The mayor of Teresina, Silvio Mendes, has requested the judiciary to suspend two specific provisions of the recently enacted State Law No. 8.598/2025. This law mandates that the city maintain responsibility for sheltering unaccompanied animals, thereby placing a burden on municipal management to provide adequate facilities for these animals. The law, which was signed into effect by Governor Rafael Fonteles in February 2025, establishes a framework for the protection of stray animals, including policies for their reproductive control and the right for citizens to feed street animals in both public and private spaces.

The request made by Mendes has been processed by Mário Basílio, a judge from the Piauí Court of Justice. Basílio has indicated that he cannot issue a precautionary measure to suspend the law's provisions before the legal matter is reviewed by other judges on the court. In his decision, he calls for further clarity from Governor Fonteles regarding the mayor's claims about the law's implications for municipal responsibilities.

This legal challenge highlights the ongoing tension between state mandates and municipal capabilities, especially as cities like Teresina face increasing challenges related to animal welfare. The outcome of this court case may have broader implications for similar laws across Brazil, particularly in how they balance the protection of animals with the resources available to local governments.