In Mancieulles, behind residential homes on Rue de l’Yser, authorities and animal welfare investigators have uncovered an open-air enclosure holding roughly thirty animals in severe conditions, with multiple local animal protection groups demanding immediate administrative intervention as official inquiries proceed.
The Bottom Line
- Thirty animals including dogs, pigs, poultry, and waterfowl were found living in extreme conditions without adequate shelter, food, or clean water behind a residential street in Mancieulles.
- Animal welfare organizations such as the Fondation Brigitte-Bardot and the A.P.R.E.S. collective visited the site but initially withheld formal complaints while municipal police opened an investigation.
- National police and the judicial authorities have since opened a formal procedure to examine the tenant’s administrative situation and alleged animal neglect.
Investigation Opened Into Animal Neglect in Mancieulles
Behind the properties along Rue de l’Yser in Mancieulles, local animal welfare workers discovered what the Fondation Brigitte-Bardot described as a field of desolation. According to reports from Le Républicain lorrain, approximately thirty animals are living in severe confinement, with dogs standing in several centimeters of mud and four pigs crowded together inside a cage measuring under four square meters. Chickens, roosters, geese, and ducks reside in an outdoor enclosure entirely devoid of shelter, fresh water, and food.
« C’est scandaleux, et ça dure depuis des mois », declared Bernadette Rohrer, an investigator for the Fondation Brigitte-Bardot in the Grand Est region, as reported by Le Républicain lorrain. The initial warning regarding the property reached the Longwy-based association A.P.R.E.S. (Amour, protection, respect, espoir et soins) several weeks prior to the public disclosure. Representatives from the collective visited the location to document the conditions before coordinating with the Fondation Brigitte-Bardot and the Stéphane Lamart association.
Dispute Between Associations and Municipal Response
Despite documenting the severity of the site, the animal welfare groups initially chose against lodging an immediate formal complaint because municipal police in Val de Briey had launched an inquiry. However, representatives for the protection groups argue that the investigation has moved too slowly to prevent further deterioration of animal welfare. Jennifer Bauer, president of the A.P.R.E.S. collective, stated to Le Républicain lorrain that the animal population was even higher weeks earlier, adding that a goat died on the premises and its owner allegedly burned the carcass directly adjacent to the land.
The land had been rented in June as part of a project by a local resident and his companion to establish a mini-farm. One month later, the couple separated, and the tenant reportedly asked to retain custody of the animals. When questioned by investigators, the tenant asserted that he was caring for the livestock and had secured a solution to rehome a portion of them within days.
Municipal authorities maintain that formal administrative action must await the conclusion of ongoing investigations. « Pour l’instant, nous constatons la situation », explained Pierre Buroni, second deputy of the municipality of Briey, in statements reported by Le Républicain lorrain. While animal defense organizations have repeatedly urged the mayor’s office to issue an immediate administrative decree, municipal officials have declined to take that step before the official inquiry concludes.
National Police Intervention and Potential Legal Penalties
Alongside local municipal checks, patrols from the national police and the judicial police have inspected the Mancieulles site, initiating a formal legal procedure. « Nous allons contacter le propriétaire pour éclaircir sa situation administrative et vérifier s’il y a eu des manquements envers les animaux », stated Gilbert Arduini, commander of the national police in Val de Briey, as noted by Le Républicain lorrain.
| Official Body / Organization | Involvement Status | Reported Position |
|---|---|---|
| Fondation Brigitte-Bardot | Active Investigation | Demands immediate intervention; reports animals facing severe neglect. |
| A.P.R.E.S. Collective | Initial Reporter | Claims animal numbers dropped following a goat’s death on site. |
| Val de Briey Municipality | Local Administration | Awaiting final investigation results before issuing administrative decrees. |
| National Police of Val de Briey | Judicial Inquiry | Investigating administrative status and potential animal welfare violations. |
As the legal procedure moves forward, animal protection advocates continue to press for emergency measures to prevent further loss of life among the remaining livestock on the Rue de l’Yser parcel. Under French penal law, proven instances of serious animal maltreatment carry potential penalties of up to three years of imprisonment and fines reaching 45,000 euros.
