Østjyllands Politi has been reported to the police for alleged breaches of Denmark’s animal welfare law after 17 of 18 seized dogs died. The complaint was filed by the deputy chair of the organization Bully Care Union.
DR Nyheder, which has seen the complaint, reports that it was filed by Amaja Loncarevic. She is a law student and deputy chair of Bully Care Union, which offers legal help to owners of so-called bully breeds. The complaint also names the official veterinary officer and the dog boarding facilities that housed the animals.
According to the document, the complaint concerns the entire course of the case. It asks whether the dogs were subjected to irresponsible treatment, inadequate care and missing veterinary treatment, in breach of animal welfare legislation.
The case began two years ago, when Østjyllands Politi seized 18 dogs. Police believed they belonged to one of the 13 breeds banned under the Danish hundelov. Jyllands-Posten reports that the seizure took place in April 2024, and that DNA tests later showed the dogs were American Bully, a legal breed in Denmark.
Eight of the dogs died while placed at boarding facilities used by the police. The ten survivors were handed over on June 22, 2026, and driven from the police station in Randers to the volunteer-run organizations GenbrugsMastiff and Bully Care Union. Nine of them died within days, and per Jyllands-Posten the first dog collapsed seven minutes after leaving the station.
Loncarevic was part of that transport. She told DR that the dogs arrived in a severely weakened state, with blue tongues and breathing problems. She also described missing teeth, pressure sores, fungal infections, damaged claws, muscle atrophy and fur falling out in clumps.
She attributes the condition to kennel syndrome, where dogs become so stressed that they fall ill. Asked by DR whether poor facilities or the length of the stay was to blame, she said it was a combination of both. As of early August 2026, only one dog, named Hjørdis, is still alive.
Loncarevic argues the case shows the Dog Act is not working and leaves owners exposed. Police may seize a dog on the basis of its appearance alone, and owners must then document that the animal is legal, for example with a pedigree. She describes this as a flawed law for owners of mixed-breed dogs.
Østjyllands Politi told Jyllands-Posten that the dogs were placed at various boarding facilities holding the necessary permits from Fødevarestyrelsen, which inspected them during the period. The police would not tell the newspaper where the dogs were kept. DR states that it is working to obtain a comment from Østjyllands Politi on the complaint.
Jyllands-Posten reports that compensation claims and neglect complaints are being prepared following the deaths and the DNA findings.
