AZTOY
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Prison finds guard-dogs 'guilty'
February 23, 2003
AUTHORITIES at a prison in the northern Serbian town of Sombor sentenced to death and executed two guard dogs, blaming them for an escape of five inmates, Beta news agency reported.
The dogs of the famous Serbian breed Sarplaninac were "found guilty" as they failed to raise prison guards' attention by not barking during the getaway of five prisoners who had dug a hole in a wall and climbed down, the report said.
The dogs were shot dead in Sombor's dog pound, sparking a protest from the local association for the protection of animals, Arka.
"The dogs did not deserve the death penalty and cannot ultimately be responsible for the escape," Branka Pasko of the association said.
"They could have been punished by a disciplinary fine or early retirement, as it was done with the guards," she said.
Pasko also protested against the way the dogs had been killed, saying it should have been done by injection "without suffering and pain".
Three of the five fugitives have been rearrested, while two are still at large.
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6028095%255E13762,00.html
February 23, 2003
AUTHORITIES at a prison in the northern Serbian town of Sombor sentenced to death and executed two guard dogs, blaming them for an escape of five inmates, Beta news agency reported.
The dogs of the famous Serbian breed Sarplaninac were "found guilty" as they failed to raise prison guards' attention by not barking during the getaway of five prisoners who had dug a hole in a wall and climbed down, the report said.
The dogs were shot dead in Sombor's dog pound, sparking a protest from the local association for the protection of animals, Arka.
"The dogs did not deserve the death penalty and cannot ultimately be responsible for the escape," Branka Pasko of the association said.
"They could have been punished by a disciplinary fine or early retirement, as it was done with the guards," she said.
Pasko also protested against the way the dogs had been killed, saying it should have been done by injection "without suffering and pain".
Three of the five fugitives have been rearrested, while two are still at large.
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6028095%255E13762,00.html
