Legítima defensa de animales

Abstract

If we recognize that animals have rights, even minimal and rudimentary as the right to not to be killed without an acceptable reason or the right to live without constant or repetitive pain (§ 17 Animal Protection Law), then the consequence is that they would be covered by the right to self­defense. Such rights would configure the attacked subjective right, which is exercised by humans instead of animals and they do so in their interest based on a legitimate third party’s defense. The legitimate defense in favor of animals is, however, less extensive than the one which is carried out in favor of a human being, according to the thesis I defend in this article.