Bem-estar animal e maus tratos contra os animais

Abstract

The scenario of national production of cattle, pigs and poultry and the concern with methods of handling animals for consumption exert great pressure on breeders and slaughterhouses, as they are obliged to follow national and international regulations that make it mandatory animal welfare practices for the marketing of their products. In this sense, this work provides a literature review on animal welfare and also an approach to animal abuse, legislation and punishments regarding this crime that is so present in our society. The literature shows the importance of animal welfare for both farm animals and domestic and wild animals, ensuring their universal rights. There are no differences between rational and irrational beings when externalizing pain, suffering or even happiness, that is, animals as much as human beings are capable of expressing their psychic states. With regard to slaughter animals, Brazil has sought improvements in animal welfare as a result of the demands made by importers. Deficiencies in the cattle, pig and poultry production chain, such as overcrowding in transport, lack of producer knowledge for proper management, errors in animal shipment and handling in the slaughterhouse cause damage to animal welfare, resulting in low quality of meat . Human beings' disregard for wild animals was also observed, where the trafficking of these animals has become profitable, with insufficient laws and punishments to stop such activity. Animal trafficking is carried out in conditions incompatible with their lives, where for every ten animals taken from the wild for illegal trafficking, only one survives. Another growing crime in the country is the mistreatment of dogs and cats, with cases of torture and total neglect of animals, demonstrating the cruelest side of human beings. It became clear that public powers have not been sufficient to protect animals and properly punish offenders, due to the growing increase in cases of mistreatment and impunity for attackers, where animal rights are left aside to meet the greed and whims of the human being.