The new law criminalising the mistreatment of domestic animals has not had the desired effect.
This is the conclusion of the People-Animals-Nature party whose lone MP is to take the matter up with the Minister of Justice, Frances Van Dunem.
PAN wants a change in the existing law on the grounds that it "has incongruities and several omissions."
There has been progress with 1,330 crimes against pets registered in 2015, according to the Homeland Security Annual Report only a few cases led to a fine and "even fewer cases went to court."
The current law can be used to hand out a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to 120 days of income. If the animal has died as a result of ill-treatment, has lost an organ or limb or if if its walking ability is severe or permanently damaged, the defendant risks a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine up to 240 days of income.
In case of abandonment, the owner can be punished with six months in prison or a fine of up to 60 days of income.
The slaughter of Portugal’s unwanted animals continues with the government admitting to 12,000 animals being killed in municipal kennels and catteries each year.
However, both the PAN party and animal protection associations contest this figures, claiming that 100,000 animals are slaughtered each year.
After eight days at an official collection centre - the name given to a municipal kennel or cattery - any animal can be killed by injection if it has not been reclaimed by its owner or adopted.
The adoption rate is running neck and neck with the number that are being killed each year but there is progress in Madeira at least, where it is illegal to kill a companion animal.
The Madeiran parliament promotes sterilization "as a control measure for the population of stray animals" which in time will reduce the numbers that previously qualified for lethal injection.
Comments
Still holding back anything resembling the application of animal welfare legislation in Portugal is that holding back all the other legislation. A total lack of anything resembling a concept of "Fair Treatment" - of equality before the Law. Of a Duty of Care owed to neighbours, clients and customers.
That would allow an honest report of maltreatment to be lodged with the honest authorities who would swiftly act to firstly take the animal to a place of safety. The authorities then honestly and impartially investigate what had gone wrong and where necessary punish the owner / controller of the animal.
Countries like the UK and therefore its Commonwealth have been advancing these ideas of 'Equality before the Law' since at least the Civil War Regicide 400 years ago. Some date it back another 200 years to the Magna Carta.
Why should the Brits give up these Rights we were born with and which are enshrined in the European Union Treaties ? Just because less developed EU societies think these rights are a bizarre joke 'that would never work here'