Delivered to Pfotenhilfe as a “found dog” / demand for a ban on keeping animals for adult representatives
Lochen/Vienna (OTS) – Last autumn, a small dog allegedly found nearby was handed over to the animal shelter Pfotenhilfe in the border region of Upper Austria/Salzburg, whose chip was not registered. Due to the search for the keeper on social media, a witness from Vienna reported who recognized “Ena” and stated that the keeper from Serbia, who lives in the 3rd district, had wanted to get rid of her for a long time because she was a nuisance and she got the food mightn’t afford. The owner also told her that she would always leave Ena alone in the apartment without care when she went on vacation and the apartment was then full of faeces and urine.
Pfotenhilfe therefore filed a complaint for fraud and animal cruelty, since the bitch was also severely emaciated. At today’s hearing at the Vienna Regional Court for Criminal Matters, the accused, who was in debt and represented by adults, confessed. She was overwhelmed with the bitch – also financially – and had not fed her sufficiently or not at all for a long period of time. A witness testified that she even wanted to abandon the dog. The Serbian was sentenced to eight months in prison with a five-year suspended sentence for animal cruelty and accepted the verdict following consulting her defense attorney. The outcome of the fraud case is still open. Pfotenhilfe was awarded 242 euros in damages for feeding the emaciated bitch. Pfotenhilfe boss Johanna Stadler was satisfied with the verdict: “Eight months for animal cruelty is a step in the right direction Her criminal record would probably have been a lot lighter, too. But at least if she gets guilty, it will be serious.”
Ban on keeping animals for adult representatives demanded
For years, the animal protection organization Pfotenhilfe has been demanding a general ban on keeping animals for persons represented by adults (formerly “guarded”). The long-suffering Pfotenhilfe boss: “If someone can’t take responsibility for their own actions – even if it’s only in financial matters – then he or she certainly can’t take responsibility for others. That’s what common sense tells me. And Accordingly, these animals are neglected and ill every single time they have to be taken over by us and nursed back to health, provided they have survived at all up to that point!”
According to Pfotenhilfe, such a ban on keeping animals would be easy to check, not only by the authorities, but also by adult representatives and social workers who have to visit their clients regularly. According to the Animal Welfare Act, everyone is entitled to keep animals who is “capable of complying with the legal provisions, in particular who has the necessary knowledge and skills”, which unfortunately is often enough a problem for pet owners who are not adult representatives.
Photos of the neglected, emaciated Ena available on request upon submission as a “found animal”.
Questions & contact:
Animal welfare organization PFOTENHILFE
Jurgen Stadler
+43|664|848 55 50
juergen.stadler@pfotenhilfe.at
www.pfotenhilfe.at
