The Basic State Prosecutor in Bijelo Polje has not yet heard HN, who is suspected of causing serious injuries to a neighbor's dog a few days ago in the village of Prijelozi by hitting it on the head with an axe.
The dog was sent to Podgorica for additional tests and was temporarily placed in the shelter of the NGO "Animal House". After recovery, it will be returned to its owner.
HN, against whom a criminal complaint was filed for violence against the dog, is the mother of minor children, so the Bijelo Polje Center for Social Work (CSR) is also involved.
This was, among other things, announced to "Vijesti" yesterday and responded from the institutions involved in the case: the Police Directorate, the Bijelo Polje ODT and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, or the Directorate for Veterinary, Food Safety and Phytosanitary Affairs.
HN's behavior towards the neighbor's dog was reported on February 22 by animal protection activists on social media, posting a video that, among other things, shows a young woman hitting the dog with an axe and saying that it was "for her father."
That afternoon, "Vijesti" published unofficial information from the police, stating that their officers acted upon a report from a citizen from Prijelozi, that the report was filed against HN, and that the complainant stated in the report that she came to his house and injured his dog with an axe.
The Police Directorate officially sent a statement to the media yesterday:
"In coordination with the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje, police officers took official actions within their jurisdiction and seized the found object of the crime from the scene and collected information from several persons," they stated, adding that HN, "as suspected, on 22..2..2025. came in front of the family house of a fellow citizen and, using a suitable tool - an axe, caused injuries to his dog."
As they added, upon the order of the state prosecutor at the ODT in Bijelo Polje, police officers filed a criminal complaint against HN, on suspicion that she committed the criminal offense of killing and torturing animals and destroying their habitat (Criminal Code, Article 309).
In a response to "Vijesti" yesterday, the Bijelo Polje ODT confirmed that, after a criminal report was filed with them, and on the order of the acting prosecutor, a search of HN's house was carried out, and the Bijelo Polje Center for Social Work was also involved:
"The Social Work Center was involved to act within its jurisdiction, and the injured dog was examined by a veterinarian, who prepared a report. After submitting the case with the report to the Basic State Prosecutor's Office, the acting prosecutor summoned the suspect and the witness for questioning, after which he will take all other actions during the investigation in order to make a final decision," the Bijelo Polje ODT said in a response to the editorial staff.
The Community of Animal Protection NGOs Montenegro also sent a request to the Police Directorate, Bijelo Polje Prosecutor's Office, CSR... about the actions of the authorities in this specific case. They were also interested in whether a motion for detention had been filed against HN, as well as whether the Social Work Center had been notified of the incident, "given that the perpetrator is the mother of minor children."
In addition to the prosecutor's office's confirmation that the Bijelo Polje CSW is involved, the Center and the competent department, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, which runs Damir Gutic, yesterday they did not answer the questions of "Vijesti", regarding the need for that body to be involved in the procedure.
The injuries inflicted by HN on the neighbor's dog are such that the animal's health condition requires special monitoring, the Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Administration told "Vijesti" yesterday, whose inspectors had visited the injured dog the day before.
"On the recommendation of veterinary doctors, who work as inspectors for the Administration, and veterinary doctors from local clinics in Bijelo Polje, the dog was sent for further examination in Podgorica. This includes X-rays and determining whether there are any cracks in the skull," they told the editorial team.
The dog, they added, has been temporarily placed in a pet shelter, the NGO "Animal House", "from where it will be sent for additional observation and treatment."
"After what we hope is a successful recovery, the dog will be returned to its owner. The management has offered all necessary assistance to ensure that the injured dog receives the best treatment, and will also reimburse the costs of treating the injured animal," they told "Vijesti".
The criminal offense for which HN was charged is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.
Bonus video:
