New animal welfare law, 6 prosecutions in 6 weeks

Since new laws criminalising most aspects of animal abuse took effect on October 1, 2014, there have been 249 complaints and six prosecutions.

The new law states that "whoever, without legitimate cause, inflicts pain, suffering or any mistreatment to a companion animal is punishable with imprisonment."

The GNR has received 249 complaints, mostly by concerned neighbours that have seen or are aware of the mistreatment of animals.

Of these complaints, 26 already were under investigation, 54 animal owners were written to and made aware that they are committing an offence and six people have been prosecuted with possible sentences of up to one year, or a fine.

The law also states that those who mistreat animals and cause "the death of the animal, the deprivation of an important organ or limb, or serious and permanent damage to its ability to walk," will be "punished with imprisonment up to two years,” or a stiffer fine.

Regarding pets, the law provides that "whoever has the duty of keeping, guarding or watching over a pet and abandons it, thereby putting the pet in jeopardy without food or the provision of care that is due, can be punished with imprisonment up to six months or a fine."

The draft bill criminalising the mistreatment of animals was approved in parliament by all parties with two votes against and two abstentions.

The new law has not impressed an unnamed Briton who has started a campaign to deter tourists to Portugal until something is done to improve the way animals are treated here.

The petition demands "an end to the cruel treatment and neglect of horses in Portugal” and comes at a time when several high profile cases of animal abuse have spread beyond the Algarve across international borders through social and other media.

The plethora of cat and dog welfare groups and organisations in the Algarve is proof enough that these new laws were needed; the next stage is for the authorities to act and be seen to be acting when skeletal horses and other obvious cases of mistreatment are reported and broadcast.

‘Hunting kennels’ legislation is used as a convenient way of keeping packs of ill-fed dogs in appalling conditions and the official response to a recent case in the western Algarve left many wondering if the local authorities were condoning an age old tradition of treating such animals poorly.     

... and for you dog lovers:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ub1Dc3NHZ3s?autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=1

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