New restrictions in Spain which include prohibiting owners from leaving dogs tied up in front of the stores were greeted by British animal organizations who want similar measures.
The law says that a pet cannot be left unattended for more than three days and, in the case of dogs, a maximum of 24 hours. Owners who leave their dog tied up alone in public spaces face a fine of between €500 and €10,000.
The law has been hailed as progress by animal rights organizations in the UK, such as the RSPCA and the Kennel Club, who would like to see some restrictions in place here.
Alice Potter, a pets expert at the RSPCA, said the Spanish laws “highlight” the need for more action in the UK.
She said I: “We are happy to see some positive developments in animal welfare in Spain, such as the ban on shock collars and the ban on the sale of cats, dogs and ferrets in pet stores.
“However, we are still concerned that, despite the progress made in certain areas, practices such as bullfighting unfortunately continue.
“These new Spanish laws also highlight the need for more action in the country – and the UK government’s 15 broken promises for animals. »
![A dog sits in a convertible in Offenbach, western Germany, September 30, 2023. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)](https://wp.inews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SEI_173965398.jpg?w=760)
She said the Kept Animals Bill would have brought about a similar overhaul of animal welfare laws in the UK, but was “sadly abandoned” by the government, along with consultation plans on banning cages for farm animals and other important animal welfare issues.
“If we want to be a global leader in animal welfare and inspire change across the world, then the UK government must restart its animal welfare programme,” she added.
Dr Ed Hayes, head of public affairs at the Kennel Club, said I: “We universally want to see more responsible breeding, purchasing and ownership of dogs, and for this to be encouraged through better education, awareness and supportive laws where necessary.
“So we are pleased to see that this new legislation in Spain prohibits owners from leaving their dogs in hot cars, which is also reinforced in the UK.”
He said the Spanish government’s ban on electric shock collars was also something the Kennel Club had been campaigning for in the UK for more than 10 years.
“Although the UK government is committed to the ban, no date has been set for the final stage of passing the law through Parliament,” he added. “Research has shown that these cruel devices, which cause physical and psychological harm, are unnecessary, given the wide range of positive training methods available… we urge the government to keep its promise and ban these devices as a priority. »
The animal welfare law came into force on Friday in Spain, where an estimated 29 million animals are kept as pets. fight against animal abuse.
Buying dogs and cats in stores or online is prohibited – they must be purchased from a registered breeder and pet ownership is limited to a maximum of five.
It is also now prohibited to leave them alone inside closed vehicles or that expose them to extreme temperatures, and electric shock collars are prohibited.
Spanish government figures reveal that around 300,000 dogs and cats are abandoned every year and a third of them end up put down. The legislation criminalizes the mistreatment and abandonment of all animals entrusted to human care.
“This is a step of fundamental importance in Spanish legislation,” said Maria Luisa Fernández, director of small animals at the Spanish Veterinary Association, who described the law as one of the most ambitious in Europe.
But some say this does not go far enough, as hunting dogs and draft animals used in activities such as bullfighting are excluded from the law.
Animal breeding is also now tightly controlled. All cats will need to be microchipped and neutered before six months of age, except those registered as breeders.
Breaking the law can result in a fine or imprisonment.
But certain offenses will be punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, up to 36 months in the event of the death of an animal.
Ferrets, hamsters, parakeets and canaries can still be kept as pets.