Figures from the GNR police force published on Tuesday by newspaper Correio da Manhã show that during that two-year time-frame, authorities also received more than 7,200 complaints denouncing animal neglect.
Under the new law criminalising pet abuse, the GNR’s SEPNA environment protection force issued over 9,800 fines and registered 822 crimes, around two thirds of which were for mistreatment and a third for abandonment.
Setúbal was the district where most crimes were perpetrated, followed by Faro, and Lisbon.
Bragança is where the fewest crimes against animals were committed, with just eight incidents registered in the two years.
The main offences relating to pets included lack of ID chip or vaccinations, or keeping pets in inadequate hygiene conditions.
The new law criminalising animal neglect, which covers domestic pets, mainly cats and dogs, came into effect on 1 October 2014.
Under the new law “anyone who, without reasonable cause, inflicts pain, suffering or any other physical harm to a companion animal is punishable with imprisonment up to one year or the equivalent of up to 120 days’ fine.”
In the event of abandonment the law foresees “prison sentences of up to six months or 120 days’ fine”, and, should the neglect result in “the death of a pet, the loss of an important organ or limb, or serious and permanent impediment of its ability to walk, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment up to two years or a fine of up to 240 days.”
All animals being kept or intended to be kept by man, in the home, for man’s entertainment and company, are considered pets and covered by the law.