"My resignation would mean withdrawal of the rule of law, a degradation of the entire executive branch of power, a degradation of the judiciary and a negation of the rule of law in general," Pogacnik said in Ljubljana.
His response comes amidst calls for his resignation after three bullmastiff dogs killed their owner in Ljubljana on Tuesday. The dogs already severely mauled a 35-year-old in 2006, but were returned to the owner based on a ministry order.
Pogacnik asserted today that the process of dogs' return to the owner was "transparent, lawful and in the spirit of respect for human and animal rights". The order of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food listed conditions based on experts' opinion.
"It is the individual who is responsible for the events happening inside his or her home," the minister said, adding that neither the minister nor the Veterinary Administration were responsible for the relationship between people and animals on private property.
Following the 2006 attack, the Veterinary Administration ordered the dogs to be put down, but the owner Sasa Baricevic filed a complaint. The Supreme Court ruled the dogs can be returned to the owner only after a third commission of experts okayed the return.
The ministry endorsed the return but listed several conditions, including that the dogs must be kept separated. Veterinary inspectors checked on whether the requirements were met six times, most recently on 5 January 2010, the rtvslo.si news web portal reported.