Animal Crimebusters in Serbia

“In the co-operation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we have already held several training sessions on animal welfare for police officers. Intensive preparations are in hand and in a few months everything will be ready,” Vladimir Terzin, deputy secretary for municipal affairs, told Belgrade daily Blic.

Officers charged with animal protection will have the same uniforms, arms and powers as the regular police and crimes against animals will be investigated with the same thoroughness as those committed against humans.
“Animal corpses will be treated in the same way as the corpse of a man. A complete investigation will be conducted, along with an autopsy and a search for the attacker,” explained Terzin.

The initiative for the team of animal protection officers came after several cruel crimes committed against animals in the Serbian capital. Two weeks ago in Belgrade’s Zvezdara region an unidentified man shot a stray in the middle of the day near a childrens’ playground. In October, in Medak, in a similar crime, a man shot a dog in the head in front of a group of children. In the same month, in Karaburma, a watchdog was tied up and shot in a scrapyard.

More shockingly in April last year, a dog was found with all four paws cut off.

Serbian law prescribes a punishment of up to six months in prison for torturing and killing animals. Repeat offenders can be sentenced to up to three years imprisonment.