New law affecting dog ownership in Spain

[dick bird]

These are the 10 most important changes that Spain's new animal welfare law will bring about from September onwards | Sur in English

New rules governing people and their ownership of pets come into force in less than a month's time

www.surinenglish.com

So far as I know, this has not been mentioned on the forum.

I was actually researching laws affecting service dogs in Spain when I came across this, it is an English language article (for expats in Spain) about new laws affecting dog owners. There are now laws requiring owners to undergo a training course, inform the authorities that they own a dog and not to let them roam loose.

This is good news for us. my impression is that although there are still occasional nasty incidents involving dogs, there are fewer than they have been and becoming fewer. This might be the reason. It is also nice to know that if there is an incident, the law is on our side.

By the way, service dogs are allowed access to all public areas in Europe.

 

[C clearly]

There are now laws requiring owners to undergo a training course, inform the authorities that they own a dog and not to let them roam loose

Did you find another source that says that dogs are not allowed to roam loose? I don't see it in that article.

 

[dick bird]

Did you find another source that says that dogs are not allowed to roam loose? I don't see it in that article.

There were several posts on the topic. I´ll check this out (sure I saw it) and give the link if I find it.

Spain’s 1st national animal welfare law takes effect

Some measures delayed due to lack of stable government in country - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

This website mentions not being allowed to leave a dog tied up unattended or left alone even at home for more than 24 hours. This is all second hand. I´ll try to find the original source.

another website
https://blog.abacoadvisers.com/who-let-the-dogs-out-advice-about-dogs-in-spain/#:~:text=All dogs in Spain are,must apply for a license.

has this:

All dogs in Spain are required to be on the lead in public places and if your dog is on the dangerous dogs’ list then it should be muzzled too. These dogs must also be insured and you must apply for a license.

Apparently, if you find a loose dog you can take it to the police. and if it isn´t micro-chipped, they will impound it. Good luck with that.

´Working dogs´ e.g. registered sheep dogs and hunting dogs are exempt.

Like many laws around the world, it may be more honoured in the breach than the observance, but it shows clearly that at the very least, Spanish legislators regard stray and/or dangerous dogs as a problem that needs to be addressed.

The new laws have been flagged as a measure against animal cruelty, but there is almost certainly an intention to improve public safety and probably to crack down on dog-fighting, which sad to say exists in Spain.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Did you find another source that says that dogs are not allowed to roam loose? I don't see it in that article.

I found the following,
Spanish law requires dogs to be leashed at all times during walks in public areas. This does not apply to fenced dog parks. Consequently, those who do not follow the rules risk a fine. These can be substantial.


Fines can vary by municipality; for example, fines in Pamplona range from €90 to €150. Meanwhile in Cartagena, fines are higher, and can range from €1,700 to €3,000.

Although the law is basically the same for all residents, details may differ in certain parts of the country.

There are also laws within autonomous communities and municipal councils, which create their own regulations. Some municipalities have stipulated by law that dogs can be walked off-leash under certain conditions.

 

[SabsP]

In these cases it is always interesting to doublecheck original sources from the government.

Ganadería

En esta sección hay información sobre ganadería, sectores ganaderos, sanidad y trazabilidad animal, comercio exterior, alimentación.

www.mapa.gob.es

 

[C clearly]

On the less-walked routes, it is the working dogs that concern me, and regulations would be different for them. I haven't pursued the topic, though, as I'm not planning to become a dog owner!

 

[dick bird]

In these cases it is always interesting to doublecheck original sources from the government.

Ganadería

En esta sección hay información sobre ganadería, sectores ganaderos, sanidad y trazabilidad animal, comercio exterior, alimentación.

www.mapa.gob.es

My post was mainly to inform and reassure pilgrims who might come across dogs, or be nervous about the possibility. If you are bringing your own dog (as some forum members have said they planned to do) this is essential reading. There is an icon to click for English translation. At the very least, your dog needs to be vaccinated, microchipped and have a ´pet passport´. Apparently, you also have to enter Spain through a designated border point.

 

[davejsy]

The new laws have been flagged as a measure against animal cruelty,

Yes unless you are unlucky enough to have been born a hunting dog, so the persecution and mistreatment of these animals will continue (the Glago's for example).

But at least it's a start for domestic dogs, although how they will differentiate between the two, or stop everyone just claiming their dog is a hunting/working dog I'm not sure.

