Sousa Real’s comments in Parliament came a week after Portugal’s Minister for Justice, Francisca Van Dunem, said the current law regarding animals should be changed so that they are no longer classified as “objects”.
Last week Minister Van Dunem said in her opinion animals should be classed somewhere between “objects” and “humans” as their current status leaves them in limbo.
Following on from the Minister’s views, Lisbon’s main spokesperson on animal welfare said “it is urgent that our legal system welcomes this animal sentience and that legislative measures will meet their needs.”
Inês Sousa Real made the comments during a public hearing on the killing of animals in municipal kennels, which took place in parliament on Tuesday this week.
She said she considers current legislation to be “outdated by today’s knowledge in terms of animals’ needs as living beings and not things”, and therefore should be reviewed to achieve “laws that are more efficient in terms of animal protection.”
“There are some loopholes that we have to address, but they are in the hands of national legislature and not so much local legislature”, she told Lusa News Agency at the end of the debate.
Ines Sousa Real identified a number of shortcomings, “particularly where concerning regulation that needs to materialise into supervision.”
With regards to the breeding and selling of animals, the campaigner said “it is very difficult to access the places where they are often kept and inspect the conditions of animal welfare”, as well as limit the number of litters or their registration.
Another problem, she said, is that official shelters are often not properly licensed; “they are mere municipal kennels/catteries that have not obtained licenses from the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary and therefore we also do not know what goes on inside them.”
In Sousa Real’s opinion, “it is necessary to provide such facilities with effective conditions that promote the welfare of animals” by ensuring the “technical staff who are able to treat them.”
She added she was proud to affirm that Lisbon “now regards itself as a more animal-friendly city, but there is still much work ahead.”
The public hearing held on Tuesday morning in Parliament was called to discuss a citizens’ initiative supported by the PAN party – party for People, Animals and Nature – which has gathered the signatures of some 75,000 people, as well as a draft bill put forward by the communists.
The documents call to end the slaughter of animals in municipal kennels.
Parliament summoned parties including several animal associations, council representatives, the Order of Veterinarians and breeders to share their views on the proposals.