PACMA appeals dismissal of Sota the dog case in Barcelona

Animal rights party challenges the mediation agreement following the 2018 police shooting incident.

Generic image of a police cordon on a Barcelona street with blurred emergency lights.
IA

Generic image of a police cordon on a Barcelona street with blurred emergency lights.

The animal rights party PACMA is appealing the court's decision to shelve the investigation into the death of Sota, a dog shot by a Guàrdia Urbana officer in Barcelona in 2018.

The case was recently closed after a three-year mediation process resulted in an agreement between the police officer and the dog's owner. However, PACMA argues that the use of a firearm against an animal must be strictly scrutinized by a court of law.

"The use of a firearm against the animal must be examined in court."

PACMA · Political Party
The original incident sparked widespread protests across Barcelona. While the officer faced animal cruelty charges and the owner was accused of assaulting an officer, the judge dismissed the case after both parties expressed a desire to move on without further claims.