Law No. 7.870 establishing the Code of Animal Rights and Welfare of Federal District.

This Law establishes the State Code of Animal Rights and Welfare of Federal District, with the primary objective of creating a comprehensive legal framework for the protection, defense, and preservation of animals. It recognizes animals as sentient beings entitled to a dignified existence and integrates animal welfare into broader environmental and social policies, aiming to balance socio‑economic development with environmental conservation. The law promotes public policies focused on responsible ownership, prevention of abandonment and cruelty, environmental education, and respect for the physical and psychological needs of animals, while ensuring the preservation of biodiversity and ecological balance. In addition, the Code sets out a wide range of regulatory measures to operationalize these objectives, including the establishment of rights for animals, obligations for owners and public authorities, and detailed rules on conservation, health, population control, and humane treatment across different categories of animals (wildlife, domestic, production, and working animals). It introduces institutional mechanisms such as monitoring systems, registration and identification requirements, and enforcement procedures, alongside strict prohibitions of cruelty, exploitation, and harmful practices. The law also provides for administrative sanctions, education and awareness initiatives, and coordination among public and private actors, thereby reinforcing a systemic approach to animal welfare and ensuring accountability and effective implementation across the territory of the Federal District.