Policemen in Ternopil drew up a protocol against the initiators of the exhibition with wild animals in the shopping center "Podolyani" under the inappropriate Article 154 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, i.e. improper keeping of dogs and cats.
At the exhibition, snakes, fish, turtles and a monkey were in cramped cages in inappropriate conditions, and visitors were offered to take pictures with the monkey and snakes for money, according to the public organization UAnimals on Facebook.
It is noted that the police drew up a report the day after the discovery of the violation, thanks to a call to the hotline. After all, the first police team refused to draw up a report on the spot, arguing the need to conduct examinations and establish whether there really was a violation.
Animal rights activists emphasized that:
- The Law "On the Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment" prohibits the use of animals for traveling exhibitions and the provision of photo services with wild animals, except for zoos, circuses and dolphinariums;
- The Ternopil city council banned mobile circuses and other mobile entertainment involving wild and exotic animals on the territory of the city, but in practice the ban does not work.
“Visitors take photos with the snakes and the monkey using flash. The monkey sits in a tight cage and cannot hide from it," they said.
UAnimals noted that Article 154 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for a fine from 17 to 51 hryvnias. This norm applies to cats and dogs that were not at the exhibition.
"These animals were in cramped spaces, that is, the conditions of their keeping were inappropriate. In addition, traveling exhibitions using wild animals are prohibited in principle. In addition, prohibited photographs of wild animals for money — this was also violated at the exhibition," the message emphasized.
Animal rights activists emphasized that the police should draw up a report:
- under Article 89 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (3,400-5,100 hryvnias fine) – on cruelty to animals;
- under Article 88-1 (510-1700 hryvnia fine) – violation of the rules for keeping wild animals in captivity or in semi-free conditions.
They added that the court may refuse to prosecute and close the proceedings, because there were no cats or dogs at the exhibition.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that zoo activists accused the police of ignoring the facts of cruel treatment of animals in the Nemo Dolphinarium in Odesa, where in April bloggers had a photo session with the animals in a hotel room.
As EcoPolitics previously reported, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi was urged to strengthen criminal and administrative responsibility for cruel treatment of animals, as well as introduce the basics of humane treatment of animals into the school curriculum.
