Jail beckons for Man after electric fence kills trespass dog

[Kellanved]

AURICH - A German who was fed up with dogs and cats invading his vegetable patch put a live electric wire round it, and now faces nine months in jail for killing an over-curious terrier.

The gardener, 61, was initially fined EUR 1,200 euros for cruelty to animals. When he appealed that, the next court took a more severe view, convicted him of assault, and imposed a suspended jail sentence which he will have to serve out if he offends again.

The court heard Monday that a roaming, seven-year-old wire-haired dachshund named Pelle dropped dead after nudging the 220 volts.

Pelle's owner also received a jolt when she pulled the lifeless dog clear, but survived. The defendant told the appeal court in Aurich, northern Germany that he had touched the wire connected to the mains a few times himself but only felt a "tingle".

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http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=13953&name=Jail+beckons+for+German+afterelectric+fence+kills+trespass+dog+

[Solitaire]

1. Bravo for Germany

"In 2002, Germany changed its constitution to make the protection of animals a fundamental purpose of the state."

We should do the same.

[Branjor]

2. Resounding BRAVO! for Germany...

We should definitely do the same!

[chaska]

3. Really?!?! That's amazing. There is hope for mankind.

[arwalden]

4. What's The Voltage Of Electric Fences For Farmyard Animals?

[Kellanved]

6. 2,000 -4,000V

But a very low current and a limited shock-energy (up to 5J).

In this case however, the man did not use a proper animal fence, but simply plugged a wire into a normal 230V power outlet.

[flvegan]

5. As stated, Germany's Animal Welfare Act is

far and away, much better than what we offer. Battery cages (for egg-laying hens, quite possibly the most evil and cruel farming device out there) are outlawed as of 2007, as I recall. Their AWA covers all animals, pets or farmed.

We can't even outlaw tail docking and ear-cropping (for cosmetic reasons).