The death of the dog Orelha mobilizes actions across Brazil this Sunday, February 1st, with the aim of demanding justice and accountability for those involved in the case. In São Paulo, protesters gathered around 10 am in the open space of the São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand Museum of Art (Masp), on Avenida Paulista.
The walk began 30 minutes after the meeting. Some protesters carried posters and flags with protest messages, and others brought their own dogs to the event.
The mobilization also calls for the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility, which is currently 18 years old in Brazil. The suspects in Orelha’s death are four teenagers.
The event was attended by parliamentarians, activists and artists. The first lady of São Paulo, Regina Nunes, participated in the demonstration and published images on social media. “Animals don’t speak, I am their voice,” says her biography on Instagram, where the records were shared.
Activist Luisa Mell, who gained fame through animal rescue and protection, is also at the event.
In Rio de Janeiro, the protest also began at 10 am, at Aterro do Flamengo, in front of the National Monument to the Dead of the Second World War, in Glória. Another act is scheduled for 4pm, at Posto 2 in Copacabana, until the end of Praia do Leme.
In Florianópolis, where Orelha was killed, the protest takes place at the warehouse on Avenida Beira Mar Norte, in the city center. Videos shared by protesters on social media show demonstrators gathered and calling, in chorus, for “justice for Ear.”
The events bring together artists, activists and politicians. Actress Heloisa Perissé made an appeal to participate in the event in Rio on Saturday, 31st, through Instagram. “Unfortunately, from what I understand, this is just the tip of an iceberg of dark things that are happening out there. This is also a wake-up call to see what they are doing to the minds of young people, to humanity,” he said.
At least five attacks on dogs, in different states (Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul), have generated outrage in recent days. As this Estadão report showed, the cases may be related to hate groups on the internet that incite teenagers to torture animals.
The death of the dog Ear
Orelha died in early January, after suffering attacks on the head. According to the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina (MPSC), the injuries were so serious that the animal had to be euthanized during veterinary care that sought to reverse its clinical condition.
The Civil Police became aware of the case on January 16. Four teenagers are being investigated for allegedly violently attacking the animal, with the intention of causing its death. Part of the aggression would have focused on the dog’s head.
On January 26, the Civil Police carried out search and seizure warrants at the suspects’ homes, but no one was arrested. Two of them were in the United States and had their cell phones and clothes seized by the Civil Police on Thursday, 29th, when they disembarked at Florianópolis International Airport.
The suspects’ defense reported that the young people’s return was coordinated with the police and confirmed that they handed over the telephone devices and other belongings to the authorities in a restricted room at the airport. The teenagers were also summoned to give a statement.
