The sad fate of police dog “Billy” touched many readers! Due to his unpredictability, the male dog sat in the kennel for over 18 months – without any exercise or contact with his peers. The Interior Ministry has now given approval for the lethal injection.
His sad look got under your skin. During a local inspection by the “Krone” in August last year, the service dog appeared more lonely and desperate than aggressive and uncontrollable. There was a lot of talk about “Billy’s” future prospects, and our readers also took a big interest in his fate. But after initially promising discussions and an offer from an animal protection association that specializes in such problem cases, those responsible decided on the “simplest” route. When asked by the “Krone”, state police chief Pürstl confirmed that “Billy” was taken by the treating veterinarian in consultation with the police on December 11th was euthanized in January. The whole thing is justified with a report from the VetMed University of Vienna, where they diagnosed a genetic defect that can affect the breed’s temperament. Tax money wasted. But why does such an analysis need such a long period of time, during which the dog was kept in solitary confinement for a year and a half? ? And why isn’t something like this tested before the Republic invests almost 34,000 euros in training a service dog? Case raises questions There is no doubt that the authorities rely on the support of dogs during operations. The training of service dogs cannot be compared to private working dog training – but the “Billy” case raises questions. The Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) is often in the service of the military and police. He is an extremely robust and strong dog. He is highly intelligent, sensitive and, above all, willing to work. Without proper utilization and management, it can become a “ticking time bomb”. The training, which lasts several months, costs around 34,000 euros. More than the gross annual salary of an inspector in the first years of service. (without surcharges) Four-legged elite? If the “elite” – to which the police service dog unit can definitely be counted – buys such mentally ill dogs from private breeders, what does that generally look like? Any Austrian can keep such an animal and will probably not invest money in a genetic test if it suddenly becomes behaviorally abnormal. Reforms are called for! The “Krone” has stood up for “Billy” because every animal has a right to life. But the case once again shows how urgently reforms are needed in dog breeding and training. In response to our request, the Ministry of the Interior announced: “Of course, the experiences from the case of the service dog ‘Billy’ will be incorporated into future purchases of puppies; specifically, this means adjustments and further developments in the purchasing test.”
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