Prison punishment for mistreatment of animals
In line with the new Western regulations, mistreatment of animals is a criminal offence punishable by prison time in Portugal as well. After intense efforts made by animal protection organizations and anonymous petitioners fighting to protect pets and other animals from abuse, prison punishment for mistreatment of animals has finally become law.
The law stipulates as criminal offence any mistreatment of the animal, without a legitimate reason, through inflicting pain, sufferance or any physical measure. Any type of cruelty towards your pet, as a matter of fact, is a crime that can be punished by time in prison.
The punishment can be up to a year’s time of incarceration or a fine plus up to 120 days in prison. Moreover, the same law stipulates that, for such offenders, who hurt animals to the point that their actions result in the death of the animal, the lesion of any vital organ or the permanent impairment of their motor ability, the criminal will have to serve two years in prison or pay a fine and be incarcerated for up to 240 days.
Often, animals become the object of neglect, which can be just as hurtful as physical mistreatment. Often treated as things, offered as gifts and then thrown away on the streets, little dogs, kitty cats and other more exotic animals enjoy a few days of love and attention just to be abandoned to wander the streets or even worse, to be mercilessly killed by their former owners, who no longer have any use or feeling for them.
Instead of being treated as little family members, loved and provided for, some animals are abandoned by their humans, and this is also a crime, according to the new law, punishable by up to six months of prison confinement. The law was voted in the Parliament, receiving a large majority in favor and being widely saluted by the population. Seems like the Portuguese love their pets, setting a good example for everyone!
