Although, for some, there is still a long way to go as far as animal cruelty goes.

By law, a dog owner must feed, exercise, look after their health and make visits to the vet’s; to neglect this will land you a fine thanks to the Leyes de Bienestar Animal, which was passed last year.

But animals continue to be abandoned when it comes to summer and vacations. In Andalucia, for example, cases of an owner abandoning his dog have risen by 15% reaching a total of 5,542 cases. Those, of course, are just the ones that are discovered, which is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

The fine for abandoning your pet is between 300 and 50,000 euros but you can be fined for a whole host of infractions of the said law:

A) People who have dogs considered highly dangerous: offences such as not having a licence for this type of pet. Walking them without a muzzle or on a lead in public places, can cost you a fine of between 2,404 euros and 15,025 euros.

B) Pet registration: Pet owners who do not register their dog may face penalties between 10,001 euros and 50,000 euros.

C) Animal abandonment: just letting your dog wander by itself around town or in the country is considered “abandonment,” so you could be looking at a fine of up to 50,000 euros.

D)  Mutilations and body modifications: tail docking, ear cropping or other actions that involve physical modifications to animals are also considered serious infractions, therefore, fines range from 501 euros to 2,000 euros.

E) Vaccines, care and hygiene conditions: The new Animal Welfare Law considers it a serious infraction to keep domestic animals permanently in inappropriate places such as on terraces, balconies, roof terraces, in storage rooms, basements, inner patios or similar unsuitable spaces. In these cases the fines may range from 10,001 euros to 50,000 euros.

Lastly, regional laws consider that “not keeping animals in good hygienic-health conditions” makes the owner liable to pay a fine of between of 501 euros and 2,000 euros.

Editorial comment: letting your dog roam free can get you a fine of 50,000, yet mutilating one its only a maximum of 2,000 euros?

(News/Noticias: Spain – Photo: Fotolia – AdobeStock)