Brazilian court rulings address animal welfare and transport regulations

In Garça, Brazil, a court has sentenced two brothers for animal cruelty. One defendant, H. A. W., is a veterinarian practicing in Marília. The pair managed a shelter intended to house animals rescued from highways by the Eixo Concessionária. Instead of providing care, the facility was found to be a site of negligence and suffering. H. A. W. received a sentence of 2 years, 8 months, and 20 days of imprisonment in a semi-open regime, plus a fine. His brother, E. P. A., was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine.

Separately, the Federal Court of Paraná ruled on a civil public action regarding the transport of pets on interstate and international buses. The court found that the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) has been omissive in regulating the conditions for transporting pets in passenger cabins. While the court declined to draft the specific regulations itself, it ordered the ANTT to initiate a regulatory process to establish rules, including potential prohibitions and sanctions. The ruling follows testimony from veterinarians regarding the risks of transporting animals in luggage compartments, such as heat and lack of ventilation.