A woman has been fined 3,000 lei (about 620 euros) after she abandoned her pet cat on the road in a rare case of authorities penalizing someone for animal cruelty.
A passer-by filmed a woman getting out of a car she was driving and leaving a sack on the side of road with a tom cat inside.
The passer-by alerted police who identified the woman likely through her car registration plates. She was handed the maximum fine for dumping the pet under a 2004 law, Digi24 reported.
The incident occurred last month in the northern Suceava region, but was only reported now.
Romania modified its animal protection law in 2004 and republished it a decade later, but there are frequent violations, animal groups say.
It is rare to hear of a pet owner being penalized for abandoning an animal.
Romania’s government is currently setting up a taskforce to investigate animal neglect and cruelty.
Under new rules, police can enter private property without a warrant to rescue an animal if there is sufficient evidence that it is in danger.
Animal rights groups say that dozens of animals are maltreated every day.
