14/09/2016
For the first time, a law for animals. The initiative of Tahiri: Prison for those who injure and kill animals
Minister of the Interior, Saimir Tahiri has announced last week his initiative to protect animals, that will be one of a kind law going to the Albanian parliament.
In the 4 articles proposed by Tahiri, are predicted fines and prison for the abandonment, injury, killing and also for the animals forced performances.
“Violence against animals must end! I will propose to be punishable offense, the abandonment, mistreatment, violence, wounding, killing, strength contests, fights between animals, pictures or videos publication and animal illegal experiments, said the Minister of Interior.”
He said that he has undertaken this step after communications with citizens and numerous cases recently published showing the violence against animals as well as the existing legal gap.
“After hundreds of communications with many citizens regarding the systematic abuse of animals, after constant explanations between helplessness legal acts and the indifference of many institutions, after hundreds of photos and videos where violence and fights between animals are used for venture or benefit, it is necessary undertaking a legal initiative to end the normative vacuum and inhumane torture that some irresponsible people cause to the animals, "said Tahiri.
In the proposed articles, it is provided prison for using animals skin for profit.
Illegal use of domestic animal’s skin to produce leather goods, will be punished by imprisonment 2 to 3 years and a fine of up to 500,000 ALL. Likewise, illegal use of skin, feathers or other body parts of animals declared endangered species will be punished by imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of up to 1,000,000 ALL.
The Minister has an answer for skeptics and critics saying that no matter how many other serious problems a country may have, this can not justify the indifference toward animals violation.
"Up to date, there has been no provision to punish animal abusers. Must immediately! Perhaps today onwards, there will be many people who would consider it excessive.
Some would say that Albania has bigger problems! Some will say that we must first look after people’s problems, then animals. I think the opposite! No any other problem, no matter how great it can be, can never be an excuse so as to be indifferent to the violation of animals in our country ", concluded Tahiri.
He also published the proposed articles to protect the animals.
Article 1
"Mistreatment of animals"
1. Abandonment of animals constitutes a criminal offense and will be fined from 10,000 to 30,000 ALL.
2. Whoever, without legitimate reason, injures an animal, or subdues it to actions that bring suffering to the animal, will be punished by imprisonment from 3 to 6 months.
3. When as a result of actions carried out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article caused the death of the animal, will be punished by imprisonment from 6 to 12 months and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 ALL.
Article 2
"Performances, competitions and fighting between animals"
1. Animals illegal performances and competitions, will be fined from 20,000 to 50,000 ALL.
2. Production, distribution, sale and publication of images of fighting between animals, by any form, is a criminal offense that will be punished by a fine up to 200,000 ALL or imprisonment up to 1 year.
3. Organization of fighting and other violent activities with animals will be punished 1 to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 to 300,000 ALL.
4. Fighting between animals organized for financial profit will be punished 1 to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 ALL.
5. If the acts specified in paragraph 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Article caused the death of the animal, will be punished with imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of up to 1,000,000 ALL.
Article 3
"Doing experiments with animals"
1. Doing illegal experiments with animals is punishable by imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of up to 1,000,000 ALL.
Article 4
"Use for profit of animal’s skin"
1. Illegal use of the skin of domestic animals, to produce leather goods, will be punished by imprisonment 2 years to 3 years and a fine of up to 500,000 ALL.
2. Illegal use of skin, feathers or other body parts of animals declared endangered species will be punished by imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of up to 1,000,000 ALL.
Original article in Albanian: http://www.balkanweb.com/site/per-here-te-pare-ligj-per-kafshet-nisma-e-tahirit-burg-per-ata-qe-i-plagosin-dhe-vrasin/
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