A young man from Suceava, Romania, was sentenced to a suspended prison term after he set his two dogs to attack a rabbit.
The Suceava Court sentenced Alin Vasile Muha (22 years old) to one year and six months of suspended imprisonment for using live animals to train other animals or to control their aggressiveness, if it causes them suffering, as reported by the local press.
During the probation period, he is required to perform community service for a period of 90 days.
In addition, the young man is prohibited from owning animals for a period of 4 years.
The decision was not final.
The dogs set upon the rabbit are Ogar mixed breeds.
In October 2022, the Animal Protection Office within the Suceava County Police Department took action ex officio after seeing a recording showing the dogs simultaneously attacking an animal that appears to be a rabbit.
Other recordings show one of the dogs chasing a frightened rabbit. The rabbit suffered physical and psychological harm.
In the recording, a man's voice can be heard saying: "Pssst get him!"
The defendant underwent a psychiatric evaluation and was found to be of sound mind, but also with a "structuring antisocial personality disorder."
The young man only has a middle school education and is unemployed with no occupation.