 

[wisepilgrim]

I would not expect this law to change anything on the camino. It certainly has not where I live.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

I don't know if the fact that there are laws regarding dogs will have much effect on reality.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I don't know if the fact that there are laws regarding dogs will have much effect on reality.

I guess that it is a bit like laws about seatbelts and not smoking in public. Sometimes the law precedes societal norms and eventually we look back and wonder why we needed those laws at all.

 

[David]

Good!
Edited - yep, censored by forum members - again.

 

[MinaKamina]

Good! Dogs are dangerous. The Government stats for England and Wales for 2023 shows 21,914 attacks on people, many of whom were left with life changing injuries, and 14 killed - and this includes children.

In Spain five people have been killed by dogs in the last five years - I couldn't find the stats on the number of attacks.

I like dogs but personally I would sterilise them all and when they die out and are gone? leave it at that.

You can tell a lot about people by the way they treat dogs (or other animals.)

 

[davejsy]

Good! Dogs are dangerous. The Government stats for England and Wales for 2023 shows 21,914 attacks on people, many of whom were left with life changing injuries, and 14 killed - and this includes children.

In Spain five people have been killed by dogs in the last five years - I couldn't find the stats on the number of attacks.

I like dogs but personally I would sterilise them all and when they die out and are gone? leave it at that.

Did you check the same stats for attacks and deaths on humans caused by other humans?

 

[David]

You can tell a lot about people by the way they treat dogs (or other animals.)

Edited - yep, censored by woke forum members - again.

 

[David Tallan]

These are the 10 most important changes that Spain's new animal welfare law will bring about from September onwards | Sur in English

New rules governing people and their ownership of pets come into force in less than a month's time

www.surinenglish.com

So far as I know, this has not been mentioned on the forum.

I was actually researching laws affecting service dogs in Spain when I came across this, it is an English language article (for expats in Spain) about new laws affecting dog owners. There are now laws requiring owners to undergo a training course, inform the authorities that they own a dog and not to let them roam loose.

This is good news for us. my impression is that although there are still occasional nasty incidents involving dogs, there are fewer than they have been and becoming fewer. This might be the reason. It is also nice to know that if there is an incident, the law is on our side.

By the way, service dogs are allowed access to all public areas in Europe.

Interesting to read on the heels of the report just made in the Camino Mozarabe forum about a dog attack.

 

[davejsy]

If that is aimed at me - please let us not be rude just because someone has a opinion that you do not like. You wouldn't do it to my face, please don't do it here. Thank you.

I like dogs, dogs universally like me. I have not suggested any harm or unkindness to any dogs, only saying that if they were neutered they would naturally die out over time.

It isn't just the violence .. they can carry and transmit diseases, nationally they eat vast amounts of meat product foods - none of which are certifiable as ethically produced. The largest selling tinned item in Britain is dog food.
The lifetime carbon footprint of a Labrador sized dog is higher than a large petrol SUV.
No one can be eco and animal welfare ethical and own a dog - our planet is in deep crisis, humans are starving, our world is over-heating - so, apart from the attacks, on or off Camino - one cannot be eco, a planet saver, if one owns a dog.

Look, this is just a point of view (held by many) and is a digression from the topic which is about dog regulations in Spain related to the valid fear that many pilgrims hold of being attacked by one.

Unfortunately David the sad reality is that the only species the world would be better without when it comes to climate change is humans.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

Good! Dogs are dangerous. The Government stats for England and Wales for 2023 shows 21,914 attacks on people, many of whom were left with life changing injuries, and 14 killed - and this includes children.

In Spain five people have been killed by dogs in the last five years - I couldn't find the stats on the number of attacks.

I like dogs but personally I would sterilise them all and when they die out and are gone? leave it at that.

Your reasoning can apply to many animals, should they all die out. Many more people are killed or wounded in caraccidents. Shall we stop producing cars?

 

[TravellingMan22]

Maybe everyone should calm down. I’m not keen to see the end of dogs, humans or even cars! But it’s an issue! I have had a couple of dog issues today. I have bought some pepper spray tonight form the pharmacy so I feel slightly more secure, but I hope and expect not to use it!

 

[C clearly]

Edited - yep, censored by woke forum members - again.

Just for clarity for readers of this thread, @David has decided to edit his own post further up the thread, to remove some opinions that he shared and which other members disagreed with. This is not what I would call censorship.

The OP provided some information of interest to forum members concerned with dogs in Spain. The discussion has now moved on beyond camino matters, and is becoming contentious. I will exercise my "censorship" powers and close the thread.