LEGISLATION

According to the Brazilian Environmental Law Crimes # 9605/98, article 32:

“It is crime to practice acts of abuse, mistreating, wounding, or mutilating wild, domestic or domesticated, native or exotic animals.

Paragraph 1. Incur in the same penalties whoever practices painful or cruel experiments in live animals, even if for didactic or scientific purposes whenever an alternative is available.

Paragraph 2. The penalty is increased from a sixth to a third of jail time if an animal death occurs.”

Penalties vary from three months to a year of imprisonment and payment of a fine.

Examples of cruelty:

*Keep animals in filthy places or that hinder their movements, rest, or deprive them of air or light.

 *Neglect alimentation and fresh water needed for their well-being.

*Leave animals without shelter under rain, intense sun, or cold.

*To abandon animals that are sick, wounded, extenuated or mutilated and leave them without veterinarian assistance in case of need.

* To poison animals.

*Utilize animals in religious rituals.

*Beat or punish animals in a way that causes any physical harm.

* Make wounded or sick animals work.

*Keep birds in small cages.

*Leave animals inside closed car on hot days.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi