The debate on the Animal Welfare Law passed yesterday by commission in the Valencian Parliament with an important change: injuries that "company animals that do specific tasks or activities in the exercise of their specific functions may suffer will not be considered mistreatment." A change brought about through an approximation amendment of the PSPV that, with the support of the PP and Ciudadanos and the rejection of its partners on the parliamentary left (Compromís and Unides Podem), is already part of the body of the norm.
This exception in the definition of animal abuse is a gesture from the Socialists to the hunting sector, which had harshly criticized the possible approval of this regulation, understanding that it made this practice difficult. Currently, there are just over 34,000 hunting licenses in the Valencian Community.
The PSPV amendment also introduces changes in the definitions to justify the retouching of the standard. Thus, the concept of 'animals with social functions' changes - those dedicated to hunting, work, grazing, sporting, police, military purposes, in the modalities, forms and traditional uses and established in the special regulations that regulate these practices , as well as guide animals, guide animals- for 'animals that do specific tasks or activities'. These, which also include those dedicated to hunting, are those who, "selected for their aptitudes, physical, instinctive and temperamental, are trained to help people in a regulated activity or specific task".
For this reason, they point out from the PSPV, it is defended that "injuries, not mistreatment, may be suffered by companion animals with specific functions and tasks during the development of these." And they give as an example what can happen to a guide dog, a police dog, a rescue dog, or hunting dogs when they are carrying out an activity. With this, the Socialists consider that, with their amendment, "an answer to many of the demands of the sector" is given.
This proposal has not had the vote in favor of the parliamentary partners of the PSPV, but did with the opposition. In their defense, the Socialists argue that their proposal is in line with what United Podemos is supporting at the national level.
It has not been the only botanical discrepancy with hunting as a backdrop. Compromís and UP have proposed a ban on pigeon shooting, but the Socialists have rejected it, alleging that it is a federated sport and that the object of the law is the animal welfare of companion animals. Now, Valencianists and purples must decide if they keep this proposal alive for debate in the plenary session of the Valencian Parliament.
