Due to the suspicion that he tortured and killed the dog, the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica opened a case against Aco Novović.
This is what the prosecutor's office told "Vijesta" yesterday.
The inspection and the Veterinary Administration did not answer the questions of the editors about whether they acted in relation to the initiative of some non-governmental organizations for the protection of animals and checked the conditions in which, during his absence, the wolves, which Novović keeps in the Tološi township, live.
"Regarding your question from June 11, 2024, I am informing you that a case has been opened in the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica against the person AN on grounds of suspicion that he committed the crime of killing and torturing animals and destroying their habitat. The case is in the investigation process", they stated in the answer from the prosecution.
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Aco Novović from Podgorica was deprived of his liberty last week, after the activists of the non-governmental organization "Protect the Animals" filed a report against him, due to the suspicion that on May 29, in the evening hours, in the Blok IX neighborhood in Podgorica, he tied a dog to his vehicle and dragged along the street. The animal died as a result.
In the report, it was also stated that the same person had been reported several times earlier for torture and abuse of animals.
According to the Criminal Code of Montenegro, the killing of an animal is punishable by a fine or a prison sentence of up to one year.
Novović, who has been charged with the crime of killing and torturing animals and destroying their habitat, has been known to the public for years because he keeps wolves in the Tološi township.
After learning that Novović had been kept in custody for an extended period of time following a report for torturing and killing a dog, part of the non-governmental organizations for animal protection sent an initiative to the Directorate for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs, asking them to check the conditions in which these animals are kept. stay during his leave.
"Given that we do not know the state of health of the wolves, which he illegally kept for years on his property, as well as whether anyone takes care of them at all, we are asking for an urgent inspection...", they state, among other things, in initiatives from NGO "Šapice" Bar, "Society for Animal Protection" from Podgorica, NGO "Feniks" from Cetinje and NGO "Nikšić Association for Animal Protection".
In this regard, "Vijesti" sent questions to the Veterinary Directorate and the Directorate for Inspection Affairs on Monday. Among other things, they were asked if they acted in relation to the initiative of some non-governmental organizations, what was the result of the monitoring, how many animals does Novović have, which animals are they in question, in what conditions were these animals kept, does he have proof of origin for wild animals , whether he has permission to keep wild animals and whether he meets the conditions for keeping wild animals.
According to the data provided by the inspection to "Vijesta" in the fall of 2020, Novović kept more than 20 wolves in multiple cages in a populated area. The report, they said at the time, was based on the testimony of Novović, "because direct insight into the cages was not possible." Then they told the newsroom that Novović does not have a license to keep wild animals. According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", Novović has not received such permission to date.
According to the Law on Nature Protection, everyone who acquires a wild species of animal that they intend to keep in captivity, is obliged to submit a request for the issuance of a permit and to inform the authorities about it, within 30 days from the day of acquiring the animal. Otherwise, they risk a fine of 2.000 to 40.000 euros for a legal entity, or 250 to 2.000 euros for a natural person.
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