On 27th January 2026, Paraguay’s new Law 7513/25 came into force, formally recognising companion animals, wild animals in captivity, and animals used for labour, as sentient beings rather than mere objects. However, the law excluded farmed animals and any animal used for the production of food, fibre, and other commodities, as well as animals used in entertainment, cultural events, or sport. Wild animals in the wild were also excluded.
By acknowledging legally that the protected animals feel, the law treats harm inflicted on them as irreparable damage, triggering tougher sanctions, higher fines, and the possibility of prison sentences of up to six years.
The National Animal Defence Directorate welcomed the reform as a historic legal shift that raises the status of some animals across Paraguayan territory. The institution stated, “Recognising sentience is not about humanizing animals; it is about sensitizing humans. Pain knows no species.” The law’s text emphasises that the protected animals are no longer regarded as property objects, but as sentient individuals with a complex nervous system capable of processing not only physical pain, but also emotional suffering, fear, and distress.
A key element of the new framework is the explicit recognition that all kinds of animal companions have the right to a life free from fear, so any practice that generates terror or prolonged anxiety is prohibited, even if it leaves no visible injuries. The legislation confirms that the protected animals are conscious of themselves and their surroundings, and that their well-being is a protected right rather than an optional act of charity.
The Animal Welfare Department of Paraguay highlighted that the law substantially increases fines and sanctions for those who mistreat animals. The reform moves some cases from minor penalties into custodial sentences, with cruelty leading to torture or death of a protected animal having the maximum punishment of up to six years in prison. Abandonment is explicitly treated as a serious offence.
