RS: Court bans Cobasi from selling animals in shopping malls in Brazil

The Rio Grande do Sul Court banned Cobasi from selling animals of any species in shopping center stores in Brazil.

The decision by Judge Patrícia Laydner, of the 20th Civil and Special Public Treasury Actions Court of the Central Court of the District of Porto Alegre, was released last Monday (8).

The ban was imposed under penalty of a fine of R$1,000 in case of non-compliance. Pets must be transferred within five days, starting on July 8.

The judge pointed out that the company can sell animals in stores outside of shopping malls. In addition, all Cobasi stores must have a veterinarian to meet all legal requirements.

The Amepatas Institute Association, which filed the public civil action, requested that the company be held responsible for the environmental damage caused by the animals’ exposure to suffering.

On May 17, all the animals in the Cobasi store at Shopping Praia de Belas, in Porto Alegre, died due to the flooding of the unit as a result of the floods in the city.

In this case, the company stated that the safety of the animals had been guaranteed, but that the tragedy had been unprecedented. The Association argued that the incident would be considered a failure to provide assistance.

Regarding the court decision, the pet shop’s defense alleged an offense against the rules of free exercise of economic activity and free competition to punish the company with a penalty without legal provision and without any evidence that allows its application.

Cobasi also highlighted that there is no news of mistreatment or cruelty in the care of its animals during almost forty years of operation in the market.

A CNN contacted Cobasi for a position, but has not yet received a response.