Stronger Protection for Animals: Colombia Tightens Penalties for Abuse and Updates National Animal Protection Statute

By Vera Abogados

Colombia has taken a significant step forward in the fight against animal cruelty by strengthening penalties and updating the National Animal Protection Statute (Law 84 of 1989, known as the Ángel Law). The new legislation enhances prevention, investigation, and harsher punishment for violence against animals within both criminal and administrative processes.

A lifetime ban has been added to the Penal Code for individuals convicted of crimes against animals, prohibiting them from acquiring, owning, caring for, or housing animals under any circumstance. This ban will last for twice the duration of the primary sentence imposed. The offense of “animal killing” has been revised to increase prison terms to between 32 and 56 months, maintain special disqualifications from professions related to animals, uphold fines, and introduce prohibitions on animal ownership as part of the sanctions.

The law also broadens the scope of aggravating factors for animal abuse and killing offenses. These include cruelty, acts committed in public spaces, involvement of minors, sexual acts with animals, crimes committed by public officials, dissemination of abuse through mass and digital media, economic exploitation, permanent harm to the animal, retaliation against the owner, use of mass poisoning, and harm caused to other animals or people as a result of the abuse.

Exceptions remain in place for responsible animal management practices related to care, reproduction, food production, training for lawful competitions, public health actions, and traditional activities listed in Article 7 of Law 84 of 1989, such as bullfighting and coleo