The Times reports a rather surprising animal welfare law which apparently has just come into force in Spain which makes tying up your dog outside the supermarket while you pop in a crime. And it’s punishable by a hefty fine of a maximum €10,000 ($10,500).
The controversial law is Law on the Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Animals. It came into force on Friday last.
The maximum fine of €10,000 varies between regions and municipalities. The law also makes it a crime to leave your pet on the balcony of your home or inside an unoccupied vehicle.
Cats will have to be micro-chipped and sterilised by six months of age. Breeders are exempted.
Allowing your dog to wander in public places off its leash is also a crime under this law.
Further, pet insurance will become compulsory although it has not come into force because, we are told, “a new government has yet to be formed since an inconclusive election in July”.
An insurance of a hundred thousand euros for civil liability will be obligatory for all pets. And that includes budgerigars and gerbils.
Another further requirement under this law which appears to be pretty onerous but perhaps in the best interests of animal welfare and that is that pet owners are going to have to sit an examination to see whether they are capable of looking after a companion animal!
Isobel Ayuso, the Conservative leader of the regional Madrid government has criticised the law describing it as interventionist. She says that the law treats pet owners as potential criminals.
Comment: as mentioned, it is tough and I’m very surprised to read this. In my opinion, Spain does not have a particularly good history in relation to the human-to-animal relationship but this certainly rectifies that impression.
To make it a crime to tie up your pet dog outside a supermarket I think is going too far because I don’t think it’s cruel to the dog to do this but we do see dogs whimpering and crying for their owner when they are tied up as described so perhaps it is cruel.
There are other provisions in this law which you can read about by clicking on this link.
