Approved the animal welfare law: there will be rules for dangerous dogs and cats will be sterilized

The first state law on animal rights and welfare in Spain —a matter that until now had been regulated at the regional level— has been definitively approved this Thursday in Congress.

The rule, called the Law for the Protection of Animal Rights and Welfare, has experienced different controversies, from the first draft that stirred up hunters and veterinarians to different changes, such as the exclusion of hunting dogs, which have disappointed the animalists.

This is how the law remains definitively, which will enter into force six months after it is published in the BOE, that is, next September.

Meanwhile, Congress has rejected the Senate's amendments to the reform of the Criminal Code to extend the penalties for animal abuse, for which reason it returns to the previous wording.

There will still be dangerous dogs

One of the main novelties of the parliamentary process is that the list of eight potentially dangerous dog breeds is no longer repealed —pit bull terrier, rottweiler, dogo argentino, staffordshire bull terrier, american staffordshire terrier, brazilian fila, tosa inu and akira inu — that require special handling (on a short leash and always with a muzzle, even in dog parks), as intended by the standard.

Sergio García Torres, general director of Animal Rights, points out that they continue with the idea of ​​launching a sociability evaluation for larger dogs —which will be established in the future regulation that the law develops, in about six months. — that allows this special handling to be avoided.

Carlos Alfonso Lopez,

Course for dog owners and mandatory insurance

All dog owners must pass a simple canine knowledge test.

Carlos Alfonso López, from the RSCE, explains: “The test will have three parts, one on care and veterinary, another on animal welfare and another on legislation.

The idea is that the documents can be downloaded and filled out

for free.

It has an informative desire rather than a restrictive one”.

These are minimal issues for the possession of a pet.

Whoever needs it can also fill it out in an establishment —such as associations or veterinarians—, although it is yet to be determined.

In addition, those who take care of a dog must have civil liability insurance for damages to third parties, a regulation similar to the one that already exists in communities such as Madrid and the Basque Country.

According to industry estimates, for small dogs they can range from 20 to 50 euros a year, while policies for dangerous dogs —already mandatory— range between 50 and 100 euros a year;

Many home insurance already include this type of coverage.

It is maintained that a dog cannot be left alone for more than 24 hours.

hunting dogs outside

One of the most controversial aspects of the norm is that it leaves out hunting, work and sport dogs, a requirement of the PSOE, with the support of the right and the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation.

Podemos said that it would mean devaluing the law, but in the end it has had to move to carry out the norm.

This change means that all dogs that carry out some type of activity are excluded from protection: police dogs, the Army, work dogs, assistance dogs, ONCE guide dogs, hunting dogs and shepherds, as well as falconry and shooting. squab.

The Ministry of Agriculture will have to develop a specific standard for them.

More information

Dogs at the center of controversy: protect hunting or animals

Controversial management of feline colonies

The law is committed to the CER method (Capture, sterilization and return) to manage feline colonies, that is, cats that live free, whose members are required to capture, identify with a microchip and release them again, a task that must be dealt with by the municipalities - there will be public funds to help in this work: this year, two million.

This has generated much controversy in the Canary Islands: the Canary Islands Coalition and the Gomera Socialist Group have warned of the risk they imply for endemic species in danger of extinction in the archipelago.

"Feral cats are among the main threats to the giant lizards of La Gomera, El Hierro and Tenerife, to the lisneja, to the blue finch of Gran Canaria, to the Canarian shrew and to several species of seabirds",

warned Ana Oramas in the debate on February 9 in Congress.

Conservationists such as Eloy Revilla, director of the Doñana-CSIC Biological Station, also complain: “Wild cats are problematic, especially for endemic species on the islands.

The CER method is not scientifically proven to work.

It's not about euthanizing the cats, but they certainly shouldn't be fed."

The Executive alleges that the bill contemplates the "relocation" of community cats that "suppose a negative impact on protected fauna."

It's not about euthanizing the cats, but they certainly shouldn't be fed."

The Executive alleges that the bill contemplates the "relocation" of community cats that "suppose a negative impact on protected fauna."

It's not about euthanizing the cats, but they certainly shouldn't be fed."

The Executive alleges that the bill contemplates the "relocation" of community cats that "suppose a negative impact on protected fauna."

Mandatory sterilization of all cats

It is maintained that all cats must be sterilized and microchipped before six months of age.

This already happens with all cats that come from a shelter and some communities have regulated it, but now it extends to all specimens.

Anyone who does not want to castrate their animal must register with the Companion Animal Breeders Registry or may face a slight penalty (from 500 to 10,000 euros).

This registration, mandatory for anyone who wants to raise cats or dogs, will be state,

simple and free.

A cat is treated at a veterinary clinic in Madrid last October.

JOHN BARBOSA

Report the possession of prohibited species as pets

The norm will lead to the approval of a "positive list of companion animals" in the coming months and that the species that are not included will be considered "wild animals in captivity and their possession, breeding or trade will not be allowed, except in the case of the specific authorizations.

This is done to prevent invasive species from being sold.

The Senate approved eight partial amendments, among which it stands out that, within six months from the entry into force of the law, people who keep dangerous or threatened species as pets "will have the obligation to notify the competent authorities the possession of these animals”.

The prohibition of

certain species as pets will affect arthropods, fish and amphibians whose bite or venom may pose a serious risk to the physical integrity or health of people and animals;

poisonous reptiles and all species of reptiles that exceed two kilos in the adult state, except in the case of chelonians;

all primates;

wild mammals that in the adult state exceed five kilos;

and species included in other sectoral regulations at the state or community level that prevent their holding in captivity.

Cats, dogs and ferrets may not be sold in pet stores

The regulation prohibits selling dogs, cats and ferrets in pet shops, as is already the case, in part, in the Community of Madrid.

These establishments may, on the other hand, show pets for adoption through agreements with protectors.

Thus, only fish, rodents and birds from registered breeders can be sold there.

This measure is intended to avoid impulse purchases, which are what later translate into abandonment.

Yes, dogs and cats can be purchased from accredited official breeders who advertise online.

Beggars may have animals

The Senate incorporated amendments from Más Madrid and Junts that allow begging with pets.

The modification of the bill in the Upper House was motivated, according to the Madrid party, "to avoid future unwanted effects", since in his opinion "it would grant a high degree of discretion to the administrations, which in practice could lead to sanctions to homeless people who are on public roads in the company of their pets, leaving it to the judgment of whoever exercises the sanctioning power if the people are begging or not and if they are using their pets for it or not " .

Changes in the reform of the Penal Code

Along with the norm, the reform of the Penal Code has been approved to punish more animal abuse.

The Criminal Code, in its article 337, already includes the mistreatment of domestic animals when they are mistreated unjustifiably and injuries occur.

The prison sentence for injuries is up to 12 months, and up to 18 if the death of the animal occurs with aggravating circumstances (such as cruelty or in the presence of a minor).

The reform doubles the maximum sentences, so that the punishment for the death of an animal would be 12 to 24 months in jail (or a fine of 18 to 24 months), and if two aggravating factors come together, it could be extended up to 36 months (three years). from prison.

In addition, all vertebrate animals are protected (until now only domestic animals were protected).

In this case, the amendments that were approved just a week ago in the Senate have been rejected.

One of them spoke of the definitive confiscation of mistreated animals whose owners have been sentenced with disqualification for the possession of animals;

The newsroom said that they could not return to their owner even after serving the sentence.

Since it has been rejected, now they can return to the abuser.

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