Characterization of Suspected Crimes against Companion Animals in Portugal

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Crimes against companion animals are universal and represent a major problem in human/animal interaction. This study characterizes forensic cases received at the Laboratory of Pathology of the National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Investigation (Vairão, Portugal) since the enforcement of the Portuguese law that criminalizes the mistreatment and abandonment of companion animals. Based on the consult of 160 data files of forensic necropsies analyzed for this study, the suspicion of prior crime against companion animal was confirmed in 38 cases (24%). Most of the assaulted animals were medium-size (57%) male (58%) dogs (87%) of crossbreed (55%), whose death was related to blunt force trauma (31%), firearms (27%), poisoning (27%), and asphyxiation (15%). However, in cats, death was related to blunt force trauma only (100%). In Portugal, violence against animals is a reality and the complaint of these crimes is gradually increasing due to the population’s raising awareness about animal rights. ABSTRACT: Animal crimes are a widespread phenomenon with serious implications for animal welfare, individual well-being and for society in general. These crimes are universal and represent a major problem in human/animal interaction. In Portugal, current law 69/2014 criminalizes the mistreatment and abandonment of companion animals. This study characterizes forensic cases received at the Laboratory of Pathology of the National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Investigation (Vairão) since the enforcement of the aforementioned legislation. A retrospective study was carried out based on the consult of 160 data files of forensic necropsies from 127 dogs and 33 cats. Necropsies confirmed prior crime suspicion in 38 cases (24%), from which 33 were dogs and five were cats. Among confirmed cases, most of assaulted animals were medium-size (57%), crossbreed (55%) male (58%) dogs (87%), which were the victims of blunt force trauma (31%), firearms (27%), poisoning (27%) and asphyxiation (15%). In cats, most of the assaulted animals were juvenile (60%) females (60%) of unknown breed (40%), which suffered blunt force trauma (100%) as the only cause of death. The present study shows that violence against animals is a reality, and complaints about these crimes are gradually increasing due to the population’s raising awareness about animal rights. Greater communication and coordination between clinicians, veterinary pathologists, and law enforcement officers are essential to validate and legally support these cases and subject them to trial.