Adler residents demanded that the animal abuser be found after the brutal killing of a dog

The murder of the Alabai in the village of Nizhnyaya Shilovka was committed with particular sadism; such animal abusers can also pose a danger to people, local residents are sure. The police reported the initiation of a criminal case.

The police of the Adler district of Sochi initiated a criminal case under the article on cruel treatment of animals1 at the request of residents of the village of Nizhnyaya Shilovka, who on July 15 found a dead Alabai dog with its mouth and paws taped up.

"The case has been transferred to the investigation department. Measures are being taken to identify the citizens involved in the crime. The appeal was received from a resident of the village, photo and video materials are attached, recording the nature of the cruel treatment of the animal," a police officer told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. He confirmed that there are no specific suspects in the case yet.

A resident of Nizhnyaya Shilovka, Irina, discovered a dead dog on the evening of July 15 near the garbage bins, where she had come to feed abandoned kittens. "It was a huge Alabai dog. Its mouth and nose were taped up, and its paws, both front and back, were also tightly wrapped. It was clear that it died in terrible agony, most likely from suffocation," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The woman called the police and reported the incident to animal rights groups. "A police officer arrived at the scene. He called a car and workers, three of whom loaded the dog, it weighed at least 80-90 kg. Then he said that the body would be sent to a veterinary clinic to determine the cause of death, but he did not specify which one," Irina said.

The dead animal was a well-groomed male, without a collar or chip, but judging by its external appearance, it was clearly a domestic one. Activists are sure that such an animal could only have its mouth bandaged if it trusted a person.

"It couldn't have just been the owner who decided to get rid of the dog. Only a person with deviations could have committed such a cruel reprisal, especially with tape and tying the paws. Perhaps this is a maniac practicing his techniques on animals before moving on to people," Irina suggested.

The incident caused shock in the village, where about 6 thousand people live. Some parents decided not to let their children outside until the crime is solved and the animal abusers are found. "I have two children and I will not let them go for a walk after this. We do not know who did it. People in the village are scared, no one believes that this is just random cruelty. Such things are not done "by mistake", this is clearly a deliberate sadistic action. Scotch tape was prepared, that is, this is not a spontaneous action. And throwing the dog in a visible place on the common garbage dump instead of burying the body indicates a demonstration of violence against a large animal," said local resident Evgenia.

Residents of the village hung posters in public places warning about responsibility for cruelty to animals. "We ordered and hung dozens of posters, on the garbage dump itself and all over Nizhnyaya Shilovka. They warn about criminal liability for cruelty to animals and remind about the need for sterilization and humane treatment of pets," said Irina. According to a resident of the village, irresponsible treatment of animals is widespread in Nizhnyaya Shilovka: newborn kittens and puppies are regularly thrown into garbage bins and the animals are almost immediately run over by passing cars.

Local animal rights activists, in turn, are conducting their own investigation: they are questioning neighbors, going door to door, asking if anyone recognizes the Alabai, and trying to gain access to nearby surveillance camera recordings.

Residents and activists are writing statements demanding that the mayor's office and the police address the problem of animal cruelty: install video cameras in places where animals are most often abandoned, organize an information campaign explaining the responsibilities of the animal owner, support sterilization and vaccination of pets, and identify violators, animal rights activist Lyudmila told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The murder with particular cruelty was a shock to everyone. Even those who have never thought about animals are now asking us, animal rights activists, about this case and offering their help," she said.

The police are obliged not only to initiate a case “against unidentified persons,” but also to establish the owner of the animal, which the dead dog most likely had, said lawyer Elena Pavlova.

“Judging by the animal, there should be one, since a well-groomed dog can be distinguished from a stray one. Collect all possible evidence, including through CCTV cameras. Forensic veterinary examinations are carried out, residents are questioned. The preliminary investigation period is up to two months, but usually such cases against unidentified persons are stalled for many years,” she told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

If the police do not demonstrate activity, citizens have the right to contact the prosecutor's office or the Investigative Committee and insist on an effective investigation, Pavlova noted. “The murder of an Alabai in Nizhnyaya Shilovka is not an ordinary case. It exposed several acute problems at once: irresponsible attitude towards animals, lack of control by the authorities, as well as a potential threat to people,” the lawyer added.

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