As we have previously reported, a number of animal cruelty cases has shocked the country in the recent month. Now, animal protection organizations are organizing nationwide demonstrations on August 25th, as according to their statement, “despite the fact that the Parliament has declared animal torture a criminal offense since April 24, 2004, the sentences imposed since then have had no deterrent effect.”
In the last cases, a 68-year-old woman living in Balotaszállás was dragging a large dog tied to a car on the road, while in Dencsháza, a female bartender hired a local, mentally disabled man to kill her dog, Bors reported.
The perpetrators had previously been hiding because they feared they would be lynched for their outrageous acts. Last week, a group of animal rights activists appeared at the woman’s farm in Balotaszállás and the police had to stop them from confronting her. They have promised to return.
Currently, there is an ongoing investigation into the case of the animal torture and there will be a hearing on August 25th. At the same time, animal protection organizations are planning peaceful demonstrations nationwide, demanding the most severe punishment. The main event will be held in front of the Kiskunhalas court, and will continue in Balotaszállás, where the woman who dragged her own dog after her car was stopped.
The demonstrations are organized by the Mancs a Kézben Kutyamentő Alapítvány, the Argos Állatvédelmi Egyesület, the Állat és Ember Állatvédő Egyesület, and the Bol-dog Természet és Állatvédelmi Alapítvány with the main message
Anyone who tortures an animal may go on to torture people! We do not tolerate violence!
The aim of the peaceful demonstration is to demand jail sentence for anyone who tortures an animal. According to the statement of the so far 165 animal rights organizations, activists and animal-loving citizens who have joined the initiative to demand more serious sentences for animal cruelty, the mild sentences since animal cruelty was declared a crime are not enough to prevent further cases of animal torture.
In 2017 for example, the Encs court gave two teenagers six and five months suspended sentences for killing a puppy in Detek. The two boys were ordered probationary supervision by a court and required them to attend group sessions, which include protection and care of animals, and raising awareness of the legal consequences of animal torture; as well as reading Géza Csáth’s short story “Anyagyilkosság,” watching the movie “Witman fiúk” based on the book, and writing an essay on the consequences of animal torture.
You can find the statement and the updated list of the organizations here.