By Ioanna Mandrou

The brutality with the dog, Oliver, in Arachova, which has caused a frenzy of anger in public opinion, has brought to the surface the dangerousness of those who commit crimes against animals.

According to an announcement by the Panhellenic Philanthropic Federation, the international statistical data are nightmarish. Most of those who abuse animals are very dangerous and very often commit violent crimes against children, minors in general and vulnerable people.

Specifically, from the official statistics and surveys presented in organized trainings held in the Greek Police, it appears that:
• 31% of people who sexually abuse animals, do the same to children and adults.
• 40% of sexually motivated homicides were committed by people who had previously sexually abused animals.
• 43% of men incarcerated for sex crimes acknowledged that they had engaged in sexual acts on animals in the past.

According to the Panhellenic Philanthropic Federation, which has already submitted, like animal welfare associations, a request to attend as a civil action in Oliver’s case, in the past special seminars were held by American experts (specialized prosecutors) in the Greek Police for the training of police officers regarding the animal abuse.

In any case, the investigations under the supervision of the deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Anastasia Masoura, who is responsible for the protection of animals, continue to find the perpetrator of the animal cruelty in Arachova, while another incident of brutal abuse involving a dog that was shot in cold blood recorded in Volos.
At the same time, the deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Anastasia Masoura, has been supervising the investigations into the cold-blooded murder of the bear and her two babies in Northern Greece from day one.

The announcement of the Panhellenic Philanthropic Federation in detail

“Athens (7/12/2023) – Sexual abuse of a dog in Arachova – As long as the perpetrator walks free, no animal and no child will be safe.

Ten days after the horrific torture and martyrdom of the husky in Arachova, the perpetrator is still at large, among witnesses who do not dare to testify and on security cameras that disappear.

We remind you that in 2017, two hundred officers of the Greek Police attended the educational program “The Cycle of Violence, from Animal Abuse to Domestic Violence”, co-organized by the Panhellenic Philanthropic Federation with the financial assistance of foundations and sponsors.

The training, which was structured around input from US law enforcement and prosecutors and received international press coverage, included a separate module on sexual abuse of animals and the link to sexual abuse of minors and domestic violence in general.

The Virginia State Attorney, Director of the largest Animal Law Unit in the US and training coordinator, pointed out that many sexually violent predators, pedophiles and rapists have a history of animal cruelty and other sexual abuse of animals.

Horse riding is associated with a range of criminal behaviors as well as a wide range of perverted sexual acts including coercion, violence, torture and necrophilia.

From the official statistics and surveys presented, we quote the following:
• Studies of incarcerated juvenile rapists identified animal husbandry as the first and greatest risk factor for child sexual abuse
• 31% of people who sexually abuse animals, do the same to children and adults.
• 40% of sexually motivated homicides were committed by people who had previously sexually abused animals.
• 43% of men incarcerated for sex crimes acknowledged that they had engaged in sexual acts on animals in the past.

Today, with deep anger and sadness, we address to the Prime Minister and the relevant Ministries, the following questions:

• What happened to the 200 ELAS officers trained to investigate animal abuse and child abuse in 2017? How is the special knowledge they acquired used in their service?
• Given the closely intertwined relationship between the two forms of violence, what protocols have been established, following education, to investigate and prosecute animal abuse and child abuse?
• What happened to the training materials that the trainers left behind?
• Why were the legislative changes proposed by the then rapporteurs (specifically the US Attorney’s Office) not adopted in order to ensure better protection for animals and children?