We’ve been talking about this for months and finally the Congress has given the green light to the new Animal Welfare law. It still has to be approved by the Senate, but it already portends the future of animals in our country: many improvements for pets but continuous abandonment and neglect for game and field animals. We give you all the keys.
This new legislature caters to the theme of animals and shows, banning the very popular cockfighting in Andalusia and the Canary Islands with penalties of up to 200,000 euros. It also prohibits the use of animals in circuses and similar shows, although bulls will continue to be exempt from this regulation. Regarding domestic pets, there are five keys that will affect the owners.
The sale of dogs, cats and ferrets in stores is over
This new law expressly prohibits “the commercialization of dogs, cats and ferrets in stores of animals”. It also prohibits their exhibition and exhibition for commercial purposes. So no more having them in tiny cages for people to buy them as if they were handbags and that is very celebrated.
You will not be able to have your pet unsupervised, tied up or alone on balconies
This point must be clarified before many put their hands to their heads. When the law speaks of “Do not leave any pet unsupervised” Talk about three days in the case of cats and 24 hours in the case of dogs. So yes, Manolo, you can leave Pancho home alone while you go to work and no one will come to take him away.
The same goes for leaving animals tied up or locked up on the terrace. What the new law indicates is “regularly keeping dogs and cats on terraces, balconies, rooftops, storage rooms, basements, patios and similar or vehicles” with special emphasis on “usually”. You will also not be able to “carry animals tied to moving motor vehicles.”
Breeding only for professionals
The strong point of the new law is dealing with control the breeding of animals by private individuals, which leads to the abandonment of litters and irresponsible sale. For this, the government contemplates a registry of people who can carry out the breeding activity, which must be professionals with guarantees of animal welfare. It also requires the obligation to neuter our pets.
A course to have dogs and compulsory insurance
The famous civil liability insurance in case of being a dog owner is already in force, although there were autonomous communities such as the case of Madrid in which it was already mandatory. It will be by “damage to third partieswhich includes in its coverage the persons responsible for the animal, for an amount sufficient to cover the possible derived expenses”.
You will also have to make a compulsory course training to ensure understanding of animal welfare. Said course to have a pet will be free and without an expiration date.
Prohibition of the possession of some animals
Finally, the list of species that can be pets, which implies that some of them cannot be pets. We already talked about the list of prohibited animals and how to manage the permit for prohibited animals in case you already have them at home.
The exception of hunting dogs
The biggest controversy that accompanies this Animal Welfare Law is that has excluded hunting and field dogs from the amendment. A problem that animal protectors and animal associations have fought endlessly, since the majority of animal abandonment and abuse occurs in this sector.
Finally, these “professional activity animals” will not be subject to veterinary obligations, training or the same legal coverage. A helplessness that, finally, those dogs will pay for.
Photos | Taylor Sondgeroth, Random Institute, Jametlene Reskp, Amber Kipp, and Andrea Cairone via Unsplash.
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