Flensburg Court Tries Man for Killing Dog Buddy

A 38‑year‑old man is on trial at Amtsgericht Flensburg for allegedly strangling a small poodle‑mix dog named Buddy in a forest near Engelsby/Mürwik in March 2025. The case attracted strong public and social‑media reaction in the city. Prosecutors say the defendant and his partner planned to move to a new apartment that did not allow pets; instead the man is accused of hanging the dog with a thin rope, causing pain and death. The defendant claims he intended to have the dog euthanized and that a friend took the dog, but his testimony contains multiple contradictions, as does the partner’s. Buddy had previously been rescued by police and placed in a shelter; after his death, donations funded a burial and a small ceremony at the shelter in autumn. The court will determine liability under Germany’s animal‑welfare law.