In the Semily area of Czechia, nine cows were kept chained for so long that the chains cut into their skin and grew into their necks. They stood in a dirty stable with no bedding, and veterinarians found insect larvae living in their open wounds. Cases like this are becoming far more common in the country, and the country plans to strengthen its animal abuse laws. It's important that the ministry fully fund and staff veterinary inspections and rapid-response enforcement, and to make sure the new protections are enforced from day one.
Sign the petition urging the Czech Ministry of Agriculture to fully fund and staff veterinary inspections, so abuse is caught before animals suffer for months.
Four years ago, 133 cases of animal abuse ended in criminal prosecution. Today the number is 225, an increase of nearly 70 percent. Veterinary authorities are seeing more reports too. Recent cases include a cat locked inside a dryer and a dog left to starve by its own owner.
Czechia is tightening its animal protection laws in January, with harsher penalties and new protections for animals taken from abusive owners. That is welcome news. But laws only protect animals when someone finds the abuse in time. Chains do not grow into a cow's neck overnight. It takes weeks or months, and it means no one stepped in. Catching abuse early depends on enough inspectors, quick evidence gathering, and fast action by the authorities. Without them, stricter laws risk becoming words on paper.
A cow should never have to wait until a chain grows into her neck for someone to notice.
Sign the petition and demand the Czech Ministry of Agriculture fund the inspections that can stop animal abuse before more animals suffer.
