The new animal welfare law in which the Government works will prohibit pet breeding to individuals, the purchase of animals in a store and proposes the reconversion of zoos in places of native breeding in captivity, among other subjects, SERGIO G
. Torres, general director of animal rights.
At a meeting at Congress with more than half a hundred collectives and entities related to animal protection, Torres has exposed the general lines of the text in which its department works.
One of the objectives of the standard, as indicated, is the “zero sacrifice” and, for this, one of the keys is the “abandonment 0”.
In this line, the standard will create up to six state records: of pets, zoological centers, breeders, disabled for animal belongings, animal behavior professionals and animal protection entities.
The first of them seeks to establish greater control of these animals coordinated between the 17 CCAA and their data, both of their origin and health;
The zoological centers will not only allow a complete record, since many CCAA do not have it, and have an alphanumeric homogeneous system throughout the country, but also to avoid “pirate breeders” to publish advertisements on Internet platforms.
This last point will also be reinforced, in addition, by the new breeding record.
The individuals will not be able to have more than five animals in their home and who want to have them should be recorded as zoological nuclei.
In the event that a particular has five or more pets when the law is approved, it will not be out of law but can not acquire more.
The breeding only allowed professionals
The standard also provides for a national registry of disabled for tenure and work with pets that, although it can not be public for data protection, will not allow these people to register an animal in the system.
“The veterinarian will not have to be a policeman,” Torres said.
The Director General has highlighted that he will also regulate those who work with animals, they must also have a concrete training;
While the registration of animal protection entities aims to greater “professionalization” of them.
With this system running, aims towers, it will be closer and closer to “zero sacrifice” and also a better regulation of breeding.
In fact, it has highlighted towers, “the breeding will be exclusively allowed to registered professionals” and the number of litters will be limited depending on the need for zoological nuclei and establishments, all “subject to a veterinary control”.
In this sense, it will be prohibited, for example, breeding when there is more than 25% cosanguinity in animals or when there are genetic diseases.
Reconversion of zoos
In the same way, the animal sacrifice will be regulated, which will only be allowed “to exceptions linked to euthanasic situations”, an explicit “in the norm, which” there is no possibility that someone, because of the center saturation or behavior
Of the animal, I can access the sacrifice path. ”
Another of the prominent measures of this norm, is the prohibition of animals in store.
“Avoid compulsive purchase,” Torres said, and acts as regards the “well-being” of pets “in these spaces”.
Similarly, the breeding of non-native species including zoos, which “will stop being able to buy animals, especially large mammals and cetaceans”.
The objective is the “reconversion these spaces” as centers of “reintroduction of autochthonous species”.
In terms of non-native animals, the standard deals with the creation of a “positive list of pet animals”, which will determine which animals can be purchased and sell outside the country and that will be based on three axes: that they are not a public health problem
, that are not a public safety problem – will not allow poisonous people – and that are not a problem for the environment – will not allow the current exotic invading.
Tauromaquia and hunting dogs
About animals in shows, Torres recalled that there are many of them already regulated by the autonomous norms, although it has noted that this law will regulate “strict” rings, horseback riding and other acts of the style in which animals participate.
According to him, he has explained, he has worked with veterinary colleges to determine a temperature limitation, age or other aspects from which an animal can not access that task.
What is not included in the new animal welfare law is bullfighting for being “practical”, as indicated by Torres.
Although it recognizes that this position can lead criticism, the Director General believes that it is “necessary to take a good law as this” that implies “more than 35 million animals” and prevent their approval “can be slow down” and does not reach before
to end the legislature.
As for hunting dogs, the text treats them like any other dog, that is, who has five must be registered as a zoo, if it wants to raise as a breeder and should have adequate facilities, among other aspects.
This will be controlled by the security forces and bodies that, with the identification systems that launched this law and those already existing, can control that vaccinations and identifications are in order.
In force before 2023
The regulation of feline colonies, the ban on the breeding of animals used for the furry, the regulation of the sanctuaries of animals or the prohibition of the pigeon shot or the roosters, the generalized sterilization of pets or the participation of animals
In the media, they are other issues that are included in the text.
The draft of this law will go on a public consultation on October 6 and it is expected that in November it will reach the Council of Ministers in the first round.
From there, the text must go through the processing, first within the government instances, and then parliamentary.
To this last phase, Torres hopes that it will be reached in January of next year and that “on January 1, 2023 is in force”.
Finally, Torres has called “tightening” entities so that, now that the general budgets of the State are being negotiated, a reduction in 10% veterinary VAT is achieved.
In addition, he has recalled that the possible change in the animal situation in the Criminal Code is the competence of justice, a ministry they have already sent a proposed text by which the current type of animal code is changed for “vertebrate animal”
.
