The October 2014 animal rights law at least has given the authorities a framework within which to investigate and if necessary prosecute those who "without reasonable cause, inflicts pain, suffering or any other physical abuse to a companion animal…”
Animal rights groups and those that look after abandoned and mistreated pets may be cautiously optimistic that in a country that seems to take forever to achieve change, there have been 98 crimes registered against animals and 4,536 fines in the first year of the law’s operation.
One of the main problems has been the scope of the law being restricted to pets as high profile animal abuse cases have hit the headlines such as the tragic situation of the terribly neglected horses in Lagoa where their care and wellbeing conveniently was shuffled from one authority to another to the acute detriment of the animals involved.
The GNR has been active, normally in response to complaints by the public, and the threat of imprisonment and stiff fines for animal abusers may have served to reduce the incidence of maltreatment but how this can be measured is not clear.
The GNR’s first year ‘animal crime’ total was an average of about eight per month with prosecutions to follow. Fines have been running at an average of 12 per day to a total of 4,536, with 426 in the Algarve, but these mostly were for lack of identification chips, lack of vaccinations and for animals kept in poor sanitary conditions.
The law covering the mistreatment of animals, which entered into force on October 1, 2014, is at least clear and states that "anyone who, without reasonable cause, inflicts pain, suffering or any other physical abuse to a companion animal is punishable with imprisonment up to one year or a fine of up to 120 days."
The same law states that for who abuse animals which "results in the death of the animal, the deprivation of an important organ or limb or serious and permanent damage to their ability to walk, will be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 240 days."
The law also states that the person in charge of looking after a pet animal, should he put the animal in danger through lack of care or food, can be punished with imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to 60 days. "
The GNR now offers a helpline number for those that wish to report cases of suspected of actual abuse (808 200520) which is available 24 hours and now has national coverage.
A good first year for the GNR, or 'could do better..?'
Comments
It's been over a month now. The new laws didn't prevent MNE from being forcibly re-homed. Apparently, having 49 cats and dogs indoors is legal, and he is being allowed to suffer at the hands of his abductors.
If Portugal was even remotely suitable to be in the European Union today the GNR who came once and never again would know that there were consequences to their apathy and inertia. As with any publicly funded 'servant'.
Such as an independent police complaints procedure. Not the absurdity now which, as intended from Salazar's time, keeps even locals away - complaining to the Minister of Internal Administration. i.e. the Police themselves !
So, as any elderly local will tell you - not remotely sensible. Even suicidal. The entire county set will then be aware that you, if a foreigner have gone rogue, if a local then you are a disloyal traitor - and you are now fair game !
Unlike these poor dogs, who - if they could speak - would curse the day they were born in this hell hole.
Not clear what is the average fine ... and that the animal is taken promptly from the perp whilst decisions about prosecutions follow. Too often the animals suffering is of far less importance than the 'honour' of the prat causing the suffering.
Unfortunately overshadowing this - like so much in Portugal - is still the Salazar Effect. For generations the lesson repeatedly taught all the little people is to keep your head down to anything going on differently around you. Don't even think of being a 'do gooder'. Even now you see this in the lack of volunteering. Portuguese TV still sees it as so original that it gets a feature.
So looking the other way not just because it could trigger a feud. Too often it might be one of the thousands of secret informers, often habitual criminals, that you have just fingered. Then you become the target. Perhaps your last mistake on this earth.