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In a major move to reduce the number of animals being abandoned and put to sleep in Spain, a new Animal Welfare Law currently being ironed out by the central government will introduce a wave of new protection measures, including prohibiting pet stores from selling animals.

 

The new law, according to the Director General of Animal Rights, Sergio G. Torres, will cut down on incidences of impulse buying, which often lead to the pet being surrendered to a shelter and ultimately being killed.

 

Included in the new rules will be stricter regulations on when an animal can be euthanised, and they will prohibit shelters and sanctuaries from putting an animal to sleep to make more space just because they are caught. In addition, the behaviour of a pet will not be enough of a reason for an owner to put an animal down.

 

While the Spanish government has been working to tighten the reins on dog breeders in particular for many years, the new legislation will not only enforce a registry, but will limit the number of litters any one individual is permitted to produce. For private pet owners, the law will allow a maximum of five animals per individual; any more, and a special permit will need to be obtained. This will only apply after the new rules come in, and won’t be enforced retroactively for people who already have more than five pets.

 

Finally, in an effort to encourage the protection of native animal species, zoos in Spain will no longer be permitted to buy exotic animals from other countries, and will instead be supported to reintroduce and conserve indigenous animals. Already, the Director General has tasked the Madrid zoo with repopulating the Iberian otter through a specialised breeding programme.

 

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