This new Animal Welfare Law has advanced through the Senate and now awaits final approval by Congress. Much has been discussed about this regulation, but some details remain unclear. The law sets out penalties for mistreatment of pets, detailing fines and prison terms that apply to various levels of offenses.
Fines and prison sentences under the new Animal Welfare Act
Fines are scaled by the severity of the offense: minor offenses incur fines from 500 to 10,000 euros, serious offenses from 10,001 to 50,000 euros, and very serious offenses from 50,001 to 200,000 euros. In addition, actions that cause injury or death to an animal carry prison terms. If the animal survives, the sentence ranges from 3 to 12 months; if the animal dies, the term is 6 to 18 months.
Criteria for determining the seriousness of a violation
The primary criterion for determining seriousness is whether the offense involved harm or suffering to the animal. Offenses that harm an animal or alter its behavior through action or neglect are treated as serious, and they are considered very serious if they result in the animal’s death or permanent damage.
Pet owners and those responsible for animals may face administrative penalties for acts that breach duties without causing direct injury or behavioral changes in the animal. Some administrative offenses are designated as serious, as detailed below.
Various sanctions have been established to enforce these rules, reflecting the spectrum of potential violations and the corresponding penalties.
Administrative violations, such as attempting to identify an animal without causing harm, are treated as breaches of legal obligations tied to animal ownership.
Minor and serious crimes
This section outlines the offenses categorized in the new law.
Minor offenses carry fines between 500 and 10,000 euros:
- Leaving animals unattended in public areas or without proper supervision by caretakers.
- Lack of civil liability insurance to cover damages to third parties.
- Failure to neuter animals that cannot safely interact with other animals, such as domestic cats allowed outdoors.
- Leaving animals in closed vehicles or in conditions that pose health hazards, including prolonged confinement that endangers their welfare. Examples include dogs left at home for more than 24 hours and cats for more than 3 days.
Serious violations apply to offenses that may not cause physical harm but breach protective rules, including the following:
- Not identifying animals with microchips.
- Using animals for unauthorized advertising, prizes, contests, or promotional activities.
- Keeping or trading non-native wild animals without proper authorization.
- Failure to report a lost or stolen animal within 48 hours, which can lead to the animal being considered abandoned.
Harmful behavior toward animals
Actions that harm or disturb animals are treated as serious or very serious violations, depending on the circumstances.
Serious crimes, with fines ranging from 10,001 to 50,000 euros, include:
- The use of aggressive methods in animal training.
- Unauthorized injuries or body modifications.
- Abandonment of animals, including failure to remove them from residences, shelters, or veterinary centers.
- Theft or abuse of animals.
- The administration of substances not prescribed by a veterinarian that harms health or alters behavior.
- Unsafe transport of live animals, except in cases permitted by law.
- Removal or relocation of community cats except as required by law.
- Feeding animals with improperly sourced or unhealth-checked offal.
- Keeping dogs or cats indoors at all times, whether on balconies or in basements, in a way that restricts normal activity.
Very serious crimes, with penalties from 50,001 to 200,000 euros, include:
- Euthanizing animals with inadequate means or by unskilled personnel.
- Training and use of animals for fighting.
- Using companion animals for human consumption.
- Killing community cats where not permitted by law.
- Breeding and selling animals by unlicensed individuals (a license is required).
- Selling dogs, cats, and ferrets in pet stores.
- Using animals in cultural or festive events such as carousels, fairs, and circus shows.
Exposure to multiple serious violations within a three-year period may be treated as a very serious offense.
It should be noted that acts involving injuring or killing an animal can lead to prison terms ranging from 3 to 12 months, and up to 18 months if the animal dies.
In closing, the enforcement framework emphasizes careful penalties for acts that harm animals and clear timelines for reporting lost or stolen pets to avoid penalization as abandonment.
Any inquiries or official guidance are handled by the relevant environmental department and its designated contact channels, in line with standard regulatory procedures.