Vai Latvijai vajadzīgs lex Reksis?

This article examines whether amendments to the Latvian Civil Law and related legislation are necessary in order to symbolically and practically strengthen the legal concept that an animal, in particular a companion animal, is not merely an object or property but a living being. While Latvian law formally treats animals within the framework of property law, social attitudes and comparative legal developments increasingly question the adequacy of this approach.

The article analyses the legal significance of recognising animals as sentient beings and explores the potential consequences of such recognition for civil law, including ownership, liability, contractual relations, and the protection of animal welfare. Particular attention is paid to the symbolic role of legal norms in shaping societal values, as well as to the practical legal effects that may follow from redefining the legal status of animals.

By examining comparative examples and existing Latvian legal regulation, the article assesses whether legislative reform is necessary and, if so, to what extent. It argues that even limited and carefully formulated amendments could contribute to a clearer normative message and a more coherent legal framework, reflecting the understanding that animals occupy a special position between property and persons.