Ms. Cristina Diril has been appointed as the new OIPA International Representative in Romania, in Mureș County where she is leading the development of structured, field-based solutions to address one of the country’s most pressing animal welfare challenges: stray animal overpopulation.

Cristina’s journey into animal welfare began three years ago, during a personal period of transition when she travelled across Europe with her son. It was in Romania that she encountered, for the first time, the scale and complexity of stray animal overpopulation. This experience marked a turning point, leading her to remain in the country and dedicate herself directly to supporting animals in need.

Her work is in Mureș County, where she operates on the ground to implement coordinated interventions and build local cooperation networks. This area is progressively being developed as a pilot model, with the objective of creating a structured approach that can be replicated in other regions of the country.

What initially started as individual voluntary action quickly evolved into sustained field engagement. Over the past three years, Cristina has been actively involved in the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of stray dogs and cats, investing her time and personal resources while working closely with veterinary professionals, local NGOs, and municipal authorities. Through this hands-on work, she gradually built a network of collaboration and operational cooperation on the ground.

 

As her experience deepened, Cristina recognised the limits of isolated interventions in addressing a systemic issue. This awareness led her to transition from independent action to a more structured and strategic approach, focused on long-term, sustainable impact.

Today, within OIPA International, her work is organised around three core pillars:

  • Sterilization and microchipping, as essential tools for population control and traceability
  • Accountability, awareness, and education, promoting responsible ownership and long-term behavioural change
  • Development of urgent care systems and rehoming support, combining immediate intervention with the strengthening of local infrastructure

 

 

Working in close collaboration with local authorities, veterinary professionals, and partner organisations, Cristina is currently leading coordinated initiatives aimed at reducing stray populations through humane, structured, and sustainable approaches.

In areas where resources remain limited and institutional frameworks are still developing, she has played a key role in engaging municipal stakeholders, encouraging their direct involvement in animal welfare solutions. This has enabled the launch of coordinated campaigns that integrate veterinary capacity, logistical support, and community participation.

Alongside emergency response activities, Cristina is also focused on building scalable, preventive systems designed to reduce reliance on reactive interventions, particularly in regions where public shelter capacity is under constant pressure.

Her work reflects a strong commitment to transparency, collaboration, and measurable impact, contributing to OIPA ’s mission to promote effective and humane animal protection practices at both local and global levels.