Animal law

A debate has stirred on the necessity of a new animal rights law and the sanctions imposed on those who torment animals after a man in the Black Sea province of Samsun cut off the front limbs of his dog following his neighbor who broke the dog's legs as a punishment for attacking his poultry.

A military court in western Greece on Tuesday convicted three former soldiers of animal abuse over the torture of a dog at an outpost near the town of Konitsa at the end of 2017 when they were doing their military service.

Two defendants were given suspended 10-month sentences and the third a six-month prison term.

An Athens prosecutor has ordered a preliminary investigation into the recent spate of poisonings of stray animals, mostly dogs, as well as foxes, in the region of Hymettus in eastern Attica.

Bulgarian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the owner of a herd of around 100 horses after they were found starving to death or already dead on a snow-bound mountainside, Reuters writes.

Following two highly publicized cases of animal abuse last week, rights groups say that the number of cases being reported is constantly on the rise.

German Justice Department has announced that three scientists from the prestigious Max Planck Institute are being prosecuted for  cruelty as part of experiments on animal brains, AFP reported.

The rescue in Laos of three endangered red pandas trafficked from China has raised fears the rare animals are increasingly being coveted by exotic pet owners.

433 zoopolicemen will respond to reports of animal incidents and abuse across the country, Chief Commissioner Hristo Terziiski told in a briefing of National Police. Minister of Interior Valentin Radev pointed out that Bulgaria would become the second country in Europe with such a unit.

Turkey’s Constitutional Court will discuss the issue of the law differentiating between pets and stray animals on Jan. 18, following a judge’s application to remove the phrase “pets” from the law, so that it will cover all animals, including those without owners.

Animal rights supporters in Albania are demanding new legislation against animal cruelty as disturbing footage emerges of acts of horrific violence against animals.

Footage spread on social media on October 3 of a leashed dog being beaten to death has shocked the public and further emboldened animal rights activists to push for legislation punishing such abusers.