According to data from the GNR sent to Lusa, since 1 January, they have received 160 complaints relating to pet animals.
Of the 160 complaints, 52 related to mistreatment and 33 to abandonment, according to data from the GNR, which says that since the beginning of the year, 320 administrative offenses referring to legislation aimed at pet animals were recorded.
In 2019, the GNR received 4,142 reports, of which 672 were for mistreatment and 415 for abandonment. Last year, 5,107 administrative infraction notices were drawn up regarding legislation aimed at pet animals.
GNR data indicates that in 2018, 3,874 complaints were received, of which 687 were due to mistreatment and 316 due to abandonment, and 5,303 administrative infraction records were raised.
According to the police, data on complaints aimed at pet animals include situations of abuse and abandonment and all others that relate to this type of animals, namely noise from the neighbourhood, non-compliance with housing or detention rules, among others.
GNR records these complaints through the GNR SOS Environment and Territory Line, territorial posts and situations directly detected by the military in the scope of patrolling and inspection actions.
In relation to administrative offense records, the most frequent infractions, according to GNR data, are the lack of a license, registration, identification via chip, vaccination and leash or muzzle (when circulating on public roads).
The law that criminalises animal mistreatment came into force on 1 October, 2014 and provides that “anyone who, without legitimate reason, inflicts pain, suffering or any other physical abuse on a pet animal is punished with a prison sentence up to one year.
The same law states that for those who perform such acts, and from which “the animal’s death results, or the deprivation of an important organ or member, or the serious and permanent impairment of its ability to move”, will be “punished with imprisonment up to two years”.
In relation to pet animals, the law states that “whoever, has the duty to guard, monitor or assist pet animals, abandons them, thereby endangering their food and the provision of care due to them, is punished with a prison sentence of up to six months”.
In May 2017 the new legal status of animals came into force, which recognises them as living beings endowed with sensitivity and makes them autonomous from people and things.
The legislation recognises animals as “living beings endowed with sensitivity and subject to legal protection”, which “operates through the provisions of this code and special legislation”.
With regard to pets, the law states that they must be “entrusted to one or both spouses, considering, the interests of each spouse and the couple’s children and also the welfare of the animal”.
According to the new law, anyone who attacks or kills an animal is “obliged to compensate its owner or the individuals or entities that have rescued it for the expenses that they have incurred for its treatment”.
The owner of an animal must ensure its well-being and respect the characteristics of each species, says the diploma.
The legal status of animals also defines a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine for anyone who steals an animal from another .