Animal welfare advocates raise concerns over effectiveness of animal cruelty law in Sweden

The law addressing severe animal cruelty was enacted to target the most egregious cases and to impose longer prison sentences. The maximum penalty for severe animal cruelty is four years in prison, compared to two years for general animal cruelty, although most offenders receive fines or probation. The first conviction under this law occurred at the end of 2022, involving a man who neglected his two dogs. To date, no one has been convicted of severe animal cruelty as a primary offense in 2023.

This trend raises concerns, with animal welfare advocates asserting that the criminal justice system is not taking animal cruelty as seriously as intended by the legislative changes. The number of animal cruelty enforcement actions in 2023 was the lowest in years, dropping to less than half of what it was the previous year.

Helena Storckenfeldt, a member of the Environment and Agriculture Committee, suggests that the law needs to be reevaluated. She emphasized that, while the legislation was well-intentioned, it has not addressed all the cases it was meant to cover. Storckenfeldt plans to discuss these issues with the responsible ministers in the upcoming fall session.

As public awareness regarding animal rights continues to grow, the effectiveness of the current laws is under scrutiny, prompting calls for reform to ensure better protection for animals.