New legal status, which no longer considers animals as “things”, was published this Friday in Diário da República
The new legal status of animals, which recognizes them as living beings endowed with sensibility and automates them in the face of people and things, was already published in Diário da República and came into force yesterday, May 1.
According to Newslog, the legislation amending the Civil Code, according to which the animals were “things”, resulted from laws of the PS, PAN, PSD and BE, which were unanimously approved in the Assembly of the Republic on December 22.
The new legislation recognizes animals as “living beings with sensitivity and legal protection“, which “operates through the provisions of this Code and special legislation”.
Also, according to the Diário de Notícias, regarding pet animals, the law states that they must be “trusted to one or both spouses, considering in particular the interests of each spouse and the couple’s children and also the welfare of the animal”.
According to the new law, those who attack or kill an animal are “forced to compensate their owner or individuals or entities who have helped them for the costs they incurred for their treatment”.
The compensation is due even if “expenditure is higher than the monetary value that can be attributed to the animal”.
A further, noteworthy amendment introduced by the new diploma is that the owner of an animal must ensure its welfare and respect the characteristics of each species.
The legal status of animals also defines a prison sentence of up to three years or a penalty of fine for those who steal an animal from others and for those who illegitimately own an animal that “was handed to him by non-translative title of the property”.
The law was enacted by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, on February 2nd and endorsed by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on 23rd of last month.
(Seed Newslog)