Bolesławiec police officers:
We remind you that abandoning an animal by its owner or by another person under whose care the animal remains is legally recognized as mistreatment of the animal.
Mistreatment means inflicting pain or suffering, or knowingly allowing pain or suffering to be inflicted, and in particular, for example, injuring or maiming an animal, beating animals, overburdening animals, transporting animals in a way that causes unnecessary suffering and stress, maliciously frightening or teasing animals, keeping animals in improper living conditions, including in a state of gross neglect or uncleanliness, or in rooms or cages that prevent them from maintaining a natural position, and abandoning an animal.
They add:
It is the owner’s duty to provide suitable conditions, as well as food and water.
As officers emphasize, if we see that someone has abandoned an animal, gone away and left it without care; if it has been tied to a tree, is wandering around or looks lost—let’s notify the police, municipal police or other services.
Let us remember that mistreating an animal with particular cruelty is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.