Dead sheep – Aargau animal owner faces prison for cruelty to animals – News

• The Oftringen (AG) animal welfare case made headlines in February 2020: the police found several dozen dead and decomposed animals in an animal owner.
• Now, the 57-year-old owner of the animal faces an unconditional 10-month prison term and a fine of 3,000 Swiss francs for cruelty to animals.
• The prosecution accuses the owner of the animal of multiple animal cruelty and threats against officials.
• The man has a criminal record. He said he was overwhelmed with the situation at the time.

The prosecutor accuses the man of multiple deliberate and negligent cruelties towards animals. He is said to have threatened the officials during a previous police check in April 2019. He did not let them into the chicken coop. The accusations of cruelty to animals concern all animal husbandry: sheep, goats, chickens and domestic animals.

At the last police check in February 2020, the police found dead sheep and goats. In addition, there was no adequate feeding facility for the animals. There was some manure in the feeders. Authorities found broken glass, wooden stakes and sharp-edged wire mesh in the compound. The hens had no food or water, and there were not enough nests for the laying hens, prosecutors say. The owner’s dogs and cats were also found to be in “very neglected condition.”

Pet owner was overwhelmed, says

The owner of the animal is also accused of violating the Animal Welfare Law. The veterinary service had determined it in spring and summer of 2019. It is the carelessness of the woolly sheep. Despite orders from the veterinary service, it is said that they have not been sheared for a long time and in the summer temperatures.

The prosecution had sentenced the man to a sanction order for the incidents in 2019. He objected to this. According to the prosecution, the defendant claims that he was overwhelmed by having animals due to the prolonged and intensive care of his elderly mother and her death.