Cat Lucy died after being captured in Mossoró; condominium residents protested Reproduction The government of Rio Grande do Norte sanctioned this Wednesday (8) a law that expressly prohibits the capture, expulsion, compulsory displacement and extermination of dogs and cats that, even without an individual guardian, have established links with neighborhoods, squares or condominiums and receive care from local protectors. The measures are within the law that establishes the State Policy for Ethical Management, Population Control and Protection of Community Animals, published in this Wednesday's edition (8) of the Official Gazette of Rio Grande do Norte (DOE). ? Click here to follow the g1 RN channel on WhatsApp The legislation was named Lucy Law, in honor of a cat that was killed after being captured in a condominium in Mossoró, in the Western Region of Rio Grande do Norte (understand more below). ?? The crime of animal abuse is defined in Law No. 9,605/1998, which deals with those who injure, mutilate or abuse wild, domestic, native or exotic animals. The penalty is greater, based on Law No. 14,064/2020, for cases involving dogs and cats, with imprisonment for 2 to 5 years, in addition to a fine and prohibition of custody. Protest against the death of the cat Lucy, in Mossoró Article 11 of the new state law prohibits public authorities, administrators and private managers from promoting, authorizing or tolerating the extermination, abandonment or arbitrary removal of animals. Anyone who fails to comply with the points established by law is subject to "appropriate administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, in accordance with current legislation, especially environmental, health and criminal legislation". The new law establishes rules to guarantee "animal welfare, the protection of public health, environmental balance and harmonious coexistence between people and community animals". READ ALSO VIDEO: Community cat dies after being kicked and thrown in Mossoró What is a 'community animal' and who are the caretakers? The law provides specific definitions to identify the situations and animals that become protected. See below. Community Animal: A dog or cat that establishes a territorial bond with a certain public or private space for collective use. He does not have an exclusive individual tutor, but is continuously assisted by members of the local community. These people ensure food, monitoring and minimum welfare conditions, without this implying possession or ownership of the animal. Animal Colony: Stable and identified group of community animals that share the same territory and maintain links of coexistence, movement and feeding, being subject to monitoring. Caregiver or Community Protector: The citizen or legal entity who, voluntarily and non-exclusively, provides basic care (such as food and coordination with the Public Power), without this generating exclusive civil liability or individual custody. Ethical Management: The set of integrated actions aimed at population control and well-being, with practices of cruelty, mistreatment, abuse, indiscriminate removal and extermination being expressly prohibited. "Community animals already established in condominiums, closed subdivisions, residents' associations, housing complexes and other private spaces for collective use are part of the local urban fauna, for the purposes of applying this Law", the law states. Rules for public spaces According to the text, the presence of community animals in public places, squares and urban facilities does not, in itself, constitute an administrative infraction or justification for removing them. The legislation also points out that "the simple presence of community animals in private spaces for collective use does not, in itself, constitute a presumed health risk". For a removal to occur based on the allegation of disease transmission, it is necessary to present a suitable technical or veterinary report that proves a real, current and situation-specific risk. According to legislation, the management of these animals must prioritize scientific and ethical methods: capture, surgical sterilization, vaccination, identification and mandatory return to the place of origin. Impact on condominiums and private spaces for collective use The Lucy Law also regulates the situation of animals established in private common use areas, such as: Building condominiums (buildings); Closed subdivisions; Residents’ associations; Housing complexes. Dogs and cats already located in these locations are now considered part of the local urban fauna. Therefore, the law establishes that the expulsion or forced displacement of these animals is prohibited, unless there is a proven concrete risk to public health or safety. The text highlights that the internal rules of condominiums and possible administrative sanctions must respect the principles of reasonableness and animal protection, maintaining balance with hygiene and health requirements. Furthermore, it is prohibited to apply punishments, disproportionate restrictions or embarrassment to residents and caregivers who collaborate with the ethical handling of animals. Exceptions: When is withdrawal permitted? The legislation determines that the removal of the animal from its territory will only occur on an absolutely exceptional and temporary basis. The only permitted hypotheses are: Carrying out castration, vaccination, identification and health control; Urgent medical-veterinary care or clinical treatment; Real and immediate risk to the physical integrity of people or other animals (proven by report); Diagnosis of zoonosis that requires isolation (for the strictly necessary period). As soon as the purpose of collection is completed, it is mandatory to return the animal to its territory of origin, and sending it to uncertain or unsuitable locations is prohibited. Any temporary withdrawal must be communicated to the competent public body, detailing the justification, the destination location, the responsible professional and the return period. Lucy Law: tribute to the cat from Mossoró The state legislation was named in honor of Lucy, a 7-year-old pet cat who died in January this year after being captured by a trap in a gated community in Mossoró, in the West Region of the state. At the time, the case generated protests from family and friends, in addition to investigations by the Civil Police, the Public Ministry and the Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine (CRMV). Lucy, who was an exotic Persian breed, was caught by a management service contracted by the condominium administration to capture, transport and rehome felines considered communal or without an identified guardian. However, the owners contested the action, stating that the cat was a domestic companion animal, vaccinated and wearing an identification collar, not falling into the category of stray animal. According to the complaint made by the family at the time, the cat was held for several hours without her owners having access to her, facing systematic concealment of information about her whereabouts. The guardians reported that the condominium and the responsible company required registration and payment of veterinary expenses for release. The animal was located dead by the family, in the late afternoon of the day after its disappearance, at a veterinary clinic in the city. The condominium's defense and the management company claimed, at the time, that they strictly followed technical protocols and that the feline died due to a serious health condition found in the hospital. The case boosted the debate about the limits and rules for handling animals in collective residential areas, now culminating in the creation of the new state law. Lucy tattooed on her tutor's arm Provided Most watched videos on g1 RN