A 23-year-old man admitted to investigators that he set fire to Przystan Ocalenie in Pszczyna, which, among other things, buys animals intended for slaughter. No one was hurt in the fire, but the animals lost food.
A fire in the animal shelter run by the Przystań Ocalenie Foundation in Ćwiklice near Pszczyna broke out on Saturday, November 11, around 3 a.m. The fire spread to supplies of straw and hay for animals.
It was close to tragedy. Everyone was sleeping in the shelter. They were saved by a stranger. “He drove past our pasture and drove up to the house, waking everyone up that it was on fire,” the foundation described on social media.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. There was not even a need to evacuate the animals or the people who care for them. But the horses lost their food. – The owner of the shelter estimated the losses at PLN 40,000, says Jadwiga Śmietana, spokeswoman for the police in Pszczyna.
The 23-year-old admitted setting the fire
Because a fire expert concluded that the fire had been set, the police began to identify the perpetrator. Finally, on November 14, a 23-year-old man was arrested. – He admitted to setting the fire in the shelter, but did not say why. The motive behind his actions is unknown, says Jadwiga Śmietana.
Suspected of setting fire to the Ocalenie Marina in ĆwikliceSilesian police
The 23-year-old does not come from the Pszczyna district. The police determined that in July he had stolen an agricultural tractor worth about PLN 15,000, which was recovered. – Due to the fact that the man does not have a permanent place of residence, for fear of the suspect hiding and covering up his tracks, together with the prosecutor’s office, we applied to the court for the arrest of the 23-year-old – explains Śmietana.
On November 15, the court decided to arrest the suspect. For the crimes committed, he faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison.
The foundation received support: money and hay
Przystań Ocalenie is a foundation that creates an asylum for about 500 animals, including one hundred horses, purchased from transports to slaughterhouses. There are also cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, donkeys, as well as sick old dogs and cats.
The foundation is funded by donations, 1 percent tax deductions and collections. After the fire, the foundation’s representatives asked for further support. One of the online fundraisers was set at PLN 200,000, and less than PLN 1,500 has been collected so far. But on another aid platform, the amount collected for the same purpose has already reached over PLN 400,000. The foundation also wants to buy cameras to monitor the shelter. In addition, donations in kind flow to the shelter – hay, as well as food for other animals.
Main photo source: Silesian police