A man, 19, appeared in court today charged with the wilful abandonment of his Malinois, Athéna, whose emaciated body was found last year in a neglected home with a disturbing post-mortem
A teenager appeared in court today (March 3) charged with the wilful abandonment of his young Malinois, Athéna, whose body was found last year in a neglected state.
Despite earlier reports of animal cruelty, the owner failed to respond to repeated intervention attempts by animal welfare charities.
In a shocking detail revealed during the hearing, a post-mortem found that Athéna had suffered from extreme malnutrition and had a sock lodged in her intestine, suggesting she was so desperate for food she tried to eat anything available. Athéna was discovered dead in July 2024 in a house in a village east of Montpellier, France.
The teen appeared today before the Montpellier magistrates’ court, charged with the wilful abandonment of Athéna.
A post-mortem examination revealed that she had suffered from severe malnutrition (cachexia).
Moreover, two animal welfare organisations, the Stéphane Lamart Association and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, joined the case as civil parties.
During the hearing, they condemned the cruelty inflicted on Athéna and highlighted the dangers of unregulated animal sales on websites such as Leboncoin (the equivalent of Gumtree), where the dog had originally been purchased.
The hearing revealed today that the owner had previously been reported for animal cruelty via the gendarmerie’s dedicated platform.
However, he failed to respond to repeated attempts by animal welfare groups to intervene before the tragedy occurred. The court has yet to deliver its verdict.
The accused faces a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to €45,000 (approximately £39,110) for wilful abandonment resulting in death, and a permanent ban on owning animals.
The animal’s body was discovered after reports of foul smells coming from the young man’s property, French news outlet Midi Libre reported.
Faeces were found on the floor, suggesting a clear sign of neglect and lack of basic care. The owner was consequently found to spend very little time at home.
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