Unjustified Dog Shootings Elicit Interest of the Lithuanian Transportation Ministry.

Specifically, we questioned the legal basis for such actions, as well as exhaustion of other potential means, such as soliciting help from the local animal control agencies, to deal with the situation of homeless dogs inside the Airport territory.

"We strongly believe that other means of dealing with this situation were not properly considered, as it could have been easily resolved in a more modern and humane way, such as acquiring a special gun, loaded with sedatives, designed specifically for aiding in capturing animals. The animals could then be surrendered to the agencies that would have provided care and temporary confinement for them, attempted to track down their owners and impose legal responsibility for their actions, as defined by existing laws. Moreover, the publicized material from the Airport premises where the incident took place makes it obvious that killed animals, in the location they were found, did not pose any danger to people's lives or raised significant public health concerns", maintained Brigita Kymantaitė, CEO "Pifas".

The information about the incident became publicly available on October 19th, after an anonymous person posted a message on the Internet board of one of the animal welfare organizations about the Airport employees in Vilnius who have killed two homeless dogs, using a shooting weapon on Friday October 16th. The report included an explicit photo from the location, showing the animals killed.

Not only B.Kymantaite is worried about other animals that could face similar fate, she also feels for the personnel and customers of the Airport who are forced to observe such acts of violence directed toward animals. Especially since, apparently, this was not the first time the Airport security resorted to such measures. "We at "Pifas" are very concerned and promise we will exploit any and all means to ensure the stories like this are not perpetuated. We are committed to achieving an agreement with the government and the Airport authorities to use more humane animal control methods. Finally, we will also continue pursuing the just punishment for these and other individuals who engage in violent acts against animals, inflicting unnecessary and unjustified suffering. We will not desist until the investigation is completed and charges are filed against the persons involved in this incident", insisted B.Kymantaite.