In Vienna’s posh district – illegal trade in kittens busted

At the end of October, the Vienna Veterinary Office was called in because the police suspected an illegal trade in kittens near Billrothstrasse. The official veterinarian found two baby cats around eight weeks old on site.

The seller had offered the kittens for sale online, even though she was not a registered breeder. In order to clarify the exact circumstances about the animals’ origin, the kittens were temporarily removed by the official veterinarian and brought to the animal quarters for safe accommodation by the animal rescue team. The Animal Welfare Act only allows private individuals to sell or give away cats to the public under certain conditions. This activity, whether on the Internet or in other media, is only permitted to registered breeders or as part of a keeping system approved under the Animal Welfare Act. The kittens are trusting, but very unkempt. They will be given to new owners after the criminal proceedings have been completed. A complaint will be filed against the seller.Order with a click “Don’t buy animals on the Internet,” warns Ruth Jily, the head of the veterinary office, “Internet purchases lead to animals being bred in an uncontrolled manner. They have no information about the origin or health status of the animals and are literally buying a pig in a poke.” No trivial offense. The “Krone” animal corner also regularly draws attention to this and reports such cases. Animal rights activist Maggie Entenfellner also sees the responsibility on the buyers: “Anyone who buys animals illegally should be held responsible and receive fines.”Please report! Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to an illegal animal trade in Vienna can state this Report the name of the person selling, an exact address, the time and the type and number of animals sold to the veterinary office. This can then determine and take further steps.
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