Concerns about animal abuse crimes often surface when people see offenders escaping jail time. This perception can erode public trust in animal protection. The underlying issue lies in the expectations created by the public and in repeated government statements about future regulations that later fail to appear in enacted laws that are actually enforceable.
In the latest reform of the Penal Code, ill-treatment is addressed under Article 340. The statute allows for disqualification accompanied by a prison sentence of three to eighteen months and a fine ranging from six to twelve months. When cruelty is involved, when offensive methods are used, when weapons or poisons are employed, when the act is carried out in the presence of a minor, or when an animal is killed, prison terms can extend up to 24 months.
He stabs his dog in Malaga and the Civil Guard is investigating him for animal abuse
These penalties can be converted into community service for the benefit of the public. Article 80 of the Penal Code also provides that a judge may suspend the execution of a sentence under certain specific conditions, such as when the sentence does not exceed two years. Because of this, someone who commits animal cruelty may avoid imprisonment.
It is not fair to place all the blame on judges who administer justice. The outcome of not going to jail often has objective explanations. If these explanations are examined, the key responsibility appears to lie with the government and its parliamentary support. Ultimately, policymakers in Congress and the Senate enact and approve the changes that shape how cruelty cases are handled, making the government the central actor in the evolution of these laws.