A 51-year-old woman was sentenced by the Court of Barcelos to pay a fine of 720 euros and to be banned from keeping pet animals for two and a half years, in a case related to the mistreatment of a baby cat adopted in 2022. The court decision does not attribute direct responsibility to the defendant for the accident that caused serious injuries to the animal, but considers the prolonged omission of veterinary care proven, classified by the court as a particularly cruel act.
The judicial process originated in an episode that occurred in the municipality of Barcelos and culminated in the application of an additional penalty that prevents the defendant from ever again holding animals for two and a half years, highlighting the relevance of the legal duty to protect companion animals.
Recent adoption and an unexpected accident
According to the Lusa news agency, the cat Ariel was just two months old when she was adopted, in September 2022, through the SOS Bigodes association, becoming part of the defendant’s household.
According to the same source, in November of the same year, the woman’s youngest daughter inadvertently placed the animal inside an oven that was turned on, causing serious second and third degree burns on several parts of her body.
Extensive injuries and lack of immediate response
The news agency writes that the injuries affected the cat’s face, ears, back, paws and tail, which was in obvious distress immediately after the incident.
Even so, according to the same source, the defendant kept the animal in a garage for around a week, without resorting to veterinary care, depriving it of the assistance considered essential for its clinical condition.
Intervention that prevented slaughter
According to the same source, the situation only changed when the SOS Bigodes association became aware of the case and pressured the family to seek specialized help.
The agency adds that the defendant even contacted a veterinary center, but only to find out about the procedures necessary to slaughter the animal, an intention that did not materialize due to the association’s intervention.
It should be noted that Ariel had a serious skin infection and had to be sedated to undergo surgery, remaining hospitalized for around two months. After clinical discharge, he was handed over to a foster family, and to this day he still has permanent physical consequences, such as the absence of hair in the burned areas and behavioral changes.
Criminal liability for omission
The court considered that it was not possible to determine precisely the circumstances in which the cat was placed in the oven, but emphasized that the defendant was fully aware of the severity of the injuries.
Despite this, according to the sentence cited by , he did nothing to treat the animal, violating his duty to guarantee the cat’s health and well-being, subjecting her to suffering considered particularly cruel.
Assessment of conduct at trial
The judge responsible for the case also criticized the stance taken by the defendant during the hearing, highlighting the lack of regret, censorship or self-criticism. According to SOS Bigodes, Ariel continues to “pay the price for the cruelty of her former guardians”, living with “extremely sensitive” skin and expressing a persistent fear of human contact.
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