Os crimes contra os animais de companhia

: análise crítica da lei n.º 69/2014, de 29 de agosto

Abstract

Law 69/2014 of 29 August introduced in Portugal the most desired and necessary criminal protection of animals, in line with what was being demanded by Portuguese society, in order to give greater legal protection to animals as sentient beings. Notwithstanding the advancement of civilization and law that has resulted in the introduction into the Portuguese Penal Code of two new incriminating types – that of mistreatment and abandonment of pets, the truth is that after more than three years since the entry into force of the aforementioned legal decree, situations of cruelty and inhumanity to animals are still too frequent. Animals beaten, forgotten, chained or caged for a lifetime, without shelter, homeless to take refuge on days when the sun is scorching or when the rain is pouring, dying of hunger and/or thirst, abandoned on busy roads or in wilderness, before the inattentive gaze of those who pass by, busy with their own lives. In the present excursion, we intend to carry out an interpretative and critical analysis of the rules on offences against pets, including by comparison with other European legal systems, so that we can contribute to the resolution of some of the practical issues raised by them.

Date of Award	29 Sept 2020
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Elisabete Ferreira (Supervisor)