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THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS 

IN POISONING CASES OF PET ANIMALS IN CYPRUS

The deliberate poisoning of animals is an act of illegal and severely punished by law. According to Article 4 of the Protection and Welfare Act 

"No person shall knowingly or supply or allow the administration or supply any poison or other harmful substance in any animal or causes such as substance taken from any animal '.

Every citizen who finds the animal or of some unknown animal poisoned, not only can report the matter to the police station in the region, but has an obligation to do so to avoid such incidents in future. 

He can do even if we still do not know who committed the crime (in unknown). If you suspect this person then you should declare it. 

The police are obliged to investigate any allegations of poisoning the animal / s. In any case, you should follow the following procedure. 

1. IMMEDIATE EFFECTS

1) Registration of the event to the calendar of the Police Station.

2) Departure to the crime scene with the complainant. 

2. EFFECTS ON THE SCENE - HANDLING dead animal and evidence

1) Exclusion of the stage, control room and reception of food, water or medicines for which they suspected were used for animal poisoning.

2) Detailed examination of the scene to find any other evidence or testimony that would help in solving the case.

3) Proper packaging of items received.

4) Receipt of the dead animal from the Police and transported to the Veterinary Services to perform autopsy. 

5) If necessary, before moving anything called police photographer to photograph the scene.

3. ACTIONS BY THE ANIMAL autopsy

1) The autopsy done by the Veterinary Services Veterinary Officer in the presence of police.

2) Where the Veterinary Officer's findings suggest a possible cause of death and poisoning, he receives all the necessary samples for chemical and other tests to detect poison. Please note that during the autopsy findings are not pathognomonic of poisoning. There may be discoveries that bring the poisoning just as one of the possible causes of death such as pulmonary edema and cyanosis of mucous.

3) The required samples taken at autopsy was placed in plastic containers that are sealed with evidence tape and signed by the Veterinary Officer and the Police.

4) The samples supplied by the Veterinary Officer in the Police, who carry them to the police station to investigate the case. There are placed in a cold chamber.

5) If the differential diagnosis of Veterinary Services, argues that this poisoning, it is forwarded to the Police Station to investigate the case. 

6) If the autopsy was carried out in investigating the case by the police, the complainant does not bear any costs. 

4. AFTER EFFECTS OF POLICE 

Call the complainant in the police station where they give detailed testimony, which should indicate suspicion has against any suspect to justify it. 

4.1. If there is a specific suspect

1) Call the suspect in the police station where they interrogated and provides deposit taking place draw the attention of the Law.

2) Survey of residence and the premises of the suspect or by court order or with his consent, to identify the poison or the instrument used.

3) If the results of police investigations on reasonable suspicion and / or testimonial / s under which prosecution may be an specific suspect, then the samples taken during the autopsy was sent by the Police at the State Laboratory for the required exams. If there is suspicion or evidence that the animal was poisoned with the substance / preparation, refer to documents that accompany the samples.

4) Written suspect class, although there may be an against the case.

5) Continue to investigate the case and completing the file until the investigation of the case and bring the accused to justice.

4.2. If there is no specific suspect

The samples are stored by the police in a cold chamber for a period of two (2) months and if after the above time does not yield any evidence against, then they are destroyed. 

The text has been prepared by Mrs. Mary Chrysochou-Anastasi in cooperation with the police and the Veterinary Services of Cyprus .