Horror find in Pöls: 15 dogs rescued – carcasses discovered!

Horror find in Pöls: 15 dogs rescued – carcasses discovered!

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, a frightening incident occurred in Pöls-Oberkurzheim in the Murtal district in which 15 dogs were rescued from catastrophic conditions. As 5min reports, the animals were taken into care by the Murtal district administration due to indications of dogs running loose. The dog's owner, a 46-year-old, is now facing serious allegations of animal cruelty.

During the official act, the officials discovered serious irregularities. A Husky puppy had serious injuries and was found in a doghouse. Tragically, authorities also discovered the carcass of a young husky in a broken freezer in the basement, which already showed significant signs of decomposition. The official veterinarian was called in to assess the condition of the 15 captured dogs. In the end they had to be handed over to the Murtal animal shelter, while three other huskies are still on the run.

Investigations and legal consequences

Both criminal and administrative criminal investigations were initiated against the dog owner. The accusation is that he kept around 20 dogs in torturous conditions for months. The Leoben public prosecutor's office has ordered an at-large report. The community was also informed in order to raise public awareness of the problem.

In this context, the most recent incidents relating to dangerous dog attacks will also be discussed. Among other things, there was a tragic incident in Upper Austria in which a jogger was the victim of a dog bite in October 2024. Due to such incidents, Animal Welfare Minister Johannes Rauch is planning to issue stricter regulations. Although a ban on dog-harming will not be implemented, new regulations for bite and attack training are to be introduced. This amendment to the Animal Protection Act will be discussed in the National Council in April, as orf.at reports.

New regulations for keeping dogs

The legal changes aim, among other things, to introduce mandatory character testing for protection dogs, which also requires a veterinary certificate. Future dog owners must provide proof of expertise and an extract from the criminal record and take an exam before they are allowed to purchase a dog. These measures are intended not only to increase safety but also to combat the illegal puppy trade by criminalizing both the sale and purchase of illegal animals.

Although animal protection groups are cautiously optimistic about these innovations, some political parties have shown different reactions, such as the FPÖ, which welcomes the fact that bite and attack training has not been completely banned, and NEOS, which calls for an information campaign on the puppy trade.