The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 13, near a housing estate in Szczytnica (Warta Bolesławiecka commune). Our Readers contacted us on Facebook:
Greetings to the person who abandoned a dog in front of our eyes...
Abandoning an animal in Poland is treated as abuse, a crime for which one can end up behind bars for as long as three years. Unfortunately, our Readers did not have time to note down the offender's car registration number. (What's more, after speaking with an acquaintance who is a police officer, they decided not to report the matter to the police because they had too little information. In this situation, the officers probably would not have accepted the report.)
What happened to the dog is unknown. A Reader tried to catch it, but the frightened animal ran into the forest.
What should we do when we see someone abandoning their pet in front of our eyes?
Of course, it is best to note down the car's registration number, because without this information it will be difficult to prove anything against the owner. (But it happens quickly, and we will not always have time to do so.)
If the dog has been hit by a vehicle, the matter should be reported to the commune, which has contracts with veterinarians. If the animal is healthy, the remaining option is an animal shelter.