This rather nasty incident occurred in Malaga on September 14th when residents rang the local police to report that a dog had fallen into the central courtyard area of a block of flats.

On arrival and after speaking with several residents, it became apparent that the dog had, in fact, been thrown by a resident who had been causing problems with other residents by launching household objects and rubbish from his eleventh-floor flat into the central courtyard below, with police having been called on several occasions previously.

The dog was obviously dead when the police arrived and the investigation has been handed over to the Animal Protection Group (Gruprona) of the Málaga Local Police.

As it turns out, the dog actually belonged to the man’s mother, but she had left the flat as she found it impossible to live with her increasingly erratic son. Unfortunately, she made the mistake of leaving her dog in his care.

Gruprona has confirmed that they have opened an investigation into a man for the alleged crime of animal abuse.

There have been some changes over the past year to the Penal Code concerning animal abuse. If convicted, an offender can expect a prison sentence of three to 18 months (which, being under two years is automatically suspended) and/or a hefty fine.

Offenders will also be banned for between one and three years from entering into any profession involving animals or owning one. If the abuse results in the death of an animal, the prison sentence can be increased to two years, which would have to be served.

Editorial comment: On a personal note; I feel the offenders in such cases should be banned from animal contact for life and made to serve at least two years in prison… Oh yeah, and off with their pods!

(News/Noticias: City & Metropolitan Area, Malaga, Andalucia)