Published9 August 2022, 12:18
ZurichSentenced for having placed a fox trap in his garden
An individual was punished for cruelty to animals and violation of the hunting law. A fox had gotten caught in a trap he had set up and had to be euthanized.
A fox got caught in a trap. The installer was convicted.
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Autumn 2020: In the garden of a residential area in Andelfingen (ZH), a witness had reported to the game warden the presence of a fox with “a collar around its neck”. The animal was actually blocked by a jaw trap, its eyes were bloodshot. The game warden put an end to the suffering of the approximately two-year-old vixen. It was not known how long the animal had been in the trap.
A “decorative object”
According to the criminal order, the culprit had bought the trap “a long time ago” at a flea market and initially kept it “for decoration purposes”. On October 3, 2020, he fitted the trap with bait and placed it in a stretched position in a basket in his garden. He intended “to frighten or scare away the animals which mistook his property for a lavatory.”
The witness reported the presence of the dying animal on October 7th. He was probably stuck in the trap for several hours and suffered great pain, fear and stress.
The 63-year-old man has just been sentenced by the Public Ministry to a 180-day suspended prison sentence and a fine of 1,500 francs for cruelty to animals and violation of the law on hunting by fraudulent intent. . He did not appeal the criminal order, which therefore entered into force, informs the “NZZ”.
Accused’s remorse
The sentence would have even been higher if the prosecutor had not taken into account the difficult personal situation of the defendant: he was, in particular, seriously ill. The latter admitted his wrongdoing and showed credible remorse.
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