Austria’s states seek tougher penalties for animal cruelty

Animal welfare officials from Austria’s states have unanimously called for tougher penalties for animal cruelty, ORF Steiermark reports. The meeting in Salzburg backed a proposal from Styria’s representative, Hannes Amesbauer of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

The officials urged the federal government to consider raising the current maximum sentence of two years in prison and introducing stricter criminal provisions for particularly serious cases, then take the necessary steps.

“We finally need a clear tightening of the rules and the possibility of punishing particularly cruel acts accordingly,” Amesbauer said. “Animal cruelty is no trivial offence. With the unanimous decision of all the states, a clear mandate for action is now on the table. The federal government must finally act.”

In July, Styria’s state parliament unanimously backed a corresponding amendment to the Criminal Code. The latest decision gives that demand support across Austria.

Styria also proposed a nationwide public awareness and prevention campaign focused on responsible animal ownership. It aims to prevent avoidable animal suffering and ease pressure on increasingly overcrowded animal shelters.

The state is also seeking consistent nationwide enforcement of the ban on breeding animals in ways that cause suffering. Another priority is developing data-based models to better target animal welfare inspections, using existing inspection data to identify high-risk businesses earlier.