Cluj police investigate man for animal cruelty involving a rat

Police in Cluj County have opened a criminal case against a 49-year-old man from Florești following reports of animal cruelty shared on social media. The investigation was triggered by videos and posts showing a baby rat being kept in a bucket of water for several days.

The individual allegedly claimed to be conducting an “experiment” to see how long the animal could survive, adding water to the container to keep the rat swimming. According to the Ramses Association, the man indicated that another rat had already drowned in the same manner.

Authorities have initiated proceedings for the crime of animal cruelty under Law no. 205/2004. The case is currently under the supervision of the prosecutor at the Cluj-Napoca Court. Investigators are working to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine necessary legal measures.