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ARCHIVED - Dog owners in Spain now required to complete training course
The new rule is being implemented as part of an overhaul of animal rights laws in Spain
The central government in Spain has been focusing a keen eye in recent months on animal rights, and a draft Law on Protection and Rights of Animals released on Wednesday October 6 takes things a step further by requiring all would-be dog owners to complete a training course on canine care. According to the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030, this new decree will promote responsible ownership while also tackling the “high degree of abandonment of animals” in Spain.
This week Congress also approved a change to the Civil Code which will give Spanish courts the right to deny joint custody to parents who have been convicted of animal abuse crimes, and at the end of September, a range of new measures was adopted that saw, among others, the sale of animals, except fish, prohibited in pet stores. The latest rule is aimed at educating prospective dog owners about all that is entailed in the care of a pet and will ensure that new owners have civil liability insurance for their pets.
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The new framework on animal rights stipulates that most companion animals can only be left alone for a maximum of three days. In the case of dogs, “this period may not exceed 24 consecutive hours”. In addition, euthanising an animal can only be done in very special circumstances, such as in cases of incurable diseases or injuries. A dog can no longer be put to sleep if it is not wanted by its owners, or if shelters are becoming overcrowded.
The law also takes into account cultural activities and stipulates that animals used in festivals or other such celebrations must be treated with dignity at all times and can never be subject to humiliation or mistreatment. Likewise, wild animals living in captivity must be provided with an environment as natural as possible, with the exception of animals being used for scientific research or as part of a conservation study, in which cases exceptions do apply.
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