Protection of animals against cruelty-an attempt to unify the procedures of veterinary authorities, law enforcement agencies, and courts

  Cases of animal abuse, considered as offences, other administrative delinquencies or criminal acts, and publicized daily in the media, are differently judged by the relevant competent bodies of different local authorities. Cases showing similar characteristics are frequently judged quite differently, particularly because, from the legal point of view, the animal as an object of legal relationship is a living being capable of perceiving pain, and thus the institutes of criminal law cannot apply to all regulations concerning violation of corporeal integrity of animals (animal vertebrates), as abuse of legal subjects (physical persons) is not involved. As an example, consider the need to define the meaning of terms such as "body" (not only of humans but also of animals), "weapon against the body", "long-term action," "brutal tormenting action," and so on. Measures should be proposed to ensure that the subject-matter of criminal acts is correctly applied in criminal proceedings (378 and 378a). The study will deal with specifics of the investigation of the criminal act "animal abuse" from the aspects of committing and concealing criminal acts; securing importunate and unrepeatable acts; the necessary extent of substantiation; the creation and verification of investigative versions; and referring to concurrence and collaboration with the concerned subjects.