The deaths of several dogs in different parts of Spain have once again brought the issue into focus. animal abuse resulting in deathThis is a reality that, despite the tightening of the Penal Code, continues to appear in police reports. In recent weeks, two investigations opened in Galicia and the Canary Islands have uncovered particularly serious situations that have resulted in the death of animals.
In Pontevedra, the Civil Guard has indicated as its main hypothesis that a dog died from a heatstroke after being locked in a metal container, while in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria the Local Police attribute the death of another dog to a repeated omission of basic care by their owners. Both cases are being investigated as suspected cases of animal abuse resulting in death.
Dog dies from heatstroke in a metal container in Mourente
The Nature Protection Service (SepronaThe Civil Guard in Pontevedra continues to investigate the owner of three dogs and his partner, who acted as their caretaker, for two possible crimes of animal abuseOne of them was due to the death of one of the animals. The events took place on 9 June in the parish of Mourente, in the municipality of Pontevedra.
That day, the owner of the dogs had contacted the animal shelter. Os Palleiros to give in to the three animalsclaiming she could no longer care for them. However, hours later she notified the Civil Guard, stating that her dogs had been poisonedThis prompted the activation of Seprona and the start of the investigation.
When the officers arrived at the property, accompanied by staff from the animal shelter and a collaborating veterinarianThey encountered a disturbing scene: a dog was dead, another presented spasms, convulsions, and vomiting The third one appeared to be in good general condition. The owner and his partner were also present; the partner was looking after the animals at the time.
The owner maintained from the beginning that the dog had He died of poisoning that same day.However, the officers observed several details that didn’t quite fit with a typical case of poisoning. The body presented a advanced rigor mortis despite the fact that, according to the account, it was a recent death on a very hot day.
The researchers also noted the absence of usual signs of poisoning in dogs: there was no feature called “sardonic laugh“associated with certain toxins, nor remains of foamy saliva, vomit, or fluids around the body. It was also noteworthy that the animal was completely wet with plenty of water, something that did not match the account provided by the owner.
During the inspection of the surroundings, the agents focused their attention on a metal container which served as a tool shed and shelter for the dogs. The interior of that space was recently cleaned, wet and scrubbedSimilarly, the dog that showed symptoms raised further doubts about the alleged poisoning.
The veterinarian immediately began treating the sick dog, while the Seprona (Nature Protection Service) collected samples of vomit and other signs, in addition to the corpse itself, to send them to Rof Codina University Veterinary Hospital of LugoThe necropsy and the corresponding procedures were performed there. toxicological analysis, with the aim of clarifying whether any type of poison had actually been used.
Meanwhile, the Civil Guard requested the intervention of a dog specialized in poison detection, from the canine group. With their guidance, the itinerary that the owner and the caretaker said they had taken that day was reconstructed, and both the route and the enclosure where the animals were kept were thoroughly inspected.
The search was exhaustive, but No poisoned baits or suspicious substances were found. at no point along the route nor in the area where the dogs lived. This fact, combined with the initial observations at the scene, began to weaken the initial hypothesis of deliberate poisoning.
The results of the toxicological tests were conclusive: the Rof Codina laboratory found no trace of toxins in the samples submitted. Although the autopsy could not pinpoint every detail of the cause of death, it did rule out the presence of poisons and steer the investigation towards other possible explanations.
With that information on the table, Seprona finally pointed to the main theory that the dog had died from a heatstroke after being locked inside the metal container. That day, according to the records of MeteoGalicia, were reached temperatures above 30 degrees, a context that, in an enclosed, metal space, can be lethal for an animal.
El veterinary report The findings regarding the dog that survived with symptoms are consistent with this thesis: both the described symptoms (seizures, vomiting, spasms) and the negative toxicology results are compatible with a severe heat strokeThe differences in severity among the three animals are attributed to the individual susceptibility already the different thermoregulation ability of each dog.
