Organized forms of crime in the companion animals market – criminological study

Abstract

The subject of the study is the illegal market for companion animals in Poland. This issue falls within the scope of a paradigm in criminology referred to as “green criminology”. The subject undertaken in the study is part of the social discourse on the legal protection of pet animals. The work is of innovative nature, as the phenomenon of the illegal companion animal market has not been the subject of criminological research in the Polish literature. The research might have an implication dimension and can contribute to setting the direction of criminal policy in the area of green crime. The aim of the study is to depict the phenomenon of the illegal companion animal market in Poland, to determine whether organized criminal groups are involved in illegal practices, to determine the structure of crime, and to analyze the legal regulations in terms of their effectiveness. The results of the research might be helpful in identifying areas of importance for countering pathologies in the animal market.