Man spears cat with harpoon, claims he didn’t know animal abuse is forbidden

Just days after the horrible dog abuse by Greek soldiers, another incident reveals the brutal reality many animals suffer across Greece. A man trapped a cat in a cage in his home yard and speared the poor animal with a harpoon. The 60-year-old thug claimed towards the court in Karditsa, West Macedonia, that he was not aware there was a law punishing the abuse of animals – although Greek media including television channels have been bombarding Greeks with the soldiers’ incident and the draft law by the Agricultural ministry!

Ermioni Giannakou, member of animal welfare society Diasozo told local media thessaliatv that she went to the home and saw the cat was speared through the abdomen. “The harpoon stood  was 20cm out of the cats body on both sides,” Giannakou said adding “the cat was alive” but they could not take her out of the cage as the harpoon was mingled with the cage bars.

A veterinarian was called in, who sedated the cat making her rescue possible.

The poor cat underwent surgery, the harpoon was removed, is still hospitalized and under shock.

“The cat is still under huge shock, she keeps starring at one point,” Ermioni Giannakou from DIASOZO posted on FB. The rescuers have named the cat Tzina (Gina)

If someone wants to help covering the vet’s bill here are the possibilities:

Any help for the Association ” Rescue – Diasozo” of Karditsa-Greece are always appreciated – Court num. 16/2016

Piraeus Bank
Beneficiary Name: ” Rescue – Diasozo ”
Account number: 6244 1391 89 068
IBAN: GR 11 0171 2440 0062 4413 9189 068
BIC: PIRBGRAA

PAYPAL:   Greekanimalrescuer@gmail.com
Address: P. O . Box 219
43101  Karditsa-Greece
Diasozo Animal Rescue Team

The man was detained and brought to prosecutor. He was convicted to one year sentence suspended for three years and a fine of 5,000 euros. The judges said they took into account his “previously honorable life.” His lawyer said they would appeal the sentence and the fine.

The man told the court he speared the cat because it was catching birds – which he was apparently was catching too. He told the court that he did not know there was a law punishing animal abuse.

The abuse took place on March 26th and the man was brought to court under the ’48-hour caught red-handed’ provision.

A neighbor has seen the crime, called the local animal welfare society and the police. The eye-witness did not testify in the court apparently out of fear of the mean and sadistic neighbor.

Ermioni Giannakou testified in court.

The administrative fine of 30,000 euros is still to be confirmed.

As long as justice punishes animal abusers with light suspended sentences…

… brutal abuser will pretend to be just jerks who did not know that laws forbid animal abuse.

Judges should ask themselves what kind of message they send not only to local society but also across the country.

As for the deputy agricultural minister Yannis Tsironis who still defends his horror draft law despite the withdrawal, he should first of all consider heavy punishments and education campaigns against animal abuse across the countries, and then decide to punish pet owners, animal welfare societies and the thousands of animal loving volunteers.

PS the pictures shot by the welfare society as evidence are too brutal to be posted here.