On Friday, September 29, 2023, the new Animal Welfare Law came into force, after having been approved last March. The objective of this regulation is to guarantee the well-being of animals and protect their rights, raising society's awareness of the responsibility they entail and, in turn, ending cases of abuse. That is why it brings with it numerous changes that current and future pet owners must adapt to. One of them being the regulation around prohibited pets.
One of the main aspects to take into account of the new Animal Welfare Law is that which focuses on animals considered prohibited. Although this group does not include the most popular dogs, cats or rabbits, it does include another series of species that have been increasing their presence in Spanish homes over the years. And, as a result of the entry into force of this new law, the owners of these animals are wondering: what will happen now to these pets?
The first thing to take into account is which are the animals whose possession is considered prohibited for reasons of danger or because they imply a certain risk to the conservation of the species. Among the prohibited pets are arthropods, fish and amphibians with a bite that implies health risks, poisonous reptiles or reptiles weighing more than two kilos. As well as primates and wild mammals weighing more than five kilos. In addition to other animals included in other previous regulations, such as Vietnamese pigs or parrots, due to the negative impact they generate on the environment when they are abandoned.
In the case of possessing any of these animals, the owners will only have to notify their possession to receive the necessary authorization to have them under their care. The only animals that may be susceptible to removal will be those that are considered dangerous.
If violations are committed under the new Animal Welfare Act, this can lead to large fines depending on the severity of the promised non-compliance. In minor cases, such as not taking out civil liability insurance for damages to third parties, the amount will range between 500 and 10,000 euros. On the other hand, in serious cases, such as performing unauthorized mutilations or body modifications on the animal, it will rise up to 10,001 and 50,000 euros. While in very serious situations, such as the use of animals to fight against other animals or people, the total will be between 50,001 and 200,000 euros.