Finally, the owner He gave the two surviving dogs to the Os Palleiros animal shelter.The one who was in better condition remained available for adoption and the one who had shown symptoms continued to receive specialized veterinary careOn December 26, the Civil Guard concluded the police investigation and sent the proceedings to the Duty Magistrate’s Court of Pontevedra and the Prosecutor’s Office, keeping the owner and caretaker under investigation for alleged animal abuse.
Dog dies due to neglect in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
In parallel to the Galician case, the Local Police of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has opened proceedings against a 40-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman for an alleged crime of animal abuse through neglect, after her dog died in a state of extreme physical deterioration.
The events occurred this month December in the neighborhood Countryside Town, when a neighbor decided to alert the police serious health condition where the animal was found. The complainant explained to the officers that the owners had no intention of taking the dog to a veterinarian despite its obvious suffering.
Following the alert, agents from Environmental Protection Group of the Mediation and Coexistence Unit (UMEC) They went to the house where the dog lived. Upon entering the residence, they found a purebred dog. American bully, classified as potentially dangerous, with a severe malnutritionextreme weakness and marked apathy, practically without the ability to move or respond to stimuli.
The inspection confirmed the lack of food, water, and veterinary care appropriate, which, together with the animal’s physical condition, led the agents to order its immediate withdrawal of housing. With the support of municipal public health serviceThe dog was rushed to a veterinary clinic for treatment.
Once admitted, the veterinary team applied a protocol of intensive care and continuous monitoringThey tried to reverse the malnutrition and extreme weakness. However, the clinical picture was so advanced that, despite all efforts, the animal He died four days later of their entry.
During the investigation, the Local Police gathered detailed clinical reportsHe took a statement from the neighbor who raised the alarm and summoned the owners to the police station as suspects. Based on this information, proceedings were initiated for a suspected… crime of animal abuse resulting in death, considering that the prolonged omission of essential care would have been decisive in the outcome.
The statement issued by the police force reminds everyone that this type of crime is covered in the Criminal Code prison sentences of up to two years and the possible disqualification from owning animals or for the exercise of activities related to them during a period that may reach four yearsThe case remains pending a decision from the judicial authorities and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Legal context and social relevance of animal abuse resulting in death
Both incidents, the fatal heatstroke in Mourente and the death by neglect in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, demonstrate that the animal abuse It is not limited to direct aggression, but can also materialize through inadequate living conditions or the lack of basic care. In both cases, the authorities consider the conduct of those responsible to be serious enough to warrant a criminal investigation.
In Spain, animal abuse that causes death of a dog can lead to prison sentences and prohibition of living or working with animals for years. The investigation by the Civil Guard and the Local Police in these cases seeks precisely to determine to what extent there was malicious or grossly negligent conduct on the part of those investigated.
In the case of Pontevedra, the focus is on the conditions in which the dogs were kept inside a metal container on a very hot day and in the possible contradictions in the owner’s account of a supposed poisoning. In Las Palmas, the key lies in the prolonged lack of food, water, and veterinary care, even though the animal’s deterioration was evident to those around it.
The performance of neighbors, animal shelters and veterinary services has been essential in activating the investigations. In Mourente, the animal shelter Os Palleiros and a collaborating veterinarian accompanied Seprona (the environmental protection service of the Civil Guard) from the beginning in the inspection and in the care of the surviving animals. In Ciudad del Campo, it was the complaint from a neighbor which allowed the police to act before the situation worsened even further.
These types of cases also reflect a change in social sensitivity Regarding animal suffering, it is becoming increasingly common for citizens to report suspicious situations and for law enforcement agencies to have access to such information. specialized units, such as Seprona or the environmental groups of the local police, specifically trained to intervene in situations of abuse.
Although each procedure must follow its legal course, the investigations opened in Mourente and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria highlight the importance of to guarantee decent living conditions to companion animals. Extreme heat, prolonged confinement, and the lack of food, water, or veterinary care can become, as these cases have shown, lethal factors that end in death. death of a dog due to abuse, whether actively or through simple neglect of their most basic needs.
[related url=”https://www.mundoperros.es/consecuencias-maltrato-perros/”]