Everything You Need To Know About Fines And Your Dog

Large cities around the world react with various legal measures to promote responsible pet ownership. To stay informed and avoid inconvenience, you have to know everything you need to know about fines and your dog in Spain.

The purpose of the fines

The fines are basically used to penalize inappropriate behavior. These behaviors are those of people in relation to animals or acts that threaten the balance of social relations in cities.

To facilitate the understanding of the new rules of coexistence between humans and pets there are rules. In addition, it is necessary to avoid that the fines and your dog become faithful companions.

What are the main fines in Spain?

Massive campaigns to educate dogs and penalize owners were reinforced in Spain as of 2016. The intention is to promote the cleanliness of the city and create awareness in people about the importance of responsible ownership.

In Madrid, fines and your dog can be found during a daily walk. This is because the financial penalties for owners who do not collect their pets’ feces are more frequent and reach high values. Fines can often be substituted for community work, such as cleaning the streets and parks on the weekends.

No mutilations

Another important sanction is related to the prohibition of physical mutilation of dogs. And that happens even when it comes to supposedly maintaining the breed standard. An initiative to protect pets that was already planned since 2012 by the European Parliament.

In 2015, the Spanish Congress approved the legal text that penalizes the performance of purely aesthetic surgeries in all dog breeds.

In some communities such as Aragon, Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, Valencian Community, Murcia and Navarra there were already precedents. And these practices were already considered illegal before Parliament’s approval.

Measures to take

• The approved proposal also requires governments to put measures in place to prevent the uncontrolled breeding of stray dogs. Another protection is for the abandonment of pets, and for the use of animals for shows and advertising.
• From there , fines were approved for people who abandon their pets or who exploit them physically or mentally. Likewise, owners who do not provide proper care and hygiene to their pets can be sanctioned.

• Anyone can anonymously report the mistreatment of domestic or stray animals. Anyone caught mistreating, humiliating or abusing animals can be fined or sentenced to jail time.
• Another positive result was the increase in public health campaigns for free castration of domestic animals. This happened in various cities in Spain.
• A fine for collecting animals without permission on the streets of the main Spanish cities is also possible . In the case of finding an abandoned dog, it is best to contact the authorities or animal centers.

How to prevent fines and your dog from always walking together?

The first step is to understand that responsible ownership does not only mean preserving the health of the pet.

It is essential that the dog is in adequate health conditions to share the space with other animals and people. For this, it must be taken periodically to the vet, vaccinated in the correct period and keep the antiparasitic treatments updated.

Due care must also be taken so that the possession of a pet does not become a risk to the balance of social relationships. The behaviors of the dog and its owner must conform to the rules of acceptable and ethical conduct to live harmoniously in community.

The necessary empathy

The correct attitude is to put yourself in the shoes of someone who does not want or cannot live with animals. Either for a matter of taste or health problems such as allergies, phobias and other diseases. These people should not feel compelled or self-conscious to accept a situation they do not want.

Therefore the fines and your dog do not necessarily have to walk together. Taking proper care, it is possible to live peacefully and enjoy the company of your best friend without financial loss.

Main image source: M.Peinado