Dogs rescued, search for perpetrator of abuse underway

The Podgorica Basic State Prosecutor's Office has not commented on one of the most serious cases of animal abuse in Montenegro, discovered two days ago in the Danilovgrad settlement of Klikovače, where an animal protection activist Daliborka Rešetar, acting on a report from locals, found 32 Staffordshire bull terriers in extremely poor conditions, without adequate food and water, visibly starving and in poor health.

Yesterday, after a 24-hour guard in Klikovače, the dogs were moved to a safe location, and the Danilovgrad Municipality called on authorities to conduct a detailed investigation and fully determine all the circumstances of the animal abuse case, including the responsibility of the people who kept them.

"We consider any avoidance of responsibility in such cases unacceptable and condemn any attempt to avoid responsibility to the detriment of animal welfare," said the Municipality headed by Aleksandar Grgurović.

"Vijesti" from the Podgorica Public Prosecutor's Office expects answers to questions about whether they are aware of the case, whether the prosecutor went to the scene after the report, whether a case has been filed with the prosecutor's office, and what criminal offenses are currently being considered...

According to information from the field, the prosecutor did not come to Klikovače, but the day after the intervention of activists, volunteers, local services and a veterinary inspector, he requested that a veterinary expert be present at the site.

Only after that was the action of relocating the tortured animals to a safe location carried out.

"Today, a major action was carried out by animal protection activists, the Municipal Inspectorate, the police and the Danilovgrad Municipal Enterprise, during which 32 Staffordshire Bull Terriers were transferred to a safe location, so that they could receive adequate veterinary care and undergo examinations and testing for possible infectious diseases. The dogs are currently in quarantine... In addition to the veterinary inspector Ruzice Mirkovic", today a veterinary expert, hired by order of the prosecutor's office, also went to the field. His task is to determine the facts, after which the ODT will decide whether there are elements of a criminal offense in this case," the civic activist told "Vijesti" Aleksandar Dragićević.

He added that the prosecutor did not go to the scene:

"The dogs were kept in inadequate conditions, we suspect that they were exposed to starvation and disease, and that they were bred without the necessary permits."

Dragićević emphasized that veterinarians have begun the procedure of examinations, blood sampling, and testing for infectious diseases, in order to determine and implement appropriate therapies as soon as possible.

"Among the rescued animals are several pregnant females, who have been placed in a special location where they will be provided with additional care and supervision."

The Municipality of Danilovgrad announced yesterday that they strongly condemn any form of abuse and inhumane treatment of animals.

"We are concerned about the information about a large number of dogs that were found in extremely poor conditions, without adequate care, food and water. Such cases represent a serious violation of the law and the basic principles of humane treatment of animals. We would like to emphasize that, according to the currently available information, these are owned, purebred dogs that were kept in boxes, and not abandoned dogs from public areas. The competent municipal services have not previously received any reports or information that would indicate the existence of such a situation at the location in question."

They pointed out that, from the moment the information was submitted to the competent authorities, their services acted in accordance with their jurisdiction and immediately became involved in resolving this case, providing support to activists and volunteers, but also that, in order to preserve the scene and prevent any displacement of animals before the competent authorities completed their actions, municipal police officers were in Klikovače on the night between Saturday and Sunday.