The number of pet cruelty offenses registered by the GNR last year has increased compared to 2015, totalling 767, representing a growth of more than a hundred cases.

In a statement, the GNR, through the Service of Protection of Nature and the Environment (SEPNA), predicts that, in 2016, and following inspection actions, 767 crimes were registered, 112 more than in the same period of 2015, which corresponds to an average of two per day.

According to the GNR data, 3694 complaints of ill-treatment were registered last year, 116 fewer than in the same period of 2015 (which corresponds to an average of 10 per day).

The highest number of complaints were recorded in the month of March (374), February (366), January (361) and May (351).

According to SEPNA data, the districts with the highest number of complaints last year were Lisbon (591), Setúbal (556), Porto (471), Aveiro (291) and Faro (240).

186 complaints were registered in Madeira and in the Azores 195, according to the data.

Surveillance of pet mistreatment is done through SEPNA, and denunciations can be sent to the SOS Environment and Territory line (808200520) or through the GNR web page .

The law criminalizing maltreatment of animals entered into force on October 1, 2014.

“Who, without legitimate cause, inflicts pain, suffering or any other physical ill-treatment on a companion animal shall be punished with imprisonment for up to one year or with a fine of up to 120 days,” according to the law. Feathers may be aggravated if the animal dies or becomes incapacitated.

Whoever leaves an animal is punished with a prison sentence of up to six months or a fine of up to 60 days. Source Diario de Noticais