Image: Paw Aid
In autumn, a small bitch allegedly found nearby was handed over to the animal shelter of the Pfotenhilfe in Lochen, whose chip was not registered, according to the Pfotenhilfe.
The owner was searched on social media – and a witness from Vienna reported who recognized the animal and stated that the owner from Vienna had wanted to get rid of the animal for a long time because it was annoying and she could not afford the food .
The owner also told the witness that she had repeatedly left the dog alone in the apartment without care when she went on vacation, and that the apartment was then full of faeces and urine.
Pfotenhilfe filed a complaint for fraud and animal cruelty, as the bitch was also severely emaciated. At the Vienna Regional Court, the adult-represented, indebted defendant had confessed. She was also overwhelmed financially with the bitch and had not fed her sufficiently or not at all for a long period of time. A witness testified that the owner even wanted to abandon her bitch. The woman was sentenced to eight months in prison with a five-year probation period for animal cruelty and accepted the sentence after consulting her defense attorney, according to Pfotenhilfe, who in the specific case refers to apparently existing criminal records that had already been imposed on the accused.
Pfotenhilfe was awarded 242 euros in damages for feeding the emaciated bitch. The outcome of the fraud case is still open. The animal welfare organization Pfotenhilfe calls for a general ban on keeping animals for adult “guarded” Persons.
“If a person cannot take responsibility for his own actions, even if only in financial matters, then he or she certainly cannot take responsibility for others”says Pfotenhilfe boss Johanna Stadler.
Source: Nachrichten
