Georgia to Tighten Sanctions for Mistreatment of Animals

Georgian parliament is discussing a draft law which tightens sanctions for the mistreatment of animals.

Amendments will be made to the Code of Administrative Offenses and Criminal Law which envisages increasing legal responsibility for animal abuse.

The legislative package was initiated by MPs Kakha Kuchava, Zaza Khutsishvili, Sulkhan Makhatadze, Nino Tsilosani and Gela Samkharauli.

The amendments planned to the Code of Administrative Offenses read that inadequate treatment of animals and birds, which cause their suffering, pain, physical injuries or physical disturbance, one time or repeatedly, will be fined from GEL 100 to 500 GEL.

In addition, the Code of Administrative Offenses will include the law of parental responsibility which means that acts of mistreatment committed by juveniles will result in a fine for the parents from GEL 100 to 300 GEL.

Moreover, the amendments planned to the Criminal Code read that animal mortality will not be considered as an administrative offence but a criminal one.

More specifically, the torture and cruel treatment of an animal which results in death or mutilation will be followed by imprisonment from 120 to 240 hours or home arrest from 6 months to 1 year, as well as a fine or imprisonment for up to 1 year.

If the same act is committed by a group and/or in the presence of minors, it will result in a penalty of 200 to 400 hours pre-trial detention or home arrest from 1 year to 2 years, a fine, or by imprisonment for up to three years.

The current legislation reads that at present the fine for the ill-treatment of animals and birds is a minimum of 40 GEL.

According to the statistical data of the information-analytical department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of offenses revealed for violation of Article 104 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which envisages mistreatment of animals, is as follows: 2015 - 2 cases; 2016 - 0; 2017 – 0 and 2018 - 3 cases.

The number of crimes committed for breach of Article 259 of the Criminal Code which means killing or mutilation of animals, is as follows: 2015 - 19 cases; 2016 - 15 cases; 2017 - 23 cases and 2018 - 58 cases.

It is believed that the proposed changes will reduce cases of ill-treatment and mortality of animals in the country.

By Thea Morrison

Image source: gspsa.org