatened by killing laws, so adult animals can fortunately be released again after sterilization.
However, kittens and handicapped cats cannot survive on their own and therefore remain under the care of the Smeura team.
Over 100 Employees at the Largest Shelter in the World
A total of 127 employees work on site for the welfare of the animals and the smooth operation of the shelter — veterinarians, vet assistants, animal keepers, craftsmen, drivers, cleaning and hygiene staff, and office workers.
That sounds like a lot, but each animal keeper cares for 100–150 dogs every day, showing how small the team actually is for such an enormous task.
Large-Scale Spay and Neuter Campaigns
To prevent even more unwanted puppies from being born, Tierhilfe Hoffnung offers free sterilizations for animals owned by Romanian citizens.
In addition, the team regularly organizes mobile neutering campaigns throughout the region.
Six specially converted veterinary vans allow operations to be performed directly on site, even in rural areas.
In 2024 alone, 34,650 animals were sterilized this way — preventing millions of cases of suffering.
A Model Project Offering Hope
Together with the German Animal Welfare Federation, Tierhilfe Hoffnung developed a political action plan to abolish the killing law in Romania and convert the killing stations into neutering centers.
Supported by Thomas Schröder (President, German Animal Welfare Federation), Anette Kramme (State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection), and Ute Vogt (former State Secretary, President of the DLRG), a pilot project was launched in April 2024.
The goal: sterilize all dogs — both owned and stray — in Argeș County within five years.
That means approximately 185,000 dogs.
The First National Spay-and-Register Center
To make this ambitious goal possible, Tierhilfe Hoffnung built Romania’s first Spay and Registration Center — right next to a municipal killing station.
It is a symbolic act of change and a real step toward implementing a humane concept of stray dog population management.
Currently, there are more than 140 killing stations throughout Romania, illustrating the scale of the problem.
Education and Public Awareness
Through flyers, posters, and regional media campaigns, Tierhilfe Hoffnung informs the public about the necessity of sterilization and the responsibility humans have toward their animals.
Unneutered owned dogs are often the root of the stray population problem.
The organization also provides animal welfare classes in local schools, teaching the younger generation compassion and respect for life.
Rescue Transports and the Forest Refuge
To ease the pressure on the Smeura, rescue transports regularly bring dogs to partner shelters in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, giving them a chance for adoption and a home of their own.
For elderly or traumatized dogs who cannot be rehomed, a special Forest Refuge was created in April 2022, directly next to the Smeura. Around 400 animals now live there in safety and peace.
Entire Operation Funded by Donations
Tierhilfe Hoffnung receives no government support — neither from Germany nor Romania.
Its entire work relies on donations from animal lovers around the world.
Feeding the 6,000 dogs alone requires 2.8 tons of food per day, and monthly costs reach about €350,000.