Is there liability for neglecting an animal?

If a cat owner systematically neglects his pet, which leads to a deterioration in its condition, can he be held liable under Ukrainian law?

13.08.2025 09:00 71

Answers

Photo of lorina200215 Lorina Fedan

According to Article 299 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

  1. Cruel treatment of vertebrate animals, including stray animals, violation of the rules for transporting animals, if such actions have resulted in bodily injury, mutilation or death of the animal, inciting animals against each other, committed for hooligan or selfish motives, as well as propaganda, public calls to commit actions that have signs of cruel treatment of animals, distribution of materials with calls to commit such actions -

shall be punishable by restriction of liberty for a term of one to three years or imprisonment for a term of two to three years with confiscation of the animal.

  1. The same actions committed in the presence of a minor or a minor, -

shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to five years with confiscation of the animal.

  1. The acts provided for in parts one or two of this article, committed with particular cruelty or against two or more animals, or repeatedly, or by a group of persons, or committed in an active manner, or violent acts against an animal aimed at satisfying sexual passion, -

shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to eight years with confiscation of the animal.

  1. Actions provided for in parts one, two or three of this article, committed for the purpose of creating images, works, film, video or audio productions, or selling or distributing images, works, film, video or audio productions that promote cruelty to animals, -

shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to eight years with confiscation of the animal.

13.08.2025 12:37