What does the mistreatment of animals say about us?

The brutal death of Orelha the dog has provoked a wave of indignation and mobilization throughout Brazil. More than the loss of a beloved animal, the episode reignited a debate that has been growing in recent years: the urgency of strengthening respect for animal life, both in legislation and in social awareness.

Orelha was a community dog of around 10 years old who had lived for a decade in Praia Brava, in Florianópolis (SC). Residents fed him and recognized him as part of the local community. At the beginning of January, he was found seriously injured, the victim of such severe aggression that he had to be euthanized to avoid prolonged suffering.

Police investigations show that four teenagers are suspected of beating Orelha with a blunt object, leaving him in a critical condition. In a second episode that is part of the same investigation, there are indications that another dog, called Caramelo, was also the target of a drowning attempt by the same group - fortunately escaping and later being adopted.

The case gained national repercussions and was even debated in the Federal Senate, with parliamentarians calling for tougher penalties and greater legal protection for animals. Protests, marches and acts of justice also took place in several cities, uniting activists, residents and animal rights defenders.

The history of violence and the evolution of laws
Orelha's episode is just one of several that, over the last few years, have raised public awareness of the seriousness of violence against animals in the country and the endless cycle of impunity:

- Avocado - life cut short by a gunshot
Last Tuesday (27), the community dog Abacate was killed by a gunshot that passed through his body and hit his kidneys. Cared for by local residents in Toledo (PR), the animal was found wounded and did not survive. The authorities confirmed that there was intent to kill, ruling out the hypothesis of an accident. The case reinforces the vulnerability of community animals and the trivialization of armed violence.

- Manchinha - a watershed (2018)
The death of the dog Manchinha, fatally beaten by a security guard at a Carrefour supermarket in São Paulo, sparked massive protests and mobilized the National Congress. The impact of the case was one of the main forces behind the enactment of the Sansão Law (2020), which increased the penalties for ill-treatment of dogs and cats to 2 to 5 years in prison, a fine and a ban on custody. A monument in honor of Manchinha was inaugurated in Osasco, reminding society of the importance of combating cruelty.

- Jump - symbol of resilience
The little dog who lost her hind legs due to brutal mutilation became an icon of overcoming after being rescued and rehabilitated with a wheelchair, inspiring fundraising campaigns and solutions for a dignified life for mutilated animals.

- Joca - a tragedy that changed the rules of transportation
The death of the golden retriever Joca after an error in the Gol airline's animal transportation service has prompted revisions to the rules for handling animals on flights in Brazil, with a focus on traceability and safety.

- Tokinho - legal recognition as a subject of rights (2023)
In a legal milestone, the dog Tokinho was recognized as the “author” of a mistreatment case, setting an important precedent for animals to be legally considered sentient beings, with rights that can be guaranteed by the courts.

- Rescue in Mairiporã (2025)
The police operation that removed more than 120 animals from an illegal shelter has exposed the need for strict supervision of institutions that should protect - and not exploit - vulnerable lives.

- Bananal crime
The case of a horse mutilated after long exposure to exhaustion drew attention to cruelty against draft animals and spurred debates on municipal inspection and strict application of the Samson Law for large animals.

- Caramel - ten shots at the only barker
In the East Zone of São Paulo, security camera footage recorded the murder of Caramelo, a community dog shot dead with around ten bullets on a public road. The crime occurred after the animal barked during a disturbance involving an armed man. The episode sparked national outrage and showed how intolerance and emotional imbalance can turn into extreme violence.

- Campinas Rottweiler - when “sacrifice” becomes a crime
In Campinas (SP), a 76-year-old doctor was arrested red-handed after shooting a rottweiler puppy to death. The perpetrator claimed he had failed in his attempt to kill the animal, but was charged with ill-treatment and illegal possession of a weapon. The case reignited the debate about false moral justifications for acts of cruelty and the need for accountability.

- Bobi
In Artur Nogueira (SP), the death of Bobi the dog, days after he was violently kicked, has generated commotion and calls for justice. The case is still under investigation and reveals how even apparently “minor” acts can be fatal, especially for debilitated and abandoned animals.

Law and punishment: what the law says
Today, mistreatment of animals in Brazil is typified in article 32 of the Environmental Crimes Law (Law No. 9.605/1998) and aggravated by the Samson Law (Law No. 14.064/2020) for dogs and cats, with penalties of imprisonment from 2 to 5 years, a fine and a ban on custody.

In the case of Orelha and other episodes involving minors, criminalization takes place under the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA), with socio-educational measures provided for - a point that has sparked debates about responsibility, protection and education of new generations.

Complaints - and social awareness - are on the rise
According to recent data, agencies such as the Green Line program in Rio de Janeiro are receiving thousands of reports of mistreatment of animals - including dogs, cats and horses - indicating that Brazilian society is more aware of this violence and more willing to take action.

Spiritist view on violence against animals
For Spiritism, animals are not mere objects; they are beings capable of feeling pain, fear and affection, deserving of respect and protection. The Spiritist Doctrine recognizes that all life is the expression of a process of learning and evolution. Although many spiritual traditions have different ways of viewing animals, Spiritism emphasizes that care, compassion and non-violence are universal moral paths.

Cruelty, on the other hand, is understood not just as a physical act, but as an indicator of moral imbalance that affects both the aggressor and the community. Ethical treatment of animals is seen as an extension of intimate reform, that is, the inner work of loving others, recognizing the sensitivity of others and cultivating empathy.

Animals at the Evolutionary School
Faced with such painful episodes, it is inevitable to reflect on the way humanity views and treats animals. Beyond human laws, there is a greater law that invites us to review our relationship with all forms of life.

This reflection finds a deep echo in the works of veterinarian and spiritist researcher Irvênia Prada, who has dedicated a large part of her life to studying the spiritual dimension of animals. In The Spiritual Question of Animals, the author proposes a paradigm shift: animals are not machines guided only by instinct, but manifestations of the evolving intelligent principle, walking, in their own condition, the long journey of spiritual progress.

The book deals with sensitive and necessary topics such as animal disincarnation and reincarnation, suffering, mediumship, the presence of animals on the spiritual plane and the ethical dilemmas surrounding human coexistence with other species.

In Animals in the Evolutionary School, the author deepens the understanding that animals are sentient spiritual beings, endowed with sensitivity, memory, intelligence and the ability to learn. In the light of spiritist literature - especially the series Life in the Spiritual World, by the benefactor André Luiz - the book reinforces the idea that these “younger brothers and sisters” actively participate in the School of Life and deserve respect for their capacity to suffer, both physically and emotionally.

Cases of extreme violence, such as those that have shocked Brazil, are not just individual failings: they reveal a collective distancing from the ethics of love and compassion taught by Christ.

When the pain of the helpless becomes a call to conscience
Orelha's case moved so many because it touched the humanity of millions of Brazilians - and beyond. It showed that, even in a society that is growing in laws and enforcement, there are still deep wounds that can only be healed with education, respect for life and moral transformation.

When an animal is mistreated, it's not just the body that suffers: it's our entire collective conscience that is summoned to a deeper reflection on who we are as human beings.

May the memory of Orelha and so many others who cannot speak for themselves inspire a greater movement of protection, love and responsibility for all the lives that share this planet with us.