« Animal abuse often leads to worse, » says the animal agent about the dead animals in the Schollebos

In the Schollebos in Capelle aan den IJssel, a young kitten was found at the end of May that was buried upright, with the cup visible. In the same forest in the past months, foans were found, as well as a hare, a crow and a chicken, which had been killed in a « lurid way », the Rotterdam unit writes in a « unit of Rotterdam this week Instagram post. The perpetrator has not yet been found.

It concerns a total of six separate reports, which are thought to be committed by ‘the same suspect’. « But I don’t take the word » serial killer « , » says Hans Manse, of the animal police of the Police Unit Rotterdam. He finds the term, which was used in various media in recent weeks, « too coarse. »

Sex with animals, that still happens. That appears once or twice a year

In addition, he says, the crime ‘murder’ does not appear in the Dieren. « Animals are killed, people are killed. » That is because animals can be killed legally, « just look at the butcher. » However, the law speaks about killing animals as a crime.

Of course a case like in the Schollebos is a shock, says Manse. « It happens from time to time in the countries, now it is in our unit. We try to get hold of him, but we will not get any further in terms of technical research. » In some other cases they found used material – rope, tiewraps, a net – fingerprints or DNA, but this time not yet. « We hope that due to the increased surveillance or through our eyes and ears in society we can get further. »

Bite incidents

The animal police have been around since 2011, after Dion Graus (PVV) who had received in the tolerance agreement of Rutte I. « Animal abuse is tackled harder, including by five hundred » Animal Cops « (animal police officers), » it was said. « That eventually became 180, » says Manse, who has been affiliated with the animal police since 2014. « That is a lot, because it comes from nothing. » Especially because police chief Bernard Welten of Amsterdam at the time believed that « the cavia police » would be at the expense of ‘real’ police work.

Manse and his colleagues act as ‘task accent holders’ animals. In addition to their regular work, they spend 50 percent of their time on animal -related matters. They follow six months of training at the Police Academy. « The work concerns matters with animals in the entire breadth: abuse, bite incidents, neglect. You have your hands full. »

In addition, Manse is confronted with more extreme cases. « Dogs found dead in Huizen, because the one who would give food during the vacation did not do that. Sex with animals still happens. That still looms once or twice a year. » And things like now in Capelle aan den IJssel, so.

In violence aimed at animals, alarm bells always go off. « We know that animal abuse within the circle of violence often leads to worse. Someone who starts with animals … » He stops for a moment. « It ends, well, you name it … well, sometimes with murder. »

Beef

Also in the Netherlands. Between 2000 and 2004, the ‘Beul van Twente’, for example, mutilated more than forty horses, ponies and sheep. When he was arrested, he also confessed the murder of Frank Storm and the stabbing of three other people. Also over The Erasmusschutterwho shot his neighbor, her daughter and a teacher at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is known to abuse animals. For example, he threw rabbits and shot with a crossbow on pigeons in the back garden. Before that he was convicted and received one community service sentence of forty hours.

Research shows that animal abuse often skips with the abuse of people. But even if that were not the case, it is very important that the police are committed to animals, says Manse. « Not everyone treats animals neatly. » That makes the animal agent necessary, according to Manse. « I sometimes sit with a birthday where someone says: » Do this belong to the police?  » That is what we want to catch with the police and people who abuse animals are crooks. « 

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