RUSSIAN DEPUTIES WILL PROHIBIT TO SEIZE PETS FROM DEBTORS

The State Duma is considering a draft law aimed to protect pets from seizure from the debtor owners. The initiators were the deputies of United Russia party, V.V. Burmatov and P.V. Krasheninnikov. The document has already passed the first reading.

It is proposed to amend Article 446 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation, supplementing it with the rule on the impossibility of foreclosure on pets. The current article contains a ban on the removal of only some domestic animals, but there is no speech about pets.

According to the authors of the innovation, both the animals themselves and their owners, who often consider their pets to be family members, suffer from the absence of such a prohibition.

In addition, after seizure, it is not always possible to provide the proper level of life for pets, due to which they may have stress.

The deputies recalled that the previously adopted law "On Responsible Treatment of Animals" not only defined pets, but also indicated that an animal is not a "thing", but an alive creature that experiences pain and suffering.

In addition, the parliamentarians recalled the established criminal liability for cruelty to animals. Employees of public authorities, who seize pets, but cannot provide proper conditions for their life, might also be held liable. Thus, the amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure will protect these people from possible criminal liability.