Updated | Moviment Graffitti calls for harsher punishments against animal cruelty

The man, who hails from Vittorioso, was found guilty of causing the death of the boxer Gaia, found dumped in a skip last week. The dog had been found by a jogger who was passing by and heard the whimpering coming from the skip.

The man said the dog had been sick and wanted to get rid of it. 

Moviment Graffitti praised the dedicated work carried out by Animal Welfare Officers and devoted volunteers to safeguard the welfare of animals as well as the police force for “taking action in ensuring the arraignment of perpetrators of such heinous crimes.”

While the NGO are encouraging harsher penalties in cases of animal abuse to act as a deterrent, Moviment Graffitti believes that enforcing existing laws of animal cruelty as well as raising awareness on the issue will lead to a decrease in crimes against animals.

Moviment Graffitti campaign for the right to life and liberty of animals, free from torture and exploitation, promoting vegetarianism as a cruelty-free lifestyle, condemning “blood” sports such as hunting and keeping animals for entertainment purposes such as in the cases of animal circuses and dolphinariums, which are still sanctioned by Government and local authorities.

Moviment Graffitti said that it hoped that such overtly disturbing cases will encourage people to examine their own actions along with their consequences on the animal species, preventing them from undue pain and suffering.

“This will hopefully also pressure government to take more concrete actions to promote animal rights and curb animal cruelty,” they said.

The boxer dog, nicknamed Gaia, was found tossed into a skip by a jogger who heard movement in the skip. On investigation he found the dog suffocating in a rubbish bag. Though attempts were made to save the dog, she eventually died later in the day.

This case comes in the aftermath of another cruelty case against animals that reached the international media. Last May, another dog, Star, was found buried with her snout sticking out of the ground after having been shot in the head.