Human-to-animal relationship has been subject to a lot of change in the modern world, mostly because the desire for continued technological progress and economic growth have made humans forget about the well-being of non-human animals. This led to the emergence of unjust legislation that continues to perceive animals as things. Nevertheless, nonhuman animals enjoy greater protection than ordinary objects, as humans are slowly starting to acknowledge them as living creatures capable of thinking and sensing pain. With this in mind, it is only logical to classify them either as their own category or a subcategory in relation to legal personality of humans.
Legal status of animals is also marked by speciesism – a distinction between living beings based on different criteria. In this context, it is important to be consistent in determining the criteria for differentiation, to follow scientific knowledge, and above all, to forget our own personal interests.
After analysing relevant Articles of the Criminal Code and possible motives for criminalization of the treatment of non-human animals, it is evident that legislation primarily protects human interests and not interests of non-human animals. In the future, it is necessary to bring the whole legal system closer to the laws of nature and thus the reality in which humans cohabits with other animals from the very beginning and are therefore obliged to take their interests into account as well.
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