41 dogs removed from unsuitable conditions in Latvia — LSM English

In the town of Dundaga, Latvia’s Food and Veterinary Service removed 41 dogs that were being kept in cramped, unsuitable cages outdoors without proper care. Some of the animals were severely emaciated. All the dogs are planned to be transferred to shelters, LSM English reports.

Dogs were kept in transport cages

According to the service, Dundaga residents reported on social media that there was a large number of dogs in the yard of a private house. During the inspection, inspectors found around 40 Alaskan Malamutes of different ages and sexes. Some of the large dogs were kept in small cages intended primarily for short-term transportation of animals.

Ivans Koloda, head of the service’s regional department in North Kurzeme, said the animals were kept without sufficient space and without places where they could shelter from adverse weather. There were also empty enclosures in the yard, but, according to him, they would not have met proper conditions for the dogs either.

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Administrative proceedings launched

The service decided to launch administrative proceedings over possible animal cruelty. The owner of the property was already known to the veterinary service: four years ago, local residents complained about noise. At that time, inspectors found violations concerning the vaccination and registration of the dogs, but there had been no reports of problems with their welfare.

No scheduled inspections have been carried out at the property in recent years because it is not registered as an animal breeding facility. As of the time of publication, the service continued to remove the dogs and was looking for shelters in Latvia able to take in such a number of animals.

Latvia’s Animal Protection Law provides for a fine of between €100 and €2,000 for individuals for animal cruelty, as well as a ban on keeping animals for up to two years. In the first half of this year, Latvia’s Food and Veterinary Service received 703 reports of possible violations of animal welfare requirements. As a result, 84 proceedings were launched, and 49 dogs and 33 cats were removed.