An 82-year-old woman from Groet is no longer allowed to have animals because she has seriously neglected her pets. Four cats, two dachshunds, two chickens and four birds have now been taken from her. “It is a dirty mess inside and outside the house, but the lady refuses any form of help,” explains the public prosecutor.
The originally German woman has lived in Groet for a long time. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the woman has been a widow for thirty years and leads a lonely existence. She spends her days with her cockatoo, three dachshunds, four cats, two parrots, parakeets and chickens. Since 2017, she has been in the picture of the (animal) police and emergency services.
The police made their first home visit last May. The public prosecutor says: “The living conditions are truly terrible. The house is overgrown with dirt and practically impassable. You have to fight your way through the turds. No animals can live here, let alone a human.”
According to the public prosecutor, there was ‘all sorts of things wrong with the animals’. For example, the animals’ fur or plumage was often full of tangles or flakes. A veterinarian stated that the animals suffered from long nails, skin problems, tartar and inflamed gums. Also all were in poor condition. “Some were seriously emaciated, other animals were too fat.”
Poop and beer cans
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the woman has an alcohol problem and has regularly been found under the influence. The problem is that the 82-year-old is not open to help. “The lady is hiding behind the couch so the police can’t see her.”
Photos in the police report also show that the animals had little to no drinking water and that the birds’ cages were very unsanitary. All animals were confiscated after this home visit. The public prosecutor is concerned about the well-being of the woman, who, according to emergency services, is on her own. She would have no children and would also be ‘unable to care for herself, let alone her animals’, the prosecutor said.
After a veterinarian takes care of the teeth and coat and puts the animals on special food, things improve. The case will come before the court for the first time in July 2022, two months after the seizure. There it is decided to give the woman one last chance. She will get all the animals back – except for the cockatoo, because she has no papers for that. On the condition that she would get her affairs in order and seek help.
But when the woman received her second home inspection at the end of May this year, the animal police once again entered a heavily contaminated home. “The entire garden was overgrown and there was dirt everywhere. The parakeets had no water. There were turds on the carpet and the kitchen was full of dishes and food scraps.”
It turns out that one of her dogs had died two months earlier. In the corner where he died, ‘a lot of blood, feces and vomit’ from the deceased dachshund was found, the public prosecutor explains. “There was a very pungent smell in the house, because the lady had not cleaned it up. The emergency services had to go outside after a few minutes to breathe.”
‘Sad situation’
According to the police, the woman then stated that her dog had been poisoned. She loses her animals for the second time. The public prosecutor calls it a ‘very sad situation’. Various healthcare parties have contacted her, but no one can get hold of her, because the lady does not want help. She has a lot of affection for the animals, but that is not in proportion to the suffering she unintentionally causes. The implementation of her good intentions leaves much to be desired.”
The Public Prosecution Service accuses the 82-year-old of having seriously neglected the animals and that no medical care was provided. She is said to have said during an interrogation: “They are old and perhaps a bit too fat, but I didn’t see it. Aren’t they fed and enjoying themselves? If I see that something is wrong, I will go.” always go to the vet.”
The public prosecutor is not satisfied with that statement. “Animals cannot talk, so we have to do that for them. They are completely dependent on their owner and are forced to live in an unsanitary environment, where they have already been taken away twice.”
A conditional prison sentence of three weeks is required, with a probation period of five years. The public prosecutor hopes this will provide a ‘stick behind the door’. To prevent the woman from making the same mistake again, the Public Prosecution Service is also demanding a ban on keeping animals. “Nothing prevents the lady from taking animals again. That is our great fear.”
Empty dock
The dock is empty. Just like during the previous session. The woman allegedly indicated that she did not want to come. In an attempt to get her life in order, the Public Prosecution Service also requests supervision from the probation service. “Maybe that can still help her.”
The judge immediately makes a ruling and declares the woman guilty. “This is an 82-year-old woman with many problems. It is important that she needs to be taken good care of, but she does not open the door. I don’t know how to solve this and I have no illusions about it.”
The judge gives the woman a conditional fine of 1,000 euros, with a probation period of three years. If she does not pay this after a violation, she will have to go to jail for twenty days. On top of that, she is banned from keeping animals. “This lady is not allowed to have animals, she has lost her last chance. All animals get a new owner.”
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