Dog shot for no reason: Hunter sentenced to a fine
A hunter from Lower Franconia must now pay a fine of 5600 euros for shooting a loose dog without good reason. The Haßfurt district court sentenced the man to 140 daily rates of 40 euros each on Monday, according to a court spokesperson. The rifle used in the crime was also confiscated.
According to the verdict, the defendant was not authorized to shoot the dog. There were no indications that the Alaskan Malamute breed animal had poached in July 2022. According to a court spokesperson, the pensioner was convicted of violating the Animal Welfare Act. The decision is not yet final.
The Austrian owners of the dog had stopped after a canoe trip on the Main near Knetzgau (Haßberge district). When they tied the canoe to the bank, the dog was running around in a meadow without a leash. According to the public prosecutor's office, there was no other animal present. The accused is said to have discovered the dog and shot it from his car for no reason. He then allegedly simply drove off.
In its plea, the public prosecutor's office demanded a fine of 6,000 euros and the confiscation of the rifle, while the defense pleaded for acquittal.
The incident involving the dog's shooting highlighted the importance of adhering to animal welfare processes. Failure to do so can lead to criminal judgments, as demonstrated by this case in Haßfurt. In this particular instance, the decision not to leash the animal underfront the meadow may have unintentionally put it at risk of such a crime.
Source: www.dpa.com
