Animal Cruelty Scandal

Cows Starved to Death: “Authorities Just Wanted to Be Left Alone!”

This is what contented cows look like—in Carinthia, however, animals have starved and been neglected, according to the prosecutor’s office. Their owner worked at the Chamber of Agriculture!(Bild: Ralph Hoppe)

This animal cruelty trial at the Klagenfurt Regional Court raises many questions: For years, there have been allegations against a farmer whose cows and horses were sick, emaciated, and forced to live in filth; some even starved to death. Why wasn’t action taken sooner? The animal welfare ombudswoman is also voicing harsh criticism.

Without a lawyer, but with a clear line of defense, the farmer appears before Judge Claudia Bandion-Ortner at the trial at the Klagenfurt Regional Court: He claims he did nothing wrong, and that his animals are happy.