A St. Petersburg man was fined tens of thousands of rubles for having drunkenly carved his dog's tail off with a kitchen knife earlier this year, city prosecutors announced on Monday.
Petersburger Pavel Pozdnyakov was drunk at home in early January when he "intentionally, wantonly … and with the awareness that his actions were sadistic and painful" cut off the tail of his Labrador.
Initially, a criminal case brought against him was dropped. The prosecutors then appealed the decision, citing their belief that the court failed to consider all of the circumstances of the case.
In deciding the case, the magistrate failed to consider such factors as public morality and the special duties of pet-owners to their animals. "Pozdnyakov's crime caused the dog physical pain and unnecessary suffering," the statement read.
A St. Petersburg appeals court then accepted the case, and overturned the magistrate's decision to drop it.
Pozdnyakov was convicted of animal abuse, and ordered to pay a 40,000 ruble ($1,047) fine, in accordance with the appellate decision.
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