New Animal Welfare Law Requires dog owners to have Liability Insurance from October 2023

On March 16, the Animal Welfare Law in the Congress of Deputies, although the text that has entered into force has some changes, due to the negotiations of the political groups, with respect to the original proposal.

In practice, and for citizens who live with dogs in their flats or housesthat this legislation has been passed includes some changes… that will come into force very soon, in Octoberso that they must begin to do some procedures that will be mandatory.

OBLIGATORY INSURANCE

One of them is hiring a Sure of civil liabilitya procedure that, until the entry into force of the new law, was only Mandatory for owners of considered dangerous dogs. Although there was no list, it made reference to breeds such as Argentine Dogs, Pit Bull Terriers, American Terriers, Rottweilers, Akita Inu and Brazilian Filaamong others.

There is a small asterisk in the non-compulsory nature of this coverage, since in Euskadi and the Community of Madrid Yes, it was mandatory for all dogs before the law came into force. Now, after its approval, it will be in all the state territory.

Thus, it makes the contracting of this insurance mandatory, which must cover all the years of the pet’s life. According to the new legislation, the coverage must include the people responsible for the animal “for a sufficient amount to cover the possible derived expenses, which will be established by regulation.”

SANCTIONS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

Contracting this insurance, then, will be mandatory for all dog owners, regardless of their breed, the October 1, 2023. Like any law, it contemplates sanctions for those who fail to comply with it, although the approved regulation contemplates light fines (between 500 and 10,000 euros), although in the first instance it could also be limited to a warning.

In fact, the most logical thing would be that repeat offenders end up receiving the harshest penalties.

MILLIONS OF DOGS (AND FAMILIES) AFFECTED

In Catalonia, the town councils are responsible for having a census of these animals (also cats and ferrets), which are usually the favorite pet for people and families.

According to the most recent data, in spain there are some registered 7.5 million dogsaccording to data from the Spanish Network for the Identification of Companion Animals (REIAC)although the real figure could be higher, since many owners do not have them properly identified.

Something similar happens in Catalonia, where the data for 2021 estimated at about 700,000 dogs registered in the different local administrations. However, the figure could also be higher.

RESTRICTIONS ON SALE AND BREEDING

another of the derivatives that has also modified the Animal Welfare Law are the sale and the breeding. With the approval of the law, the sale of dogs (and also cats and ferrets) can only be done by authorized breeders, without the intervention of mediators.

Thus, the sale of companion animals is regulated, and only breeders with the relevant permits are authorized to do so. The participation of mediators in the process is prohibited, as well as the sale by individuals.

In the same way, it is also limited to professionals registered for this purpose in the Registry of Companion Animal Breeders. The conditions of the activity, the types of breeders and the frequency of litters will be developed according to regulations.