Keeping Animals in Spain

Rules regarding animals

The Town hall is governed by the following orders:- the law of the Consejería de Andalucía of 24^th November 2003 for the Protection of Animals and the law of 23^rd December 1999 regarding the keeping of potentially dangerous animals.

Andalucian Law of Animal Protection- Owners Obligations

The owners of the animals have the obligation to keep the animals -
- In good sanitary and hygienic conditions
- In accommodation adequate for the size and breed
- Provide the feeding necessary for their normal development
- Provide personal identification within three months after their birth
- Provide obligatory injections and treatment for their health
Dogs should wear a collar and lead and always be controlled by their owners in public places.
Excrement left by animals should be removed from public places.

Prohibited Activities
Mistreatment of or physical aggression towards animals.
(Fines imposed may range from €75 - €30,000)
Abandoning animals (Fines from €2,000 to €30,000)
Keeping animals permanently chained (Fines from €500 to €3,000)
Using animals as prizes in fairs or tombolas (Fines from €500 to €2,000€)
Dog and cock fighting (Fines from €2,000 to €30,000)
Keeping animals in places where they cause inconvenience or a nuisance to other people (Fines from €75 to €500)
Selling animals illegally, and selling animals to purchasers less than 16 years of age. 
(Fines from €500 to €2,000)
Exploitation of working animals. (Fines €500 to €2,000)

Leaving poison in public places.  (Fines from €2,000 to €30,000)

Reporting Cruelty to Animals

It is recommended that you contact the Town Hall (Police) or Seprona (Department of the Guardia Civil) in cases of abandonment and of ill treatment. Sometimes it only takes a warning to the owners to resolve the situation.

If you want to report cruelty to animals, you will need to provide answers to as many of the questions listed as possible:-

1. Type of animal e.g. Dog, Horse …
2. Have you witnessed ill treatment?
3. How long have you been witnessing ill treatment?
4. At what times of day or night?
5. What is the animal’s physical condition?
6. Does the animal have shelter from the sun and rain?
7. Have you seen it being fed?
8. Does it have water?
9. Does it have any other type of shelter e.g. Trees?
10. Is it permanently tied up?
11. Does it live with people and/or animals?
12. Is it in Rustic land, urban land or in the town?
13. Have you consulted a professional Vet?
14. Have you taken photos or videos of what has happened to the animal?
15. Would you be willing to be called as a witness?
16. Which official body have you contacted: e.g. Local Town Hall or Seprona (Guardia Civil).
17. Address where the animal is located.
18. Name of an address of animal owner if known?
19. Your personal details: Name: Address: E-mail: Telephone: N.I.E. or Passport number:

If you find a dog do not automatically phone or take it to a dog centre or charity.
Most are usually full to capacity and the dog may have an owner so try these suggestions first.

1.Check if it belongs to any of your neighbours. 
2. Take it to your local vet and they will check to see if the dog is micro chipped. If it is then they will contact the owner.
3. Go to your local Police Station, Dog pound or Vet and ask if anyone has lost the dog. Owners usually go there when they lose a dog.
4. Take a look in the lost pages of Animal Charities and the free papers.
5. If you can keep the dog for a few days, then put a poster in the Veterinaries, Police Station, shops and also send a photo and details to animal charities...
6. If you cannot keep the dog at all then contact your local animal centre/charity to see whether the dog can be taken in or to see if they can suggest where the dog could be taken.

General Rules for Pet Owners in Spain

All domestic pets in Spain must be identified by microchip.
Vaccination against rabies is compulsory. It is also advisable to have dogs vaccinated against other diseases (see below). Cats should be immunised against feline gastro enteritis and typhus.
There is no law against dogs fouling in public places, except in Granada, however people are becoming increasingly sensitive about it and there are specific rules within certain places, such as urban parks. 
Dogs should be kept on a lead in public places.
By law, dogs travelling in a car must be kept away from the driver or restrained.
Generally, dogs are permitted on trains. Sometimes they may need to be contained in a pet carrier, or they may have to be muzzled. Dogs normally travel at half the fare of a 2nd class ticket; this charge is payable directly to the conductor. 

Veterinarians 

The standard of Spanish vets is considered to be very high. 

Vaccinations

All dogs should be given the rabies vaccination and annual rabies booster injections. Other vaccinations are not obligatory, but are strongly recommended. They are the standard vaccinations (and annual booster injection) against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis. Some kennels request that a dog be vaccinated for kennel cough (Bordetella Bronchiseptica).
These are the standard vaccinations prepared and given by a vet. The vet records the dose in the dogs’ health record.

