The bill (PL 6,191/2025), which establishes the Statute of Dogs and Cats, establishes a sentence of six months to ten years in prison for anyone who kills or tortures dogs or cats. The text has already been unanimously approved by the Senate’s Human Rights Commission (CDH) and is being analyzed by the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ). 
The statute, which was drawn up with the participation of animal rights entities and experts in animal law, is structured into 12 chapters and 60 articles. The proposal defines rules on responsible guardianship, prohibits practices such as abandonment and mutilation and expands punishments for ill-treatment.
When discussing the importance of the proposal, this Monday (23) the PL rapporteur, senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS), cited the recent episode of violence against a dog in Florianópolis (SC), which, according to him, generated national and international repercussions. The senator questioned the influence of violent content on young people and defended a firm response from the State.
“The Statute of Dogs and Cats is a fundamental step towards ensuring essential rights for these beings who depend greatly on us. I emphasize the importance of establishing fundamental rights to life, integrity, the well-being of our four-legged friends and, in addition, the obligation of the Powers over them”, he said.
See some proposals included in the text:
- Establishes principles, guarantees, rights and duties aimed at the protection, well-being, health and harmonious coexistence of dogs and cats with humans, within the family and community.
- Establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for the dignified and responsible treatment of dogs and cats.
- Prohibits abandonment, aggression, aesthetic mutilations, use in fights, unjustified restriction of freedom, use in suffering tests.
- Prohibits inadequate confinement, clandestine marketing and denial of access to water and food for animals in common areas.
- It brings the concept of “community animals”, which are homeless dogs and cats with bonds of dependence on the community.
- It provides for “responsible custody”, a legal and ethical commitment to guarantee the animal’s well-being.
- Responsible adoption requires that the adopter be over 18 years old, with adequate conditions and no history of abuse.
- Adoptions must meet the animal’s interests, especially in cases of trauma or abandonment.
*With information from Agência Senado
