By Wendy Anders

The Costa Rican Legislative Assembly voted in favor of legislation to protect animal welfare yesterday.

The President’s press office reported that the law, Ley #18,298 (Bienestar Animal), has received unconditional support from the executive branch, which has already started to implement actions along these lines

The law stipulates sanctions against anyone who physically hurts an animal; spells out pet owners’ responsibilities; and considers abandonment a form of mistreatment.

Sentences of six months to two years will be served to those who either directly or through a third party “cause harm to an animal that has a persistent weakening effect on its health or which causes it to lose one of its senses, an organ, a part of its body or makes it unable to use an organ or part of its body, or which causes it suffering or intense pain or prolonged agony,” details the law, “ .. as well as those who organize, facilitate or carry out fights between any type of animal.”

Anyone who has sex with animals or dissects animals for any reason other than professional research shall also be punished. And anybody who directly or indirectly causes the wilful loss of life of an animal can be sentenced to up to 3 years in jail, stated an official report on the legislation.

The law does not apply to animals covered under existing agricultural and veterinary laws governing the National Animal Health Services’ (SENASA) work with animals in fisheries, on ranches, or breeding centers for these sites.

Similarly, animals killed for consumption by a family are also excluded from the new law.

Under the new animal welfare law, owners will be expected to provide basic living conditions for their pets, and proper care to avoid damaging pets’ health or integrity. Likewise, owners must provide hygienic care for their pets, and properly dispose of their pets’ feces.

Saying that this law was one of his personal goals when taking office, President Luis Guillermo Solís was reported to be very happy the law was approved during his tenure.

In order to promote understanding and compliance with the law, the topic of animal welfare will be incorporated into the public education curriculum.

A special commission (CATPAD, in Spanish) for handling and caring for animals affected by emergencies or natural catastrophes, such as the recent Turrialba Volcano eruptions has also been formed.

Police have also been trained on how to enforce the law with the help of the non-profit International Humane Society.

And along with a series of other specific actions on this new law, additional attention is also being given to wild animals through increased signage in areas in and around national parks and protected areas to alert drivers to the possibility of wild animals crossing roads.