– Niño’s owner was arrested between 5 and 6 this morning in the Haugesund area, says the accused woman’s lawyer Roy André Håkonsen Arteid to VG.
It was Thursday 23 June last year that the exotic feline was observed along the street in Os outside Bergen. The emergency services received many calls about the animal, and people were asked to keep their distance.
The feline turned out to be a serval, which is an African feline that is forbidden to have as a pet in Norway.
The woman was charged both with having the animal as a pet and with introducing the animal into Norway. For a year, the woman has lived in hiding for fear of losing the exotic pet.
Still alive
As of Tuesday evening, the serval was still alive, says police attorney André Jakobsen in the West police district. The matter will be dealt with during the week.
– We make a decision that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority confirms. They will then decide what happens next, he tells VG.
The feline is now looked after by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, which does not wish to comment on the case.
The woman was interviewed by the newspaper last year and told how she had quit her job, moved away from friends and family and did not dare to use a mobile phone for fear of being tracked electronically.
Noah offers relocation
The animal rights organization Noah believes it would be irresponsible to euthanize the serval.
– Keeping exotic animals as pets should be prohibited both for reasons of animal welfare and protection of species. Those who have illegally put animals in such a situation should be punished. But killing the animal is not justifiable at all – it is punishing the victim; the animal, says Noah leader Siri Martinsen.
– Noah has repeatedly contacted the Norwegian Environment Agency to get permission to offer a solution where Niño can live on with good animal welfare in a species-appropriate environment. So far we have only been rejected, says Martinsen.
NTB has contacted the Norwegian Environment Agency, but has been unsuccessful in obtaining a comment.
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2024-09-25 04:42:17
