Police in Romania’s eastern Bacău County have fined dozens of owners of dogs trained to detect truffles following inspections aimed at enforcing animal welfare legislation, local authorities said.
Officers from the Animal Protection Bureau of the Bacău County Police Inspectorate (IPJ Bacău) carried out checks targeting dogs used for truffle detection, verifying compliance with legislation governing animal protection.
During the operation, police identified and checked more than 30 owners, temporary keepers or custodians of over 60 dogs used in truffle hunting activities.
The inspections resulted in 27 administrative fines totaling 4,000 lei (approximately €800). Police also set deadlines for owners to complete the legal formalities required to bring their animals into compliance where irregularities were identified.
IPJ Bacău said similar enforcement actions would continue in the coming period to ensure compliance with animal protection legislation and to prevent administrative and criminal offences in the sector.
