Restrictions On Pet Ownership As Spain's Animal Welfare Law Takes Effect
Spain News
Published: 11 September 2023 15:02 CET
Spain's newly enacted Animal Welfare Law, comes into effect as of September 29th, six months after its publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE). Law 7/2023, has been put into place to protect the welfare and rights of animals and introduces new regulations that will impact pet owners.
Spaniards, as well as foreign residents in Spain, have a strong affinity for pet ownership. In fact, according to recent data from the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers (ANFAAC), Spain boasts a staggering 29 million domestic animals.
One significant change is the law's restriction on the number of pets one single household can own, including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and reptiles. This limitation will impact both Spaniards and foreign residents and will apply to individuals as well as organisations involved in rescuing and caring for abandoned or abused animals.
Pet Ownership Permit
To have more than five pets, a permit, often known as a ‘zoological nucleus licence’, is necessary. Zoological centres encompass entities like animal shelters, associations, and pet residences, primarily involved in housing pets, excluding veterinary centres.
Consequences of Exceeding the Five-Pet Limit
Currently, the regulations only specify a maximum of five dogs and cats, with potential inclusion of other species pending clarification. After September 29th, applying for a permit from your City Council will be mandatory if you intend to keep five or more pets.
Each case will undergo evaluation, likely considering a veterinary report on the animals' well-being, although precise criteria still need to be formalised. Failure to obtain a licence or report ownership of more than five pets to authorities may result in fines ranging from 500 euros to 200,000 euros.
Authorised Establishments for Exceeding the Five-Pet Limit
The Animal Welfare Law categorises various animal protection entities:
- RAC (Rescue and Adoption Centres): Engaged in rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding adopters for animals facing abandonment or abuse.
- RAD (Rescue and Rehabilitation Centres for Commercial Animals): Focused on rescuing and rehabilitating animals intended for commercial or profit-oriented purposes.
- RAS (Rescue and Rehabilitation Centres for Wild Animals): Specialised in rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals in captivity, requiring a distinct zoo licence.
- GCOF (Feline Colony Management Entities): Collaborators involved in managing feline colonies.
- DEF (Animal Awareness and Legal Defense Entities): Dedicated to raising awareness, advocating for adoption, and legally defending animals.
Among these categories, only RAC, RAD, and RAS entities need the zoological nucleus licence to house a larger number of animals. Other types require different permits to operate within the new regulations.
Sources
https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/09/10/spains-animal-welfare-law-will-limit-the-number-of-pets-in-a-home/
https://www.thelocal.es/20230911/what-are-spains-new-rules-on-owning-multiple-pets
https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2023-7936
