Sansão case

Sansão case (caso Sansão) refers to the torture and attempted murder of a pit bull dog whose two hind legs were severed. It occurred in Brazil on July 6, 2020, and led the National Congress of the country to increase the penalty for animal cruelty.

Incident
The two suspects tortured the pit bull with a sickle. The dog, who was 2 years old at the time, had his two hind legs severed. It happened in the late afternoon of July 6. Both suspects were arrested and later held responsible for the crime of animal abuse.

Reactions
The case led to an increase in the penalty for those who commit animal abuse against dogs and cats, from three months to one year to two to five years. In September 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed into law a bill that imposes prison sentences for acts of abuse, mistreatment or violence against dogs and cats. The legislation, known as the Lei Sansão (Sansão Law), also includes fines and bans on pet ownership for offenders. The change was intended to ensure that animal abuse is no longer considered a minor offence, allowing law enforcement to respond more quickly to incidents. The bill was authored by Congressman and passed in the Senate on September 9, 2021.