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Date Published: 10/02/2023

ARCHIVED - Spain officially approves Animal Welfare Law but excludes hunting dogs

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

The measures include a ban on cockfighting and animals in circuses in Spain, as well as compulsory training courses for dog owners

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Spain officially approves Animal Welfare Law but excludes hunting dogs

After months and month of negotiations that sparked protests up and down the country, Spain’s Congress finally approved its animal welfare legislation on Thursday February 9 which now only needs to be rubber stamped by the Senate before it passes into law.

In the end, the government came down on the side of the hunters and has decided to exclude all working dogs from the parameters of the regulations.

The exclusion of working breeds has undoubtedly been the most controversial measure but these animals will not be protected under the law.

Specifically, it expressly establishes that "in the case of dogs used in hunting and grazing and livestock guarding activities and with respect to the people who handle them, they will not be subject to behavioural validations, specific veterinary checks of aptitude or being in possession of a veterinary certificate accrediting said aptitude, nor of specific qualifications or training courses".

Here are the other measures covered in the Animal Welfare Law:

1. Ban on cockfighting

The Canary Islands and Andalucia are the only two regions in Spain that still allow cockfighting but it will now be expressly forbidden and punishable with huge fines – a minimum of 50,001 euros and a maximum of 200,000.

2. Pet shops

The new law means that dogs, cats and ferrets can no longer be sold in pet shops or displayed “to the public for commercial purposes.” In addition, “violent and degrading practices” like keeping animals on balconies, rooftops and terraces is prohibited, as is leaving any companion animal without supervision for three consecutive days. This period is reduced to 24 hours in the case of dogs.

3. Breeding

From now on, only “persons duly registered” with their local council will be allowed to breed or sell animals and owners will be limited in the number of litters each of their female dogs can have. The fines for illegal backyard breeders will range from 50,001 to 200,000 euros.

4. Circuses

The new regulation formally bans live animals from circuses, even though the vast majority of regions have already put a stop to this locally. The ban extends to "the use of animals in prohibited activities, particularly in cultural and festive activities, in mechanical attractions, fairground carousels.”

Likewise, "the use of animals in crib exhibitions, parades or processions" will be expressly prohibited.

5. Course for dog owners

When the law comes into force, dog owners will have to take a course that focuses on how to correctly look after their pets. The short courses can be done online and are free. Dog owners will also be required to take out civil liability insurance.

6. Banned animals

The welfare law has created a new list of animals that are allowed to be kept as pets in Spain with the understanding that any species not included is banned. Generally speaking, protected wild species can’t be kept as pets and animals “must be able to be adequately kept in captivity”, and they must not be invasive or pose a risk if they escaped.

Image: Freepik

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