The Conviction of a 22-Year-Old for Animal Cruelty

On May 3, 2022, police officers discovered five neglected dogs in a house in a community in the Zurich Oberland region. Among the dogs were two adult females and three puppies. The entire living room was soiled with the dogs’ feces and urine, the puppies were confined in a transport box separated from their mother, and all five dogs lacked access to food and water.

The five dogs were in poor overall condition. One of the puppies was particularly weak, according to a final judgement from the public prosecutor’s office of See/Oberland. It was revealed that the five dogs had been under the care of a 22-year-old Swiss woman. However, she had departed for Venezuela five days earlier, on April 28, 2022, and remained there until November 2022.

Unregistered Puppies

The dogs found were a five-year-old Maltese-Havanese mix and a three-and-a-half-year-old Maltese female, the mother of the three puppies. These puppies were not registered, and their exact age at the time of discovery is not specified in the legal order.

The mother dog actually belonged to the accused’s mother. However, the mother had already left Switzerland in October 2021. The transfer of the dog to the daughter was never reported to the authorities; the daughter had been caring for the Maltese dog since then.

According to the recently finalized legal order, the then 20-year-old daughter had not ensured that the five dogs were taken out daily according to their needs, fed regularly and adequately, cared for, and groomed appropriately when she left. At the time of her departure, the accused did not know when she would return to Switzerland.

It is not mentioned in the legal order how or by whom the police were alerted to the five dogs. It is also unclear why the woman left for Venezuela and abandoned the five dogs. The subsequent fate of the five dogs after being found is not described.

Maltese dogs are small, white, lively, and playful dogs up to 25 centimeters in size and weighing up to four kilograms, originally from the Mediterranean region. Their coat requires constant care. Havanese dogs are slightly larger and heavier. Both breeds are known to have difficulty being left alone even for a short time.

Fine of 1200 Swiss Francs

The accused, who now resides back in Switzerland, was convicted by the public prosecutor’s office of See/Oberland with a final judgement for animal cruelty, multiple violations of the Animal Diseases Act, and violation of the Law on Reporting and Resident Registers (Merg) with a conditional fine of 180 daily rates of 30 Swiss Francs, equivalent to 5400 Swiss Francs.

The execution of the fine is suspended for a probation period of two years. However, the woman must pay a fine of 1200 Swiss Francs. In addition, there are 800 Swiss Francs in fees for the preliminary proceedings, resulting in a total amount of 2000 Swiss Francs.

The accused was punished not only for neglecting the dogs but also for failing to report the transfer of the dog from her mother to the municipal and Amicus database. Additionally, she had not paid the dog tax for the year 2022. Furthermore, she had left Switzerland in April 2022 for nearly seven months without deregistering from the municipality.

Conclusion

The case of the 22-year-old woman convicted of animal cruelty highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and adherence to laws and regulations regarding animal welfare. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of neglecting the care of animals and failing to comply with legal requirements, resulting in penalties and fines.

FAQs

1. What were the conditions in which the dogs were found?

The dogs were discovered in a house in the Zurich Oberland region, where they were neglected, confined in unsanitary conditions with limited access to food and water.

2. What breeds were the dogs involved in the case?

The dogs found included a Maltese-Havanese mix, a Maltese mother dog, and three unregistered puppies.

3. What was the outcome of the legal proceedings against the accused?

The accused was convicted of animal cruelty, violations of animal welfare laws, and failure to comply with reporting and registration requirements, resulting in a fine and probation.

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