The legal department of UAnimals works to prevent crimes against animals. Upon learning of such incidents, their lawyers report to the police or other state agencies. Often, animal cruelty cases are sidelined, with no updates for months. Here, the lawyers share 4 such cases.
1. “Dog Help” Shelter in Kyiv Region
In winter, a woman approached the lawyers, complaining about the terrible conditions at the “Dog Help” shelter in Brovary. According to her, the animals were neglected, without food or water. She provided photographic evidence. UAnimals and other animal protection organizations filed a report with the police about animal cruelty and fraud by the shelter’s director. The investigation is officially ongoing, but no updates have been provided to the lawyers.
2. Dog Poisoning in Zhytomyr Region
Witnesses reported that stray dogs were being poisoned in Berdychiv in February. A volunteer who cared for the strays contacted the regional laboratory of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. An autopsy of a deceased dog confirmed poisoning as the cause of death. With the autopsy protocol in hand, UAnimals took the case to court. A criminal case was opened, and a pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
3. Lioness in Private Ownership in Dnipropetrovsk Region
Ihor Bokov from Kryvyi Rih privately keeps a lioness named Elina. UAnimals reported to the police about the inappropriate conditions for keeping the wild animal. Initially, the court fined Ihor Bokov 510 hryvnias, but this decision was later overturned on appeal. Volunteers visited the recreation base where the lioness is kept and documented her living conditions. Since these conditions do not meet the animal’s needs, UAnimals lawyers filed another police report in April. The report was registered, but no response has been received.
4. Serhiy Palokhin’s Menagerie in Khmelnytskyi
Serhiy Palokhin, the owner of the “Zoo Corner,” was reportedly keeping wild animals in very poor conditions, according to volunteers. Activists suspected that the owner was violating transportation rules and breeding wild animals without the necessary permits. In early April, a conflict arose between the menagerie owner and public activists who wanted to inspect the animals’ conditions and see the permit documents, but the owner tried to drive them away. UAnimals lawyers and some activists reported this to the police. A pre-trial investigation began in April, involving experts from the State Environmental Inspectorate. It is known that the owner has since transferred many animals to shelters and rehabilitation centers while the case is being reviewed.
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