The bill, set to be discussed in parliament this Friday, was submitted today and proposes the inclusion of “sexual offenses against animals” in the penal code, with penalties of six months to two years in prison or fines ranging from 60 to 120 days.
The initiative also broadens the current penal code definition of animals, which is limited to companion animals, to encompass all domestic animals under human control or not living in the wild.
The party led by Inês de Sousa Real further suggests strengthening penalties for animal death and maltreatment, increasing the maximum penalty from the current two years to three years in prison.
Additionally, the PAN proposes that animal abandonment be punished, beyond the six-month prison sentence or 60-day fine currently in law, with the revocation of the right to own animals for up to six years, a ban on participating in animal-related events, and the closure of establishments related to animals.
“Cruelty against animals is a grave reality increasingly recognized as a risk indicator for other violent crimes. Countries like Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, or even the United States have made significant advancements in this area—the FBI, for example, has classified crimes against animals as ‘crimes against society’ since 2016,” states Inês de Sousa Real, as quoted in a statement.
In its statement of reasons, the PAN emphasizes that animal sensitivity is now “indisputable,” and that their “capacity for suffering, sensitivity to pain, and ability to feel affection” should spark a “profound ethical and legal reflection on the relationship between humans and animals.”
The party also condemns what it sees as a “blatant injustice in the treatment of animals who do not feel different, regardless of their intended use”.
