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Date Published: 04/08/2023

Dog insurance mandatory in Spain from next month

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From September, all dog owners in Spain must take out civil liability insurance for their pets

Following months of negotiations, the pioneering new Animal Welfare Law was passed in March this year. One of the new stipulations is that all dog owners must take out public liability insurance for their pets, and this will become mandatory across Spain from September.

Specifically, article 30 of the law states that: "in the case of dog ownership and throughout the life of the animal, the owner must contract and maintain in force a civil liability insurance for damages to third parties, which includes in its coverage to the people responsible for the animal, for an amount sufficient to cover the possible expenses derived".

Insurance cover, which was already compulsory in several communities like Madrid, is just one of many new rules which include a training course for dog owners, a ban on selling most animals in pet stores and harsher penalties for people who abuse or neglect their animals.

Spain is a nation of animal lovers and almost three out of every 10 households owns a dog. But between general care, food and vet bills, pets are becoming more expensive every year. So while around 9.3 million dogs currently share our homes, only 3% are covered by insurance, which is a pretty low figure compared to some of Spain’s European neighbours.

In the UK, for example, 28% of the nation’s 10.1 million dogs are insured. A money-saving move in the long run, considering the Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE) estimates about 300 euros a year is spent on the health needs of every dog.

How much will canine insurance cost?

The price of the insurance will vary according to its coverage and policies for "special handling" dogs (previously classified as dangerous breeds) will likely be more expensive. However, on average, the price ranges from around 24 euros per year for the most basic packages to 90 euros.

The coverage of these policies can reach up to 200,000 euros, and can include other benefits such as money off veterinary treatments or kennel stays if the owners has to go into hospital.

It’s possible that if you have home insurance, your pets are already covered under an existing policy. In this case, you will need to speak to your provider as from September, dogs will need to be added to the coverage through their microchip number and in general, only one pet is covered per policy.

Penalties for not having insurance

The new legislation establishes that owners who refuse to take out public liability insurance for their dogs will likely just receive a warning. In any case, non-compliance with most aspects of the law will be considered minor infractions, since it doesn’t result in any harm to the animal. On the other hand, more serious cases could result in fines of between 500 and 1,000 euros.

Now read: The new Animal Welfare Law in Spain, and how it affects you if you live in a Community of Owners

Image: Freepik

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