A 63-year-old man, the deputy mayor of Zitsa municipality in Epirus, was arrested on Sunday over unprecedented abuse of a donkey. The man dragged the donkey tied with a rope to the bed of his pick-up truck for almost one kilometer as the heavily injured young animal was bleeding and leaving behind a long trace of blood behind.
The whereabouts and the fate of the donkey are not known.
The man, who is also a breeder, was stopped by shocked and angry locals, while one of them filmed the abuse and sent the video to police.
Local media, police and members of animal welfare societies rushed to the area.
To reporters of state broadcaster ERT, he claimed that the donkey was fine and it has been taken to his far,
To police officers he claimed that the whole situation was an accident and that he had no intention to harm the animal.
To the angry locals who confronted him, he claimed that he was not aware he was dragging the donkey.
Locals told ERT TV that the man phoned his son, and with his help they pushed the animal that had fainted on the roadside where it remained there for several hours and left.
It seems, however, at some point they loaded the animal on the pick-up truck and left.
The brutal abuse took place in Grammenos village by Zitsa, Ioannina, Epirus, north-western Greece on Saturday afternoon. The suspect initially disappeared.
As all evidence spoke against him, he was arrested Sunday noon.
In a statement police said that the man will be taken to local prosecutor for violation of the Animal Protection Law.
Animal welfare association of Ioannina Ki.Di.Zo stated in a post that its members searched for the unfortunate animal for hours to see if it would be possible to save it.
“Instead we found the guts of a large animal in the cart of the [ick-up truck being devoured by many emaciated dogs outside the man’s farm.”
The entrails have been taken to the Veterinary Service while the Police investigation is ongoing.
Attetion! Graphic pictures!
“It is worth noting that the awareness of the villagers was huge as was their mobilization to save the donkey from the brutal abuse,” Ki.Di.Zo added.
According to local news website epiruspost.gr, the main opposition in Zitsa Municipality demands the immediate dismissal of the deputy mayor and the intervention of the decentralized Administration.
In a statement, the fraction expressed “its disgust and shock over the shameful images and its concern about the concern the brutal behavior of the Deputy Mayor towards an animal in the area of Grammenochoria.”
“We deserve better people to serve our community,” the fraction underlined.
it is not only the local community in shock…
Drag the deputy mayor of Zitsa behind his own truck by a rope and see how he fares. If he doesnt survive lets feed him to his starving dogs.
CONFISCATE ANY ANIMALS HE OWNS, FORBID HIM FROM OWNING ANY ANIMALS EVER AGAIN AND PUBLICLY DENOUNCE THIS BEHAVIOUR WITH LESSONS ON HOPW TO TREAT ANIMALS FOR ANY ANIMAL OWNERS. PLS INCLUDE THAT IF YOU TRAIN YOUR DOGS IT IS NOT NECCESSARY TO TIE THEM UP EITH HEAVY CHAINS.
I agree. Vile man. Needs severe punishment.
This has gone on for years in Greece and will continue to do so. One reason I’ll never return. My Greek cat is safely here with me.
Please arrest that man , he broke peoples hearts , nobody has the right to treat animals that way. Follow up with the donkeys health . We are from Canada.
Quite agree !!!!!!
It’s time to stop animal abuse, make him an example, that the new laws for animal protections are finaly working in Greece.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that anything will be done about this. There will be no punishment or consequences. This is one of the many dark sides of Greece.
Alex, as you say this is the ‘many’ dark sides of Greece. I wonder whether anything will ever change. I’ve lived here a long time and I am still waiting.
Unfortunately there has always been abuse for Donkeys. They’re so obedient , kind and hardly complain even hauling coffins of heavy rocks from farm fields. I’ve seen at when I was younger all over Greece and I am sure the same happens in Other Countries as well.
In a perfect world the Donkey would be a symbol of kindness and stability. However most people in Greece refer to non compliant people as (Yaidouri) a Donkey, as a negative term.
true, in insult to all donkeys. however, I dare think people misunderstand donkey’s patience with ‘indifference’. Until the donkey give a kick with both back legs 🙂
Honestly, this man and anyone who does something similar should be executed. Anyone capable of this, is a threat to humans as well.