Since last Monday, March 20, the Badalona City Council (Barcelonès Nord) has allowed pet animals access to municipal administrative buildings. This measure is part of the 'Som Pet Friendly' initiative, which aims to normalize the presence of people's pets in environments where until now they were restricted.
In this sense, the City Council has also launched a campaign to create a network of establishments and shops in the city where pets are allowed to enter. Locals who want to join the initiative will have to apply to the town hall and will receive an accrediting Pet Friendly stamp that they can display in their businesses to identify themselves. To be able to bear this seal, those interested must make a request by sending an email to badalonapetfriendly@badalona.cat with the information of the establishment.
Both for the municipal administrative units and for the establishments attached to the network, a series of requirements have been established to be able to access with pets, such as having an identification chip and being registered; be tied up and with a muzzle in those cases required by the applicable regulations as well as in those cases in which their nature and characteristics advise it; Present adequate hygiene conditions and show adequate behavior.
As for cats and ferrets, they will be able to access with a carrier or backpack that allows their owner to control them at all times, that is, with a sufficiently secure and closed environment so that they do not escape.
The access of domestic animals may be limited due to crowds or for the safety of people or the animals themselves. Animals may not be supplied with food and/or drinks inside the municipal facilities. The animals will not have to have access to chemical products and/or biocides that could cause damage by contact and/or ingestion and finally, the owner of the animal will always be responsible for any damage or dirt caused.
The mayor of Badalona, Rubén Guijarro, and the Councilor for the Environment, Sustainability and Animal Welfare, Rosa Trenado, presented the campaign to create a network of Pet Friendly establishments and shops in the city in front of the El Viver municipal building, where a sign indicating that entry to the interior with a pet is already allowed.
Councilor Trenado has indicated that the promotion of the initiative of the network of shops and allowing the entry of animals into municipal administrative buildings "is a great step in the field of animal welfare and equates us to the municipalities of our environment." Trenado explained that "in recent years families have changed and our animals are considered in many cases as one more member of the family nucleus, so it is important that we adapt the legislation and our customs in the same sense that our society evolves" . "I encourage all establishments to join this campaign and in this way show that Badalona is a friendly city and that it cares for animals", added the councilor.
