October 4th is World Animal Protection Day, but as much as awareness of animal protection has increased in recent years, the situations faced daily by the Pfotenhilfe association and its animal protection farm in the border region of Upper Austria/Salzburg on a daily basis. disturbed “It always amazes me how carelessly and sometimes heartlessly and brutally people treat our fellow creatures,” says Pfotenhilfe’s managing director Johanna Stadler. “You often feel like you’re in the Middle Ages when you’re faced with these situations. The emotional lives of most animals are much more like ours than we think – and their understanding in pain anyway. That’s another reason they deserve it.” that he be treated with due respect.”
Four current examples of irritation on the occasion of World Animal Protection Day:
Recently the leg assist was introduced Injured baby brown hare taken care of and bred, already received veterinary care. The person who brought him from a private school in Salzburg said she wanted to “get him back” after she recovered. There is a fence in the school area where they want to lock him up. “A wild animal molts freely and isn’t locked up somewhere to entertain children,” says Stadler, wistfully. “We get to raise hundreds of wild animal orphans every year. Of course, they are all released back into the wild.”
Last week there was one was badly injured He was found at a horse farm in Hohenzell (Ried im Innkreis area) with a suspected gunshot wound and taken to the animal welfare farm. The x-ray confirmed the suspicion as a bullet. The injury was so bad that the vet was no longer able to save the falcon and, despite treatment, it died shortly afterwards. Stadler will report the case to the criminal police and is looking for witnesses: “How can you shoot or poison strictly protected animals? This is not an isolated case at all!”
The third example is almost two years old, but it is up to date because October 8 (9:15 am) the hearing at the Ried regional court A couple have their own in Aurolzmünster The seriously ill dog Rambo was left chained with vegetation without any veterinary care until only the vet could rescue him.. The situation only came to light because the dog was on the street one morning and could hardly stand on its feet, where it was rescued by Pfotenhilfe employees at the request of the police. Pfotenhilfe reported the owners, who, after years of back and forth, are now finally in court for “cruelty to animals by omission”.
This week the criminal, who was on trial for the second time, was arrested in Vienna because… French Bulldogs tortured to death – once thrown from a balcony and this time tortured for days and then drowned – that he was admitted to a forensic psychological centre. “We were surprised the first time because of the acquittal despite witnesses. The judges do not take animal cruelty seriously. And it is not even the proven fact that animal abusers often practice – the perpetrator wins his mother too – it is not enough to produce a verdict of hindrance. We are therefore asking the next government to increase the range of penalties to five yearswith a sentence of at least six months. Because unconditional prison sentences were hardly ever handed down.”
The environment of the perpetrators should not be overlooked
Those around such perpetrators often look the other way for far too long or completely out of fear of trouble. “This is partly understandable, but you can send anonymous tips to the authorities at any time or contact us. We forward such reports to the authorities anonymously.” Stadler appeals on the occasion of World Animal Protection Day: “Don’t look away when it comes to animal suffering! The animals cannot speak for themselves and they depend on us all to have civil courage. And I expect more commitment and emphasis from politicians and the authorities in regarding the protection of animals. “It is also anchored in our constitution as a state goal!”
Anyone who would like to support the work of Pfotenhilfe on the occasion of World Animal Protection Day can do so online 201 hours. www.pfotenhilfe.at do. There you will also find a contact form to report observations of animal abuse or cruelty – anonymously if required.
Photos of the kestrel and Rambo dog upon request.