New crimes and tougher penalties for animal abuse

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law creates a new title in the Criminal Code, "De los delitos contra los animales" (crimes against animals), and repeals Articles 337 and 337 bis, which until now regulated abuse and abandonment.
2. Anyone who injures a domestic animal or one under human control, including through sexual acts, faces three to eighteen months in prison or a fine, plus a ban on animal-related jobs. If the animal dies, the prison term rises to twelve to twenty-four months.
3. Many aggravating factors are added: using weapons or poison, cruelty, acting as the owner, doing it in front of a minor, for profit, or to coerce a partner. In these cases, penalties are imposed in the upper half of the range.
4. Abandoning a vertebrate animal under your responsibility in conditions that endanger its life or integrity is punished with a fine or community service, plus a ban on owning animals.
5. Judges may adopt precautionary measures to protect the animal, including a temporary change of ownership and care. Companies can also be punished if they are responsible for these crimes.
6. Crimes committed before the law are judged under the rules in force when they occurred, unless the new law is more favorable to the defendant. The law takes effect twenty days after publication in the official gazette.

Who it affects

• Animal owners and caregivers: They can face prison, fines, or bans if they abuse or abandon an animal.
• Victims of gender-based violence: Animal abuse used to coerce or intimidate a partner is now an aggravating factor.
• Companies and organizations: They can be held criminally liable and fined for these crimes.
• Animal-related professionals: They can be banned from their trade or business if they commit these crimes.

Words worth knowing

Agravante (aggravating factor)

A circumstance that makes a crime more serious and increases the penalty.

Medida cautelar (precautionary measure)

A temporary court decision to protect something while the case is being resolved.

Inhabilitación especial (special disqualification)

A court-imposed ban on practicing a profession or owning animals for a period of time.

Trabajos en beneficio de la comunidad (community service)

A penalty consisting of unpaid work for public services for a number of days.

Reo (defendant)

A person accused or convicted of a crime.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries