Mandatory online course for potential dog owners spans over four hours, mandated by the government.
In a significant step towards enhancing animal welfare, the Spanish government has proposed a new set of regulations for dog, cat, and ferret ownership. The draft royal decree, currently in the public information and hearing phase until July 16, 2023, aims to establish minimum welfare criteria for companion animals and mechanisms to reduce animal abandonment and uncontrolled breeding.
One of the key provisions of the draft is the requirement for all dog, cat, and ferret owners to undergo at least one annual veterinary review, which may coincide with the mandatory annual vaccination. This obligation applies to dog owners from other countries who change their residence to Spain or stay in Spanish territory for more than four months.
The regulation introduces the figures of conventional, specialized, and occasional breeders to differentiate this activity according to its intensity and the number of animals handled. Only dogs, cats, and ferrets registered as "breeders" in the autonomous registry of companion animals may be bred.
All dog owners in Spain will be required to have liability insurance for the entire life of the animal, with coverage of at least 100,000 euros. The insurance must be taken out within 48 hours of the animal being registered. Home insurance policies that include liability coverage for damages caused by dogs to third parties will be valid for meeting the liability insurance requirement in Spain.
People who wish to have a dog in Spain will be required to pass a free, online training course on responsible dog ownership, lasting four hours. Upon completion, they will receive a certificate that is valid for life and does not need to be retaken.
The regulation also addresses the issue of animal abandonment. Public administrations may take charge of any companion animal confined in an enclosure or on a property that may be in a situation of abandonment due to lack of basic care by the owner or responsible person. The competent local authority in each territory may move the animal to a collection center to be temporarily cared for while the abandonment procedure is being processed.
In addition, the draft proposes to regulate the protection of feline colonies by local entities and stipulates that a veterinarian must approve a new destination for colonies that need to be moved or relocated due to the negative impact they may have on the biodiversity of a specific territory.
The draft royal decree also includes the creation of the Sicerpa (System Central de Registros para la Protección Animal), which will cost 431,200 euros. This system aims to coordinate the information of the autonomous registries and ensure their interoperability for the elaboration of the Animal Protection Statistics.
It's important to note that while the EU regulations are becoming more standardized, specific requirements for dog ownership in Spain would need to comply with both EU directives and any additional national laws or regulations that Spain may have. For detailed information about the specific requirements for owning a dog in Spain under the Animal Welfare Act of 2023, you would need to consult Spanish government resources or legal documents that outline these laws.
Moreover, the draft royal decree proposes to regulate for the first time the activity of animal behavior professionals. This is a significant step towards ensuring the highest standards of care and training for those working with companion animals in Spain.
[1] European Commission. (2019). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of equines. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12527-Proposal-for-a-Regulation-on-the-welfare-of-equines
[2] European Commission. (2019). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs, cats, and other small mammals kept for farming purposes. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12526-Proposal-for-a-Regulation-on-the-welfare-of-dogs-cats-and-other-small-mammals-kept-for-farming-purposes
- The new regulations in Spain, aiming to improve health-and-wellness for companion animals, will also require owners to undergo personal-growth through a free, online training course on responsible pet ownership.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the draft decree emphasizes science, as it introduces different classifications of breeders based on intensity and animal count, ensuring only registered breeders are allowed to breed.
- Beyond the regional boundaries, Spain's proposed animal welfare measures will align with EU regulations, such as those for equine and other small mammal welfare (European Commission, 2019 [1][2]).
- The regulations in Spain will extend to fashion and general-news sectors, as the draft royal decree proposes to establish regulations for the activity of animal behavior professionals, ensuring the highest standards of care and training in this field.
