The new legal status of animals, which recognizes them as living beings endowed with
sensitivity and was published today in the Diário da República and enters into force on May 1.

 The new legislation recognizes animals as “sensitive living beings and object of legal protection”, which “operates through the provisions of this Code and of special legislation”.

 The legal status of animals also defines a sentence of imprisonment of up to three years or a fine for anyone who steals an animal from others and who illegitimately appropriates an animal that has been “delivered to him by a non-translative title of the property.”