Pets Animal Welfare Law: if I already have a dog, do I have to take the course? From when is it mandatory?

The BOE has published this Wednesday the Animal Welfare Law

Pets Animal Welfare Law: if I already have a dog, do I have to take the course? From when is it mandatory?

The BOE has published this Wednesday the Animal Welfare Law. A new regulation that imposes a series of rules for pet owners. In addition, to modify the legislation regarding the commercialization of domestic animals.

The Animal Welfare Law will enter into force from September 29, as published by the BOE, that is, six months after its official publication.

With this new Animal Welfare law, the sale and display in shop windows of dogs, cats and ferrets is prohibited. Only professionals who can prove they are registered in the Official Register of Companion Animal Breeders with centers specially equipped for this activity will be able to manage their sale.

Currently in Spain more than 13 million pets are registered in the Spanish Network for the Identification of Companion Animals (REIAC). In the particular case of dogs and cats, there is more animal population in Spanish homes than children over 14 years of age.

On the other hand, the legal text excludes the current concept of "dangerous breed dogs" and all dog owners must have civil liability insurance for damages to third parties. The policy must also include in its coverage the people responsible for the animal. Likewise, the animal welfare law introduces the obligation to take a course for dog owners.

Chapter II of the law establishes the conditions for keeping pets both in open and closed spaces. Thus, with respect to dog owners, it is mandatory to have completed a training course with the aim of facilitating proper responsible ownership of the animal.

This means that the course is mandatory and those who do not accredit it face paying a fine.

In addition, article 30 states that:

1. The validity of the course will be indefinite.

2. Said training course will be free and its content will be determined by regulation.

3. In the case of dog ownership and throughout the life of the animal, the owner must take out and keep in force civil liability insurance for damages to third parties.

On the other hand, and according to the Animal Protection Law, "the people responsible for animal protection entities and those who, upon the entry into force of this law, carry out training activities or behavior modification in dogs, must , where appropriate, approve or acquire the qualifications required to carry out these activities within a period of twenty-four months from the regulatory development provided for in article 35.2 or from the approval of the required qualification.

This formation of the new Social Welfare law is only necessary to be accredited by professionals in the sector, but it will not be mandatory for current pet owners.

In accordance with the norm, anyone who leaves a pet animal unsupervised for more than three consecutive days will also be punished. In the specific case of dogs, this period may not exceed 24 hours.

On the other hand, for shepherd dogs the law will be more flexible since it is understood that they live in spaces where they can go outside. However, they will have to have a geolocation device and have booths to protect themselves. Another different issue is the prohibited pets included in the new law.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project