East Jutland Police reported after 17 seized dogs die

East Jutland Police have been reported to the authorities for alleged breaches of animal welfare legislation after 17 of 18 dogs forcibly removed by the police died, DR News reports.

The complaint was filed by Amaja Loncarevic, a law student and deputy chair of Bully Care Union, an organisation that provides legal assistance and advice to owners of so-called bully breeds.

It concerns whether the dogs were subjected to improper treatment, inadequate care or a lack of veterinary treatment while in police custody, according to the complaint. The official veterinarian and the dog boarding facilities responsible for the animals have also been reported.

The case began two years ago, when East Jutland Police seized 18 dogs because they believed the animals belonged to one of the breeds prohibited under Denmark’s dog legislation. A later DNA test showed that this was not the case.

Eight dogs died at the boarding facilities where the police had placed them. Nine others died shortly after being released by the police on 22 June and were being transported to GenbrugsMastiff and Bully Care Union, a volunteer-run animal welfare organisation.

According to Jyllands-Posten, the first dog collapsed seven minutes after leaving the police station in Randers.

Loncarevic was travelling with the dogs and told DR that they were in extremely poor condition when collected. She said they had blue tongues and breathing problems, as well as missing teeth, pressure sores, fungal infections, overgrown nails and muscle atrophy. Their fur had also fallen out in clumps.

Loncarevic said the dogs appeared to be suffering from what she described as kennel syndrome, in which severe stress makes animals ill. She attributed their condition to a combination of poor boarding facilities and the length of time they had spent there.

One dog survived

After two days, only one of the 18 dogs, Hjørdis, was still alive. Loncarevic said the dog was psychologically doing relatively well but had been affected by the prolonged stay in a kennel. Its muscles also showed signs of not having been exercised.

She said the case showed that the dog legislation failed to protect owners adequately. Under the law, police can seize a dog based solely on its appearance if it resembles one of the 13 prohibited breeds. Owners must then prove that their dog is legal, for example with a pedigree, which can be difficult in the case of mixed-breed dogs.

DR News is seeking a comment from East Jutland Police. In comments to Jyllands-Posten, the police said the dogs had been placed at different boarding facilities with the necessary permits from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, which had conducted inspections during the period of their placement. The police have declined to say where the dogs were kept.