– The first thing that met me when I opened the door was the pigs who came running out. Plus a hen that was flying right in my face. Jørgen Romsdal quickly realized that some animals were loose. – But then we started looking around a bit, so absolutely all the cages were open. And of course it was destroyed. It looked like a pigsty, he says. He lives on a small farm outside Alta with his wife and father. They have about 250 animals. The farm will be a visitor farm in the long run. – We have pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea pigs, rats, mice, snakes, turtles, geckos, beards, parrots and more. The more exotic animals live inside the house, while about 70 birds, 8 pigs and 30 rabbits live in the barn. It was these that someone had been and released out of cages and booths on Thursday. The pigs of Jørgen Romsdal ran around the barn on Thursday afternoon. They had overturned a lot and distributed food around. Photo: Truls Bjørnstad / news rabbits and chickens Dead Romsdal is aware that the animals may not have come out on their own. – In the bird department you have to physically lift the hempes to open the doors. In the rabbits, there are carabiner hooks on the cages to prevent the rabbits from being able to get out, he says. According to Romsdal, they are careful to close all the booths, and check if the animals are doing well before they enter the evening. He believes that an unlocked front door enabled someone to get in. A couple of rabbits and chickens died as a result of the incident. In addition, a turkey and a duck have been damaged. – I do not understand that people can do this at all. If people are angry with people then they should rather talk, instead of doing something to animals. Romsdal does not intend to report the incidents to the police because he is confident that the case will only be closed. There is a carabiner hook that holds the rabbit cage locked. This is impossible to get up unless you are on the outside, says Romsdal. Photo: Truls Bjørnstad / news should be reported – what is serious here is that animals have actually died as a result of being stressed for them. This means that this is a pretty more serious incident than it might first look like, says Siri Martinsen, veterinarian and head of the animal welfare organization Noah. Martinsen recommends that Romsdal contact the police. – It can be a little difficult in a case like this to know if the perpetrator has meant to do something against the animals, or what is the intention behind. But when the result is that animals are damaged and die, then it is serious. And serious enough for review. Siri Martinsen from Noah is surprised by the incident that took place in Alta on Thursday. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen She believes that the police have improved to clarify animal welfare cases. – We would certainly encourage to report all forms of offenses that go beyond animals. And when you also suspect a perpetrator, it is easier for the case to be resolved, says Martinsen. According to her, Noah reports between 100 and 150 cases in animal welfare each year. Bot or imprisonment for up to 3 years also lawyer Ingunn Øyås Engen thinks it is serious when someone lets loose animals in this way. – It is serious – both because it jeopardizes the lives and health of the animals, and because it takes away the security of the farmer. She believes the case is covered by criminal law. – Pursuant to section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act, it is prohibited to commit violence against animals and to prescribe animals in helpless state. Violence against animals does not only include physical violence, but also stresses and stresses of mental, including stress and unrest, says Øyås Engen. Ingunn Øyås Engen, attorney at the law firm Strand & Co, works with, among other things, cases in animal welfare. Photo: Win Win Advertising – Violation of the Animal Welfare Act can grant a fine or imprisonment for up to 3 years. In addition, such a case will be covered by punishment provisions for unjustified access and damage in the Criminal Code, says Øyås Engen. – It is important that all farmers and animal owners who experience this report to the police so that evidence can be secured and investigated, and that the owner does not expose himself to danger by going into an ongoing situation. Not the first time it is not the first time such a thing has happened on a smallholder to Romsdal. One and a half months ago, all the pigs had come out. – Then it was and a little petty chaos, but then they had not come in to the chickens and released them. – What do you think about it happened twice? – Now just get the camera and set it up. There is nothing else to do. I don’t take the chance for my animals to be damaged. The tranquility has now returned to the barn. – I have fed extra and cleaned them, and enjoyed the pigs. So they are absolutely calm now. But it was reasonably chaos in the past. Jørgen Romsdal was badly damaged after someone escaped it from their cage. Photo: Truls Bjørnstad / news Published 14.03.2025, at. 19.30
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