A man filmed abusing his own dog in Praia Grande, São Paulo, was acquitted due to lack of evidence and has regained custody of the pet after four years.
In Praia Grande, São Paulo, a man who was filmed physically abusing his own dog has been acquitted of the charges due to insufficient evidence. The ruling by the city's 1st Criminal Court allowed the man to reclaim his pet after a four-year separation, during which the dog was placed in a municipal shelter. The incident that led to the legal proceedings occurred in 2022, when the dog was seen rummaging through trash and the man was filmed hitting and spitting on the animal.
The acquittal, confirmed in January of this year, raised significant concerns among animal rights advocates, especially since the evidence collected during the trial did not corroborate the findings from the initial police investigation. Leila Abreu, president of the Instituto Eliseu, has expressed her disappointment and alarm over the outcome, noting that the dog, affectionately nicknamed 'Preferido,' has now endured an extended stay in a shelter, bringing to light the challenges faced in the justice system when it comes to protecting animal rights.
The return of the dog to its owner continues to provoke outrage among animal welfare activists. There are fears that the man’s prior behavior could repeat itself, especially since he arrived to reclaim 'Preferido' on a bicycle, indicating a lack of serious consideration for the animal's well-being. This case underscores the ongoing issues within the Brazilian legal framework concerning the protection of pets and the enforcement of animal rights laws, revealing a significant gap between societal values and judicial outcomes regarding animal welfare.
