Just a few days ago, animal lovers were shocked by the news that a chained dog had been left to die in the street. Not an isolated case, although tethering dogs is prohibited by law! But people here are only too happy to look the other way.
Another case has now been registered: An anonymous tip at the Pfotenhilfe animal shelter described a German Shepherd dog being held on a chain in a settlement near Mattighofen in the Upper Austrian district of Braunau. Animal rights activist Johanna Stadler investigated and could clearly see the sheepdog on the chain at first glance.
She immediately filed a complaint: “It is not believed that such a thing still exists and is being taught better and better. It is often people who do not know the legal situation at all or who deliberately ignore it. Some of them also do not have the necessary proof of expertise for dog ownership, which would teach at least some of the minimum legal requirements.
Legal position clear
Austria’s first federal animal protection law in 2005 brought some improvements, including the ban on tying dogs. However, more than 18 years later, chain dogs are still discovered relatively often. Tierschutzhof Pfotenhilfe receives at least a dozen reports from the region alone each year.
The number of unreported cases must be much higher, as such illegal animal cruelty in chains often goes undetected for years or goes unreported for fear of family or neighbor disputes or even indifference to animal suffering.
politics demanded
For years, the animal rights activists of Pfotenhilfe have emphatically demanded that the Ministry of Animal Welfare – currently Minister of Green Johannes Rauch – significantly increase the means of control and issue corresponding control regulations.
Too few controls
“If there is reasonable suspicion, they are allowed to inspect any premises where livestock farming is suspected, but there is a lack of the legal basis and staff for routine checks in private livestock farming. Even the obligation to have a dog chip or the certificate of competence cannot be checked without specific information,” concludes Stadler.
Anonymous notes
The animal rights activists call on the population not to focus too much on animal abuse or violations of livestock farming, but rather to notify the authorities or associations once too often than too late. Pfotenhilfe also offers this option anonymously via its homepage.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
