The Life Of An Animal

The life of an animal

Introduction 

The mere fact of quantifying or monetizing the life of an animal usually causes us a certain rejection, especially when it comes to our pets. And yes, we have a reason to feel bad with this idea, because the value of an existence, independent of the species, should not be calculated in economic terms.

However, this practice is done in many places, with many circumstances and not only at the time of purchase of pets. Mainly if we talk about the food industry or if we take a look at the legislation in force in our countries.

Next, we propose to do this reflective exercise that, as is usually the case, is not always pleasant. But as we will see, discussing the value of the life of an animal is a necessary step to continue advancing on the road to a more just and egalitarian society, with laws that recognize animal law.

Developing

Spanish laws, and more specifically the Civil Code, still understand animals as ‘movable property’, which belong to an owner. Among other things, this allows animals to be objects, for example, co -ownership contracts, mortgages and judicial embargoes. In this way, the life of an animal can be monetized according to the law itself.

Currently, a modification proposal is already being treated that gives pets a special legal status, legally recognizing them as beings endowed with sensitivity. However, one of the main problems is that his text contemplates only pets.

Therefore, the life of a wild or ‘farm’ can continue to be objectified and monetized, under the legal figure of a furniture. This status really deprives our pet of any cognitive or emotional faculty, causing its integrity and well -being to have little (or null) relevance at the legal level.

Another controversial aspect of Spanish regulations is that it contemplates the right of a tutor to legally demand compensation, if your pet suffers an accident or a victim of negligence in a veterinary clinic, for example. In these cases it is always important to have pet insurance. Logically, to preserve your right to claim, the tutor needs to meet some legally established minimal conditions. The first one is to verify that the animal was wearing the belt and was accompanied by its owner at the time of the accident.

Now, our focus is not on the requirements to request compensation, and in the parameters to assign a value. When we talk about an animal that will probably remain with sequelae for the rest of his life, how is a sufficient sum to ‘compensate’ the loss of his quality of life calculates?. In these cases, compensation is usually requested to completely cover expenses with its treatment and rehabilitation. An amount that includes expenses in veterinary care, medicines and care you need to receive.

But what if the worst happens?  When an animal dies as a result of the recklessness of a driver or the bad praxis of a professional, what is the value of this life taken so sudden and brutal? Because in administrative and legal terms, compensation must correspond to the price paid for the acquisition of the animal.

conclusion

In Europe, animal abuse is legally recognized as a crime, which can lead to sorrow in prison from 15 days to two years, depending on the country. In Spain promptly, article 337 of the Criminal Code provides for the possibility of issuing a three -month jail to those who commit acts of cruelty, abuse or exploitation against animals.

But in practice, a person is hardly. Most aggressors end up paying fines or performing substitute community services. Mainly if they had never registered a legal complaint against them. Is a simple fine really minimally effective to combat animal abuse? Independent of the amount, an economic sanction is far from being able to repair the physical and emotional damage caused to the organism and the life of an animal.

But the most alarming, is that fines do not have any educational function. That is: they do not generate a real impact on the understanding of the individual who deliberately damages another living being. Nor do they generate any contribution to the awareness of the population about the importance of respecting life, in all its forms and species.