In Joao Pessoa, a group of 22 cats have sued an apartment complex trying to prevent the animals from being in the place. The plaintiffs are the animals themselves, assisted in court by the Instituto Protecionista SOS.
Cats have lived in condominiums for many years, even before the residents themselves existed. The people staying on the site provide water and food and take the animals to the vets when necessary. However, the condominium management started notifying residents so that they would no longer take care of the animals.
According to the Coordinator of the Animal Justice Center at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Francisco Garcia, the Paraíba Animal Law and Welfare Act states that residential units are responsible for guarding abandoned animals in buildings. “When animals are abandoned in communal premises, they are responsible for the care and welfare of the animals. They must feed them, quench their thirst, take them to the vet when necessary, and control the population to avoid breeding in space,” he explains.
Representatives of the UFPB’s Animal Justice Center, the Administrative Board and the condominium manager met in May to try to reach an agreement, but without success. Residents reported that the number of notices increased and the case ended up in court.
The lawsuit states that all cats are neutered, dewormed, and take vitamins regularly. The document also shows pictures of some cats taking refuge in the litter after the housing complex prevented residents from feeding the animals. The lawyer concludes, “We have sued for compensation for individual and collective moral damages, as well as a request for an injunction that includes obligations not to, for example, not to force people not to feed animals.”
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