A 60-year-old woman accused of running over and killing a dog with her car in the western Peloponnese town of Gastouni has denied knowingly striking the animal, as authorities continue investigating a case that has triggered widespread public anger in the country and calls for stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws.
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A felony case file has been opened against the woman, while police seek to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, which was captured on video and circulated widely on social media. Police said the suspect was identified following an investigation and analysis of video footage.
Speaking to local television programs, the woman said she was unaware she had hit the dog, a neighborhood stray known as “Sissy”.
“I never realized I had run over Sissy. When I saw the video, I started crying, first for Sissy and then for myself, because I did something I never intended to do. I am devastated and shocked,” she said.
Her lawyer said the motorist had been driving with her sister and a friend along a road undergoing construction work that she does not regularly use. According to the lawyer, the dog, which was cared for by a local resident, was alone in the roadway.
The lawyer said the driver spotted the animal from a short distance and stopped in an attempt to avoid it. Believing the dog had moved away, she resumed driving without realizing it had been struck. He said she assumed the vehicle had passed over a speed bump or pothole, while her passengers joked about the poor condition of the road.
According to the lawyer, the woman learned of the incident on the evening of June 19 when her son sent her the video and told her she appeared to be the driver involved.
The case has reignited debate over animal welfare in Greece after a series of recent incidents involving the mistreatment and abandonment of animals. In recent days, authorities and animal welfare groups have highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of existing legislation, while police have stepped up investigations into reported cases of animal abuse and neglect.
