Leaving your pet dog tied up outside a Spanish supermarket while you nip inside for a quick shop is now a crime, punishable with a hefty fine.
The controversial Law on the Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Animals came into effect on Friday.
Isabel Ayuso, the conservative leader of the regional Madrid government, criticised the new measure, calling it “interventionist” and saying it “treats pet owners as potential criminals”.
The maximum fine for leaving a pet outside a shop is €10,000, but this will vary from region to municipality. Similar fines can be expected for leaving a pet on the balcony of your home or inside an unoccupied vehicle. Cats, apart from those owned by breeders, must now be microchipped and sterilised by six months of age. Another fine will be imposed on anyone found to have let their dog wander in public off its leash.
Pet insurance will also be compulsory, although this has not come into force as a new government has yet to be formed since an inconclusive election in July. The insurance of €100,000 for civil liability will be obligatory for all pets, including budgerigars and gerbils.
A further requirement, also delayed by the political vacuum, is for potential pet owners to sit an examination to assess if they are sufficiently capable to care for an animal.
