Document type : article published in Le Monde (subscriber edition)
Author : Sandrine Morel
Preview: The document requires that dog owners should receive prior training and increases the penalties for abuse. Hunting dogs have been excluded from its provisions, a fact greatly regretted by animal protection associations.
The law to protect animal rights and welfare, one of the Spanish left-wing government's flagship projects, was almost defeated in the Spanish parliament. This was because an amendment had been added, with the approval of the socialist wing of the executive who were supported in this by the right-wing parties, to exclude hunting dogs. Despite threats of a boycott by the government's coalition partner, the radical left-wing party Unidas Podemos, the bill was finally approved by a narrow margin, with 174 votes in favour and 167 against, at its first reading on Thursday, February 9.
Ever since the first draft of the bill was presented in October 2021, this controversial bill, which is too strict for some and not ambitious enough for others, has generated a febrile atmosphere. So much so that, in March 2022, during a major demonstration to "defend rural society", the procession of tens of thousands of hunters from across the kingdom was dominated by slogans decrying "the animalist dictatorship" and calls for "freedom".
With more than 280,000 pets abandoned every year in Spain, according to a report by the Affinity Foundation based on information from animal shelters, the aim of the bill is to strengthen the protection of animals, define the duties and responsibilities of their owners and increase the penalties for mistreatment and abandonment, up to three years in prison in case of aggravating circumstances.
Mandatory neutering for cats
Among its main introductions, the document imposes mandatory training for all persons wishing to acquire a dog. Those who already own a dog will have two years to complete the training. They will also be forbidden to leave their dog alone without supervision for more than twenty-four hours (seventy-two hours for other pets), or to lock it up on a balcony, terrace, cellar or in a closed car. All pets must be identified, as must their owners. Last, those who wish to cross-breed puppies will have be entered in a register of animal breeders, probably one of the measures that met with the most resistance in the hunting world. [end of the part available to non-subscribers]
