A court in Mendoza, Argentina, after recognising two rescued mares are sentient beings protected under the country’s animal protection legislation, has given a custodial sentence to the person who abused them.
The case centres on “Dulce” and “Batata”, two mares who were among 19 equines rescued from a clandestine slaughter operation discovered months earlier. Authorities intervened after uncovering illegal activity involving the killing of horses in makeshift enclosures, leading to their removal and subsequent protection.
Following the investigation, the court issued a ruling that not only acknowledged the mares’ sentience but also imposed sanctions on the individual responsible. According to the Asociación Protectora Equina Mendocina Podemos Ayudarlos (PEMPA), the sentence includes a custodial penalty, a two-year ban on keeping or handling animals, and the permanent confiscation of Dulce and Batata. The mares will remain under the organisation’s lifelong care and protection.
Reports indicate that the convicted individual attempted to hide the mares on a neighbouring property upon noticing police presence, but the animals were ultimately recovered and placed in safety.
Jerónimo Allende, legal representative for PEMPA, said, “this resolution constitutes a new step forward in the legal recognition of non-human animals as victims deserving effective protection”.
This is not the first time Mendoza has drawn attention for action against violence towards animals. Earlier this year, a court in Las Heras handed down a custodial sentence of two months and one day to an individual convicted of abusing six dogs, signalling a growing willingness within the region’s judiciary to impose tangible consequences for such acts.
Parallel to these legal developments, legislative efforts are also underway. The proposed “Ágata” law aims to strengthen preventative measures against cruelty and amend Mendoza’s Contraventions Law 9099. The initiative has been driven in part by public concern following the killing of a mare who was violently beaten to death, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties.
