Brazil Publishes ‘Justice for Orelha’ Decree Raising Animal-Cruelty Fines Up to R$1 Million

Overview

• Signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with Environment Minister Marina Silva, the decree is in force and named in reference to the community dog Orelha.
• Base fines per offender now range from R$1,500 to R$50,000, with exceptional aggravation allowing up to a 20× multiplier that can push penalties to roughly R$1 million.
• Aggravating factors include death or permanent sequelae, abandonment, cruelty, use of minors, economic advantage, threatened species, and sharing violence on social media.
• The act amends Decree 6.514/2008 that regulates environmental infractions, reinforcing administrative enforcement alongside existing criminal penalties.
• Officials pointed to CNJ data showing 4,919 animal-cruelty cases in 2025, up about 21% from 2024; in the Orelha case, a teenager was identified and provisional internment was requested as forensics remain inconclusive.