Tick and flea treatments and worming

Ticks and fleas are seasonal and vary depending on the area. Spot-off treatments can be carried out monthly and are effective, these are available at vets.

Buying & Owning a Pet

The seller of a domestic animal has to provide the following documents:

        Sale certificate (Contrato de compra-venta)

    Microchip number and identity card (Formulario de identificación canina)

    Vaccination book signed by the vet.

    Original pedigree document (if applicable)

The new owner of the pet has to:
Vaccinate the animal against rabies when the animal is six months old and keep up to date with rabies booster injections

Lost a pet in Spain?

• Contact local vets and give the pet's identification number
• Contact the Archivo de Identificación del Colegio de Veterinarios:
  Tel: 934 189 294 (office hours)
  Tel: 902 170 401 (24 hour service)
• Report the animal missing at the local police station, and provide a photograph and description of the pet
• Contact SPA (Sociedad Protectora de Animals) to ask for help

Regulated Animals

There are restrictions on owning certain breeds of dog and potentially dangerous animals in Spain. Laws are regulated by the Autonomous Communities (Comunidades Autónomas), which impose a wide variety of rules and regulations within the country. 
In general, the following are considered as dangerous animals and owned under specific conditions: 

• Wild animals including: reptiles (alligators, crocodiles and poisonous snakes), any wild animal weighing over two kilograms, poisonous fish and mammals weighing over 10 Kg when adult.

Note: From October 2008, residents in Andalucía were forbidden from owning exotic or wild animals as pets. Residents had six months to declare their pets at the local town hall and deliver them to the designated authorised establishment. Owners that failed to meet the October 2008 deadline could face a fine. The ban applies to:

• Crocodiles, caimans, poisonous amphibians and fish, snakes, spiders and insects
• All species of reptile that weigh over 2 kilograms when fully-grown
• All primates and wild mammal species that weigh more than 10 kilograms as adults (for carnivores this is limit is 5 kilograms)

All dog, cat and ferret owners in Andalucía are required to register their animals on the Animal Identification Registry of Andalucía (Registro Andaluz de Identificación Animal, RAIA). Owners have three months to register their pets, except for those with a potentially dangerous breed of dog who have one month to obtain the necessary license.

Dangerous dogs in Andalucía

Any person owning a potentially dangerous dog  (perros potencialmente peligrosos) in Spain must have an appropriate license (by law of article 3 of the Royal Decree 287/2002, of 22 of March 2002) and the dog must be registered with the municipality. Handlers and walkers of dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs must also be licensed (article 1, 2 of Law 50/1999, of December 1999). A license is valid for five years. 
Potentially dangerous dog are identified as being in one of three categories: 

1) Breeds and breed crosses classified as potentially dangerous:

• Doberman
• Pit Bull Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Tosa Inu
• Akita Inu

2) Dogs with certain characteristics of these breeds are also classified as potentially dangerous. The characteristics are:

• Strong musculature, powerful or athletic constitution, robustness, agility, vigor and endurance
• Short hair
• Deep chest (60 to 80 cm), height of over 50 cm and a weight over 20 Kg
• Big, square, head, with a wide skull and strong jaws
• Broad, short and muscled neck.
• Straight, parallel forelegs and muscular hindquarters, relatively long back legs standing at an angle

3) Dogs that have a track record of aggression to humans and other animals must also be licensed and registered.   

Dog owner license application   

The license application is made to the municipality of the place of residence. The applicant must take the following (an applicant must be over 18 years): 

• Proof of identity (passport or residence card) 
• Proof of having no criminal convictions
• Proof of being mentally and physically capable of looking after one of these animals. (There are physical and psychological aptitude tests and a certificate is issued. The certificate must have been issued in the previous 12 months)
• An insurance contract for the dog with a liability of at least €175,000.
• Proof of fully up-to-date vaccinations
• Proof of identification by microchip
• Proof that the dog is or has attended training school

Once accepted, a license is issued. 

Dog registration

Potentially dangerous dogs must be registered with the municipal registry for dangerous dogs (Registro Municipal de Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos). Registration of the dog must be renewed annually.
Documents to take:

• Proof of identification and microchip number's certificate
• Certificate from the vet stating that the dog is in good health

Walking a potentially dangerous dog in Andalucia 

Dog owners or handlers must carry the license and dog registration document when out with the dog. The dog must be muzzled and also restrained by a non-extendable lead when outside of the home on a lead of no more than one metre long . Only one dog may be handled per person. Dangerous animals are banned from entering children's leisure or recreational areas.
Properties housing dangerous dogs must have clear signs, high walls or fences, and strong doors to ensure the dogs can't get out, otherwise they need to be chained up. Owners not adhering to the law can be fined.