Pony Obélix abused: owner sentenced to one year suspended prison and banned from keeping animals for life
The Draguignan court has convicted Fabienne C. for animal cruelty. She has been sentenced to one year in prison with suspension and a permanent ban on keeping animals.
Judgment handed down in Draguignan in the case of pony mutilated by rottweilers
The judicial court of Draguignan (Var) delivered its ruling on Tuesday 23 June 2026 in the Obélix case, a pony mutilated by rottweiler dogs and left without care. According to ladepeche.fr, nineteen associations had joined the proceedings as civil parties in this case which had become emblematic of animal cruelty.
Fabienne C., the former owner of the pony, has been sentenced to one year in prison with suspension. She has also been issued a lifetime ban on keeping animals or engaging in any activity related to them, whether on a personal, professional or charitable basis. Her association, "Le Sanctuaire de la dernière chance", has been ordered to pay a fine of 5,000 euros and issued a permanent ban on keeping animals. The establishment, which claimed to specialise in the rehabilitation of aggressive dogs, is subject to closure with immediate enforcement.
Fabienne C. was not present at the hearing on 12 May 2026 and was not even represented by a lawyer on that day. She is believed to have left France.
Obélix rescued but died despite treatment
The case had received significant national coverage. Obélix was recovered during a judicial operation conducted on 23 April 2025 in Ampus (Var) by the association Les 3-Dindes, a rescue farm based in L'Honor-de-Cos (Tarn-et-Garonne), specialising in the rescue of mistreated equines and farm animals. The pony was subsequently treated at the veterinary clinic of Cheval de Grenade-sur-Garonne (Haute-Garonne). He died on 1 May 2025 despite all treatment provided.
The defendant and her association were required to answer charges of "serious cruelty towards animals", "mistreatment of an animal placed under her care by a legal entity operating an animal-keeping establishment" as well as numerous other offences.
Civil parties satisfied with supplementary sentences
Lisa Fernandez, president of the association Les 3-Dindes, is among the nineteen associations that joined the proceedings as civil parties. She had noted the defendant's absence at the May hearing. The judgment of 23 June nonetheless satisfies her.
"I am especially satisfied that the supplementary sentences have been imposed with immediate enforcement because, even if the defendant appeals, these sanctions will apply," she stated. She elaborated: "It is important to us because it will prevent a repetition of the facts. The fact that it has been brought to court and that there has been a trial really mattered to us given the seriousness of the offences."
The court also ordered the permanent confiscation of the sixteen dogs seized during the Ampus operation, including fourteen rottweilers responsible for the bites inflicted on Obélix, as well as four border collie puppies. These animals will remain placed with the associations to which they had been entrusted.
Over 67,000 euros in damages and interest for the civil parties
All of the civil parties have been awarded over 67,000 euros in damages and interest and reimbursement of costs. The association Les 3-Dindes receives 3,110.66 euros for material damages related to Obélix's care, 1,000 euros for damages suffered by the association due to its purpose, as well as 1,500 euros in reimbursement of legal costs.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)