The Evolution of Legal Regulation of Animal Protection in the 19th-Century France

This article examines the development of animal protection legislation in the 19th-century France against the backdrop of philosophical and social transformations of society. It examines the shift in views on animals from a consumerist attitude to recognizing their intrinsic value and sentience. Particular attention is given to the first regulations – the Ordinance regulating the protection of horses (1843) and the Grammont Law (1850), which became the foundation of modern animal protection legislation. The article also analyzes the activities of the Society for the Protection of Animals, which played a key role in the development of the animal protection movement and the formation of legal norms. The article emphasizes the importance of France’s historical experience for understanding contemporary challenges in the humane treatment of animals and the development of legal mechanisms for their protection. The purpose of the study is to analyze the development of animal protection legislation in the 19th-century France in the context of philosophical, social, and legal transformations, to identify key regulations and the role of the animal rights movement in shaping principles of humane treatment of animals, and to demonstrate the significance of France’s historical experience for contemporary legal debates and the development of national animal protection legislation. Methods: A comprehensive historical legal and philosophical analytical approach, including the analysis of regulations, the study of the activities of animal protection organizations (in particular, the Society for the Protection of Animals), as well as the examination of philosophical concepts and 19th-century public discourse that influenced the development of legal norms on animal protection. The study also utilizes the methods of comparative historical analysis and source interpretation to identify patterns and trends in the development of legislation and social practice. Results: This study demonstrates that the development of animal protection legislation in the 19th-century France was the result of a complex interaction of philosophical ideas, public awareness, and lawmaking practices. Early regulations, such as the 1843 Ordinance and the 1850 Grammont Law, laid the foundations for modern animal protection legislation, and the work of the Society for the Protection of Animals played a key role in the development of legal protection of animals. France’s historical experience serves as an important reference point for modern legal reforms and the development of humane treatment of animals in Russia and other countries.