In a Luxembourg shelter, a dog died due to rat poisoning
Nathan Anderson, Unsplash
Luxembourg's Minister of Agriculture, Martine Hansen, presented the results of the investigation into the death of a dog in a shelter. According to autopsy and toxicological tests, the animal died due to a combination of factors:
- Poisoning: traces of anticoagulants contained in rodent poisons were found in the liver. This resulted in severe haemorrhage and weakening of the body.
- Infection: a bacterium from the soil has entered the body against the background of weakened immunity.
- Dehydration: severe dehydration exacerbated the condition.
The Minister confirmed that the shelter was operating without the mandatory licence and prior inspection. Although animal protection legislation in Luxembourg is considered strict, this case revealed gaps in its enforcement.
The following steps will be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring:
- Tighter control: increased number of inspections of shelters across the country.
- Owners' responsibility: focus on raising awareness among shelter staff about animal care rules.
The Minister emphasised that even the strictest laws cannot prevent all incidents if the responsibility for compliance is not shared between the state and shelter owners. The state supervision will be strengthened, but the key remains the conscious approach to animal care.
