Dogs conquer right to take legal action against former owners in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Paraná Court of Appeals (TJ-PR) has taken an unprecedented decision in Brazil: two dogs, victims of mistreatment, were granted the right to sue their former owners.

The case began in August last year, when the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Sou Amigo, from Cascavel, in western Paraná, rescued Rambo and Spike, who had been left alone for 29 days while their owners were traveling.

The NGO’s attorney Evelyne Paludo then decided to name the animals as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “The animals’ rights were violated, not those of the rescuer, nor of the NGO that has custody of them, and as according to Brazilian law only the holder of the right can claim compensation in court, then the animals are the rightful claimants,” she said.

The case was dismissed in the first instance, since the Cascavel Court ruled that the dogs were unable to be a party to a lawsuit. The case was then referred to the Paraná Court of Appeals, which decided differently.

The judges of the 7th Civil Court of the TJ were unanimous and recognized the right of dogs, cats and other animals to be plaintiffs in a lawsuit in defense of their rights.

Now the case will return to the Cascavel Court, with Rambo and Spike as “parties,” and claiming compensation for moral damages.