Monumental verdict for animal abuse

It was a historic decision for the Greek judiciary. For the first time ever an animal abuser gets convicted without parole. A few months ago, a man was spotted in Kato Kamila, a village outside of the northern city of Serres, dragging his own dog, tied to his motorbike.

After doing it for hours, passersby stopped him and called the police. Miraculously, the poor animal survived the abuse. The man was arrested, charged and his trial ended today with the first ever guilty verdict against an animal abuser. There have been many similar cases in the past, but few have been in the police radar and none has ended in a conviction without parole.

The man was convicted to one year in prison with no parole and a fine of 5,000 euros. This conviction could be used as a warning against animal abuse in some rural areas of the country, where there is no action against it and no care for stray animals. Just last week, in a shocking event, a restaurant owner in the city of Styra, in the island of Evoia, beat a dog to death with a chair in front of his customers. An arrest warrant was issued in his name, but so far he escapes arrest./