Leaving it on the road will no longer be free.
In Brazil, the Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday a bill that punishes anyone who abandons their dog or cat while using a car: 18 months without a driver’s license. For other animals, the suspension drops to 12 months. And if the abandonment results in the animal being run over, injured, or killed, the fine—already ten times higher than a serious traffic violation—doubles.
The rule does not erase the license in one fell swoop: it distinguishes between temporary suspension and revocation, which only occurs if the driver repeats the offense within 24 months. It also applies to those who abandon animals from boats. It still has to pass through the Senate and reach the President before becoming final law, but it already marks a before and after for those who see their pet as an obstacle in the way.