What is the mandatory Spain pet ID?

Blogs and blogs we have written about how to obtain your NIE as a foreigner in Spain. Now it is time to not talk about us, but about our most loved ones: our dogs and about the mandatory Spain pet ID that is being studied.

There is a new law that obliges dog and cat owners to treat them as part of the family. As a consequence, the Spanish government is exploring the possibility of including a mandatory Spain pet ID. The reason for this obligatory identification is out of a pure necessity. Spain is the EU country with the highest number of animal abandonment. This way not only the cat or dog can be identified but also its owner. This way law enforcement can punish and fine the owner in case of abandonment. This new obligation is just one of the many steps the Spanish government is taking in their fight for animal rights.

We will explain the most important new obligations and prohibitions of this law, but you can read everything about the almost mandatory Spain pet ID that just came into effect and the new animal law on the official website:BOE.

This law has taken effect in the second week of January 2022. A new point of this law is still to be implemented, namely the obligation to have third-party insurance for your dog, which will come into force in the near future still to be determined.

The Spain Pet ID will include the following information regarding the dog or cat:

• Name of the animal
• Date of birth
• Breed
• Gender
• Chip number
• Vaccination
• Veterinary visits

What other things does the new Law for animal protection include?

1. Prohibited to abandon your dog or cat in a closed or open space.
2. Prohibited to mutilate your dog or cat.
3. Prohibited to change physical aspects of your dog or cat.
4. Prohibited to sacrifice your dog or cat unless the veterinarian confirms that there is a good reason to do so (to end suffering) and under the correct circumstances.
5. Dogs and cats can not be used in shows on the move.
6. Dogs and cats are not to be used for fights and other shows that will harm the animal.
7. They can not be used for work that is inadequate.

General obligations for dog owners:

1. The dog (same here for cats) must be part of the family nucleus.
2. They must be in good hygienic condition, and they must be clean.
3. The owner is responsible to prevent uncontrollable reproduction.
4. The owner must prevent that the dog or cat will leave its faeces in a public space.
5. Cats and dogs are not allowed to be left alone in a closed space like a car without the security of the correct temperature and fresh air. Nor can they be left tied alone without the owner present, like outside a shop or at the entrance of a house or farm for protection.

Sanctions

The law will make a distinction between slight faults, serious faults and very serious faults.

Slight faults:

FINES: Between 600 – 30.000 euro

Everything that is not mentioned among serious faults and very serious faults, will be considered a slight fault.

Serious faults:

FINES: Between 30.001 and 100.000 euro

• To kill an animal or harm it in such a way that it will have serious physical consequences.
• To not have your animal identified with its own DNI.
• The use of harmful or aggressive methods for educating the animal.
• Animal husbandry, sales, or exposition of animals (except fishes) in shops, online or any other place.
• Administration of substances that are harmful for animals.
• The use of animals in prohibited activities as in the law.
• The abandonment of an animal.
• Additions or modifications of the animal.
• To use an animal as an object to compensate for a prize, raffle, or promotion.
• To use an animal for an advertising claim without permission.
• Breed no native wild animals.
• Sending live animals by mail or courier.

Very serious faults:

FINES: Between 100.001 and 600.000 euro

• To kill an animal or harm it in such a way that it will have a permanent after math.
• The sacrificing of animals without permission or authorization.
• Euthanasia of animals with inadequate means or by unqualified personal.
• The training and using of animals for fights with other animals or people.
• The use of companion animals for human consumption or other animals.
• Feeding the animals with entrails or carcasses and other offal from animals that have not passed the appropriate health checks.

Something I would like to highlight because I like this very much personally, is that animals are now a part of the family nucleus, and they are described as sentient beings. Therefore, this new law stipulates that in case of a separation or divorce, there must be an agreement about who will be taking care of the animal(s) in the new situation.

It is not clear yet how you can obtain the Spain pet ID for your dog or cat. For now, I would like to refer to Dirección General de Derechos Animales (DGDA) and ask them for the procedure.