Three pets dead

Couple acquitted of torturing cats

Symbolic image(Bild: Dostal Harald)

Three cats, including two babies, starved to death in an apartment in Salzburg's Pinzgau region. However, there was ultimately no evidence to convict them of animal cruelty.

Did a couple from Pinzgau let cats starve to death? The two unemployed locals (43, 47) had to explain themselves for cruelty to animals in the regional court on Thursday. Right at the start of the trial, it became clear that the couple had alcohol problems, impaired comprehension and an adult representative. The two live on social welfare.

Lawyer believes authorities have a duty
"The question here is why the authorities did not take any action. Despite the known conditions, no ban on keeping animals was issued," defense lawyer Andreas Schöppl wondered. The defendant also emphasized: "We fed the cats, we never forget that." The fact is that a mother cat and two of her babies starved to death in the couple's apartment in September, and two others are said to be malnourished according to a vet.

Ultimately, however, they were acquitted as there was no evidence of guilt. Incidentally, the couple still keep five cats.