New bills were submitted after the death of the dog Joca; 15 deputies asked for the urgent drafting of a text that regulates the matter
Five new bills to regulate the transport of pets by air have been presented to the Chamber of Deputies since last Monday, the 22nd, when the dog Joca, a five-year-old golden retriever, died during an air transport carried out by Gollog, cargo service of the airline Gol. The new projects were attached to a text that had been stuck in the Chamber for almost three years. There is no federal law that standardizes the rules across the entire national territory.
After the animal’s death, Tabata Amaral (PSB-SP), Pedro Aihara (PRD-MG), Marcos Tavares (PDT-RJ), Camila Jara (PT-MS) and Denise Pessôa (PT-RS) presented regulatory proposals . The pre-candidate for mayor of Sao Paulo wants companies to be obliged to have veterinarians on duty and to place tracking devices on animals to allow them to be located in real time.
Tabata explains that the measure will allow “a rapid response in the event of an emergency, loss or any situation that puts the life and integrity of animals at risk.” Camila proposes to consider transporting animals in the cabin as an owner’s right, while Tavares wants stricter rules to ensure that animals have access to water and food and are transported in safe and comfortable containers.
The oldest ongoing proposal on the topic is from former MP Marina Santos (Solidariedade-PI). The rapporteur of the text, Célio Studart (PV-CE), expressed his favorable opinion on 5 July 2021, but the text was never voted on by the Environment Commission.
There are at least 16 other similar proposals with differences regarding the weight and number of animals allowed per flight, or involving other rules, such as requiring veterinarians and human supervision during the transfer.
On Wednesday 24th, 15 deputies asked for an urgent elaboration of the project of former deputy Paulo Bengtson (PTB-PA), to which Marina Santos’ proposal is attached (i.e. being jointly developed). If the emergency regime is approved, the process is accelerated and the project can be included in the plenary agenda even without first going through all the commissions.
Presented in 2020, the text originally dealt exclusively with rules for the transport of emotional assistance or service animals, such as guide dogs, and was also being examined by the Environment Commission. Two days later, delegate rapporteur Matheus Laiola (União-PR) presented a replacement.
The new text expands the original proposal and establishes that it is the right of the owner of pets in general to travel with them in the passenger cabin: those weighing up to 10 kg would fit on the lap and heavier ones on their own seat, which can be charged by the airline company.
Federal MP Rosana Valle (PL-SP), who also presented a project on the topic in 2022, says there should be no weight limit. “It’s time for airlines to allow our animals to travel alongside us, regardless of size. They are part of our family. They are not cargo. What happened to Joca a few days ago is irreparable and could have been avoided” , said the MP.
Gol says he is investigating the case of the Joca dog
Regarding the case of the dog Joca, the Gol company reported that “it is offering all the necessary support to the owner and his family from the beginning”. “The investigation of the details of what happened is being carried out with the highest priority by our team,” the company informed.
“To dedicate ourselves completely to completing the investigation of this event, Gol has suspended for 30 days (from Wednesday 24/04 to 23/05) the sale of the Gollog Animais dog and cat transport service and for the Dog&Cat + Espaço product , for journeys made in the hold of the aircraft. The Dog&Cat Cabin service, for customers who transport their pets in the aircraft cabin, will not undergo any changes”, he specifies in a press release.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
