site.btaGovernment Proposes Stricter Penalties for Animal Cruelty

The Council of Ministers approved a draft bill to amend the Penal Code, significantly increasing penalties for acts of animal torture and introducing more severe charges in specific cases – such as when the abuse is recorded for distribution or committed by two or more individuals, the cabinet said in a press release on Wednesday.

Under the proposed amendments, if the crime is committed for profit, in execution of an organized crime decision, or by a repeat offender, the punishment would range from 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine of BGN 5,000 to BGN 20,000. In particularly severe cases, the proposed penalty is between 3 and 12 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from BGN 10,000 to BGN 30,000. The cabinet’s decision is positioned as a legal response to what authorities describe as "sadism as a business".

Since 2011, Bulgarian law has defined animal torture as unlawful act of cruelty against vertebrate animals resulting in death, serious, or permanent injury (Article 325b of the Penal Code). Although penalties were raised in 2023, the government noted they have proven insufficient in deterring such crimes. On the contrary, law enforcement reports suggest a rise in such incidents, often involving shocking levels of sadism, prompting the urgent need for institutional action.

The draft bill also raises the maximum prison sentence under the standard offense from 4 to 5 years. Additionally, it introduces a professional ban for convicted individuals, such as veterinarians or others involved in animal care, prohibiting them from continuing work in animal-related fields.