Greece makes animal abuse punishable by up to 10 yrs jail
The Greek parliament on Thursday voted unanimously to make serious animal abuse a crime that can lead to a maximum 10-year prison sentence. Until now, cruelty to animals had been a less severe offence in the eyes of the law, punishable by a mere fine. According to a law voted Thursday, people who mistreat animals will also have to pay "a fine ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 euros." The minimum jail term will be one year. The law defines abuse as "poisonings, hanging, burning, mutilating animals." Last month, a 55-year-old man in Heraklion on the island of Crete hung and castrated a dog. Photos of the act appeared online and in Greek media. Such was the outrage that the man was fined 30,000 euros.
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