Spain Adopts Controversial Animal Welfare Law with Fines Up to €200,000
Following the adoption of a new animal welfare law that came into effect last week, Spanish police now have the authority to arrest individuals for leaving their domestic animals unattended and impose fines of up to €200,000 for those who mistreat animals, according to Euronews.
However, the law excludes bullfighters, hunting dogs, and dolphins performing in marine parks.
Anima Naturalis, an animal rights group that actively campaigned for including hunting dogs in the new law, faced defeat. Every year, after the hunting season concludes in February, hundreds of dogs are abandoned or even hanged if they are no longer needed by their owners, campaign participants claim.
The new animal rights provisions have stirred controversy among rural residents who argue that hunting boars, foxes, deer, and other animals is an integral part of their way of life.
Hunters have vowed to fight any attempts to subject animals used in tandem with domestic animals to the legislation.
"This law poses a direct threat to the viability of hunting in Spain," said Manuel Gallardo of the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation, representing 337,000 hunters.
Overall, the new law prohibits the purchase of domestic animals in stores and online, but grants stores a grace period to find homes for these animals. Domestic animals will now only be sold by registered breeders and are allowed in restaurants and bars if they were previously tethered on the streets.
According to government statistics, Spain has approximately 29 million domestic animals, with the majority being dogs. However, around 300,000 are abandoned annually, with nearly a third of them being euthanized.
One of the law's new provisions includes mandatory insurance and registration for domestic animals, as well as training for pet owners.
However, these requirements and certain legal aspects have been postponed as Spain currently lacks an effective government.
July's elections that did not yield definitive results have left the country's parliament in a state of deadlock.
If acting socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez can form a coalition government, these measures may be put into action.