The wife of the mayor of Algeria, Valle del Cauca, is prosecuted for animal abuse

In Algeria, Valle del Cauca, citizens began to report a series of serious irregularities that were occurring in a shelter for rescued dogs. This Sunday, the Prosecutor's Office prosecuted Sister Angela Restrepo López, wife of the mayor of the municipality, who was responsible for the place.

The site run by Restrepo worked in the old municipal slaughterhouse. “The dogs recovered from the street were taken there; however, they would remain in poor condition and, apparently, there were serious omissions in care and protection,” the Prosecutor's Office said in a press release.

The investigating body carried out an inquiry and several inspections at the shelter. In September 2021, they found that, “animals were confined to overcrowding and malnutrition, with fleas, ticks, uncontrolled reproduction and unsanitary conditions”. For these events, Sister Angela Restrepo López was charged with the crime of animal abuse.

Abuse case in Mariquita, Tolima

This same Sunday, the Prosecutor's Office carried out another prosecution for a similar case in Tolima. Gildardo Niño Hernández was the man found suspected of causing the death of a cow on a farm in the Malabar Bajo de Mariquita village on October 20, 2017.

The evidentiary material of the investigating body indicates that the livestock of a neighbor crossed the estate of today's processed. Niño Hernández reportedly shot the cattle indiscriminately and hit a cow in the head. The animal tried to return to its owner's estate, but died on the way. For that reason, the man was charged with the crime of aggravated animal abuse.

Legal consequences of animal abuse in Colombia

In cases of animal abuse, the remedy of Law 1774 of January 6, 2016 is available. This document ensures that the attitude between humans and animals is based on “respect, solidarity, compassion, ethics, justice, care, the prevention of suffering, on the eradication of captivity and abandonment,” the document cites.

On the other hand, the well-being of living beings lies, in turn, in that their holder must comply with five minimum principles: that they should not suffer from hunger, thirst, physical discomfort or pain; that they are not caused by negligence or carelessness, that they are not subjected to fear or stress and that they can manifest their natural behavior.

According to article 4 of the Act, those who commit harmful acts that do not result in death or injury to the health and physical integrity of animals shall be punished by a fine of 5 to 50 statutory minimum monthly wages in force.

On the other hand, those who cause death or injury that seriously impair the health or physical integrity of the animal may face imprisonment between 12 and 36 months. In addition, they would face special disability of one to three years for the exercise of profession, trade, trade or possession related to animals.

In the face of economic fines, those who cause the damage described above must pay between 4,542,630 pesos and up to 54,511,560 pesos.

Even these would be increased from half to three quarters if they were committed with the following aggravations:

- Sevicia.

- When one or more of the above-mentioned behaviors are perpetrated on a public road or place.

- Using imputable persons or minors or in the presence of them.

- When sexual acts are committed with animals.

- When any of the offences provided for in the preceding articles is committed by a public servant or who performs public functions.

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