Thessaloniki court sentences pitbull owner after fatal attack

A 38-year-old pitbull owner has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, with a three-year suspension, by the Single-Member Court of Appeals in Thessaloniki. The sentencing follows an incident in May 2024 in Evosmos, where the dog escaped a fenced business area by crawling under a perimeter fence.

The attack resulted in the death of a small Maltese dog and caused serious injuries to its 57-year-old owner, who was attempting to protect the pet. The victim testified that the dog bit her and dragged the smaller animal dozens of meters, leading to its death. The woman underwent surgery and reported permanent aesthetic scarring and ongoing physical discomfort.

The defendant, a Bulgarian national, was found guilty of causing serious bodily harm through negligence. The court converted the charge from a felony involving potential intent to a misdemeanor of negligent bodily harm. He was acquitted of the charge of killing a companion animal, as the court ruled that intent could not be proven. A 49-year-old business manager was also acquitted of all charges.