Young tomcat rescued in Ahldorf: abandonment can be punished!
On June 8th, an abandoned tomcat was found in Ahldorf. Insight into the legal consequences of animal abandonment.

Young tomcat rescued in Ahldorf: abandonment can be punished!
On June 8th, a young tomcat was discovered in a transport box in Horb-Ahldorf. The animal was soaked and frightened, with no protection from the weather. Shocks rolled around the neighborhood because no one knew the cat or knew how he got there. Animal rights activists suspect that he was abandoned, which is not only a sad fate but can also have legal consequences. The Black Forest messenger informed that the abandonment of pets in Germany is explicitly prohibited according to the Animal Protection Act (§ 3). This could be punished as animal cruelty (Section 17), especially if the animal suffers or dies.
The penalties for suspension can be considerable: fines or imprisonment of up to three years are possible. In less serious cases, swapping is considered an administrative offense (Section 18) and can be punished with fines of up to 25,000 euros. These are alarming figures, and yet the reality often remains far from such strict measures. In many cases, the perpetrators simply cannot be identified, so the punishments are in practice more lenient.
Legal basis and more
According to Animal in law It is a criminal offense to abandon or abandon an animal kept in the house or business. It doesn't matter whether something actually happens to the animal or not; The only decisive factor is that the animal is led from a safe to a dangerous situation. Perpetrators are all those who have an animal in their care, be it the owner, a pet sitter or even those who unlawfully take an animal into their possession.
The most common reasons for such fatal decisions are often excessive demands, false expectations, allergies or even the death of the owner. How Verivox writes, every pet owner should be responsible for the well-being of their pet. Suspension is not the only option. Rather, there are alternatives such as dropping off at the animal shelter, where costs are often waived, especially in cases of financial difficulties.
What to do if something is found?
If you find an animal in a similar situation, it is important to act correctly. In the case of neglected animals, the suspicion of abandonment should not be ignored. In the case of homeless dogs, it makes sense to first wait and see whether the owner shows up. If not, the police should be informed to help the animal.
In summary, it is of the utmost importance to take seriously the responsibility we assume when adopting a pet. The number of abandoned animals increases dramatically, especially during the holiday season. Information about the case of the connected cat can be given to the Horb Animal Welfare Association or the police in order to help him as quickly as possible.