An albino snake had to stay in the terrarium of an empty apartment in the Tyrolean town of Ausserfern for six weeks. A 24-year-old simply left the constrictor snake without water or food when he moved. The man should therefore stand trial in Innsbruck for animal cruelty.
Naturally, the dock at the Innsbruck Regional Court remained empty. Despite his appeal that he was a little late, the Tyrolean stayed away from the hearing. The judge therefore ultimately decided to hear the case in his absence and to hear the official veterinarian as a key witness. The police contacted her on December 18, 2023, ‘entrusted’ her with the snake and examined it for its health weeks later.
The animal survived the six weeks well
The snake “apparently survived well”; he was eating again and peeling his skin, the vet said in court. It is also conceivable that a snake generally “has no essential needs for six weeks”, so that it cannot be said with certainty whether it “actually suffered pain”.
Torment ‘cannot be proven with certainty’
The judge subsequently followed this assessment in the acquittal. “Who am I to judge all this better than the official veterinarian?” he asked the audience. From his point of view, it cannot be “proved with certainty that the serpent was actually tormented.”
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.
