In the small German town of Mannheim, two local police officers have found themselves in hot water, facing charges of animal cruelty within the town's equestrian squadron. The public prosecutor's office has accused them of using a riding crop to beat service horses, torturing one with a rattling bag of tinned food, and applying pepper paste to the feeding trough. These actions, claimed to cause distress and significant pain, are seen as a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
The younger officer has been accused of subjecting Camilo, a horse, to extreme distress by placing a jute sack full of canned food on his back. The rattling noise reportedly caused the horse to run in panic and exhaustion, while the older officer is suspected of hitting Corleone, another service horse, without reason and applying pepper-based paste to the feeding trough, significantly impairing the horse's well-being.
Despite these accusations, the officers remain employed by the equestrian squadron and continue their work. The case came to light following a complaint, but it remains unclear what consequences, if any, were initiated internally. The criminal investigation into the matter is ongoing, with seven witnesses still set to testify. The trial, originally scheduled to begin in late January, was postponed due to the coronavirus situation and will now take place towards the end of February.
This instance of animal cruelty in the equestrian squadron has raised questions about the protection of animals under the Animal Welfare Act in this unit and sparked a public debate. Many have criticized the fact that the officers continue to work in the squadron, while others have defended the authorities, stating that the investigation is ongoing and a conclusion is yet to be drawn.
In summary, the Mannheim equestrian squadron is facing scrutiny after two of its officers were charged with animal cruelty. The investigation and trial are ongoing, but criticism from the public has already begun, questioning the protection of animals within this unit and the consequences for the accused officers.
