An Israeli man from the country’s central region who was charged with abandoning two dogs he had raised for years, was fined 25,000 shekels for his actions. This followed an indictment filed against him by the Agriculture Ministry at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court.
In November 2021, a Hevel Modi’in Regional Council inspector reported he found two dogs in the Ben Shemen Forest. The dogs were rescued and transferred for veterinary treatment. Several months later, an indictment was filed against the man by the Agriculture’s Ministry prosecution unit, accusing him of two offenses of animal abandonment, in violation of the Animal Welfare Law.
The defendant admitted to the charges against him during the trial. In addition to the fine, Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court President Judge Menachem Mizrahi, prohibited the defendant from owning dogs for the next year.
Attorney Ori Sirota, the Agriculture Ministry’s chief prosecutor, said following the sentencing: "The phenomenon of abandoning helpless animals is unfortunately widespread in our country. The Agriculture Ministry is determined to combat this abandonment, which isn’t only wrong and disgraceful but also constitutes a criminal offense.”
“Those who own animals and can no longer care for them, meet their needs or provide proper living conditions must find a suitable alternative solution rather than abandoning them in the middle of a forest or anywhere else. This sentence sends a clear message that such offenses will also lead to significant financial penalties, in the hope that it will deter others from committing similar acts,” he added.